Waiting For A Star To Fall (Autumn Brody Book 2) Read Free Page B

future, Autumn."
    It was an embrace of friendship, a celebration of a journey's end. Goodbyes exchanged, Autumn drew a steadying breath and reached for Andrew's hand.
    "Are we going to eat or what?"
     
    * * *
     
    A formal dance had been arranged for the graduating class at the Carlu, an incredibly beautiful yet rather pricey private event space in Toronto. Although Autumn still found dances uncomfortable, given her history with her abuser, she'd promised Andrew they would attend, even if only to admire the architecture of the space.
    Pressing the close button in the elevator, she paused to admire her date. "You clean up nicely, Daniels.”
    Clad in a tailored black suit and coordinated green dress shirt, his unruly waves smoothed into semi-submission, Andrew Daniels was every bit a movie star in her eyes. Judging from the stares of several women as they entered, it was a popular opinion. The female (and occasionally male) attention he routinely drew from their classmates had once bothered her, but not anymore. Last October, she'd overheard two Film students in the women's washroom, commenting on their relationship. "Devoted" came up several times in the exchange, along with comparisons to some romance novel she'd refused to read due to her self-diagnosed allergy to saccharine prose.
    His reputation for fidelity had helped assuage any lingering (and admittedly irrational) insecurities she held about her worth. Now, she walked beside him with confidence, thankful to have a loyal man to rely on. Someone who would never hurt her (intentionally, of course; couples fought, and they were no exception). Someone who understood her and accepted her as she was, on good days and terrible ones.
    "Odds that the punch is spiked?" he asked, leading the way to the table.
    "So high that Vegas wouldn't even bother to accept a chit."
    "Excellent!"
    Andrew passed her a glass and they both sipped, nodding in shared agreement. So very spiked . Tequila, she figured, as she drained her glass. One of Sia’s big hits was blasting from the speakers, enticing her to come dance. One more drink , she decided ironically in light of the song playing, knocking back a quick refill.
    "It’s a chorus, not a command," Andrew teased.
    Autumn discarded her cup and laughed, pulling him towards the dance floor. "Liquid courage. Come make an ass of yourself with me."
    Realizing her intentions, Andrew tugged half-heartedly on her arm. "Wait, I want another one now... Damn it!"
    Surrendering to his girlfriend’s sudden whimsy, he twirled her around in a circle, pulling her close as she wobbled on her heels.
    “Just stay off the chandeliers, alright? I’m pretty sure they cost more than a small house.”
    “The only thing I plan on holding onto tonight is you,” was her husky reply.
    They spun, swayed and shimmied, each one-upping the other with old dance moves done intentionally poorly. Autumn sang along at the top of her lungs, gaining a chorus of nearby Vocal majors looking for an excuse to belt out a tune. Her mind drifted to Veronica, knowing that she would be adamant that they dance and sing to every song until the DJ shut the night down.
    For you, Veronica. She would be the free spirit, unafraid, in her friend's honour.
    The night flew by in a haze of music and greetings, in silk and lace and pressed suits rendered rumpled by impromptu busting of clichéd moves. Given the arts-driven curriculum of Casteel, it came as no surprise that at times, the dance floor morphed into an unrealistic teen movie scene, complete with choreography. And while she frequently tugged Andrew away into a dark corner to decompress (and caress... okay, perhaps just to caress), she forced herself to stay active, stay social.
    This was their night. No ghosts allowed.
    She did think of them, but only once: during a One Direction song that made her cringe, she slipped outside of the reception proper into the foyer of the Carlu. Promptly, she bumped into an unexpected sight: Professor