Falling for Autumn Read Online Free PDF

you do for fun?”
    “I don’t know. Read, go to the movies, normal stuff.”
    “Were you different in high school?”
    The question annoyed me and I deflected. “Isn’t everyone?”
    “Not really, I don’t think I changed that much. What were you into before you came to college?”
    “What’s with all the questions?” I asked, my hold on the orange juice container tightening. I shook off my irritation and said, “I was into being the most popular girl and leaving high school as the homecoming queen. I was into bullshit stuff that shouldn’t have mattered to me.”
    He frowned. “Why doesn’t that matter? Doesn’t everyone want to be popular?”
    “Do you ever get tired of being the person everyone expects you to be? Like what if you got injured tomorrow and lost the ability to play? What would happen then?” I demanded, feeling myself getting worked up over the topic. “Would your friends still be around? Would every girl on campus still fawn over you?”
    He brought his hands up and laced his fingers behind his head. “You’re being a little insulting. I’m wounded you think the campus only worships me because I can play football. You forgot how I look fucking amazing and my reputation for being an animal in bed.”
    Startled, I looked up. Oh god, not the dimples, I thought. I let go of the death grip I had on the orange juice. Blake should run, run fast. I had too many issues and somehow he was bringing them to the surface. I relaxed once it dawned on me he was teasing. “Cocky as fuck too.”
    He laughed, most likely relieved that the intensity of the conversation had dissipated. “Never would’ve thought you had a dirty mouth, Autumn. You’re definitely a contradiction.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “It’s like you want to be a nerd girl because it’s safer that way. You seem afraid of people seeing what you’re really like and believe hiding behind this fake front is going to protect you.”
    We locked eyes and I found myself tongue-tied. How could he analyze me so well after hanging out only a few short times together? I was wrong about Blake. He wo uldn’t lose anything if he couldn’t play football. He was too smart, too charismatic to not have anything but a charmed life.
    I didn’t want to be bitter and I hated Blake seeing glimpses of that side of my personality. But it was hard not to feel betrayed. If things had been different and everything went to shit for one of my friends, I would’ve stood by them. I wouldn’t have sided with the majority and cast them out friendless and humiliated.
     
    ***
     
    In the days following, I had an English literature paper due and spent most of my spare time working on it. Twice a week, after our art history class, Blake and I settled into a routine of going to eat together. We got along well enough, but his probing questions about high school bothered me. It made me suspicious, and I wondered if his questions were more than mere curiosity. My first thought was he hailed from somewhere near Newpine and maybe he’d heard the stories and was trying to confirm if they were true. It eased my mind when I discovered he was from Clark, a city about forty minutes from where I grew up.
    As we spent time together, I became accustomed to the envious looks of other girls. He was tall, athletic , and handsome and I could empathize with the girls who looked thunderstruck as he walked past them. Sometimes I wanted to ask Blake how many women he had actually been with. But I was afraid the answer would shatter my crush and confirm he was way out of my league.
    My literature text was in my lap as I sat cross-legged on my bed. I was attempting to find a quote to work into my paper. Lexi had been studying as well until she hopped off of her bed to answer a knock at our door.
    “Hi , Josh,” Lexi said with casual indifference. I set my book down and raised my eyebrows in her direction. She shot a wink my way behind Josh and I quelled the urge to bolt. It was