Fourth Down (Portland Pioneers 1)

The drive toward the restaurant takes a bit longer than GPS tells me because of traffic and because I thought I could find the restaurant myself. I’m directionally challenged when it comes to driving, and I usually walk. As luck would have it, which seems to be on my side today, there’s a parking spot across from where Peyton and I are meeting. Since moving to Portland, I’ve mastered the art of parallel parking and zip my car in without any issues.

“I’m meeting someone,” I say as I pass the hostess station. Peyton sees me and raises her hand. “I’m so sorry. Leon called me into his office first thing this morning.”

“What’s going on?”

Before I can tell her, the server is at our table taking our order. Once he leaves, I spill everything to Peyton, who listens to what I have to say without interruption.

“Wow.”

“I know. I’m nervous, scared, and honestly don’t know what to do.”

“What did Julius say?”

“Honestly, I don’t know what’s going on with him. One minute we’re great, the next, he’s absent, and then when I think we’re finally on the same page, Elena’s back, and I don’t know where I fit.”

“Yeah, Noah mentioned something about Elena returning.”

“Do you like her?” I ask.

Peyton shakes her head. “Not really. My sister calls her a stage five clinger. We see them a lot in California during the off-season, and we’ve had them over when my family is there. She’s like static to my dad, Liam, or my brother. She likes to name drop, which really bothers me. But, I don’t say anything because Noah and Julius are best friends.”

“Elena definitely acted like she and Julius are not headed to Divorce Court. She just made me feel so icky for being there.”

“Are you going to talk to Julius?”

I shrug. “I know I should, but I have a feeling he’ll tell me nothing has changed, and I don’t know what to do with that.” Peyton and I continue to discuss my love life over lunch. She tells me she’s excited about my opportunity and asks me to text her when I’m about to go live so she can tune in.

When I get home, Julius is waiting outside my apartment door with a bouquet of roses. He sees me and straightens. “I got tired of you not responding, so I thought I’d wait here until you came back.”

“You could’ve been here for days.”

“It’s a risk I was willing to take.”

I laugh and open my door. Julius follows me in and into the kitchen with the roses. “Thank you. They’re beautiful.”

“They’re not enough,” he says. “I know Elena was nasty to you the other night, and I figure that is why you’re ignoring me. I’m sorry about what she said.”

My lips go into a thin line. I don’t know what to say. The way she acts isn’t his fault, but I can’t help but feel like the situation is. “You guys have a lot to work out.”

He grimaces. “Not really. She’s in a panic because the finality of her actions is closing in on her. I think she thought I wouldn’t file, and when she received the notice, she saw the money start to disappear. As long as she’s my wife, I’m responsible for things like the house and her car. Once we’re divorced, she’s on the hook, and I think she freaked out.”

“Did she go back to L.A.?”

Julius shakes his head. “No, she’s moving back apparently, which is good for the kids. She’s out looking for a place right now.”

“Oh.” I turn my back and start to clean my kitchen a bit. I can feel his presence when he steps closer. Does he think I’m going to carry on a relationship with him? That I’m going to be the other woman? He’s right. The children need their mother, but I don’t need Elena and her volatile disposition when it comes to me, and I have a feeling she’s not going away quietly.

“The divorce is going to happen, Autumn. Elena knows this.”

I turn to face him and can see the pain in his eyes. “That’s good. I, uh…” I swallow my words. I don’t know what to say to him. “I should probably get ready and head to the station. I have a ton of work to do.”

Julius’s expression falls. He wanted me to say something else, but I just don’t have it in me. I need time to think about what I want. I’m too young to be mixed up with a messy divorce. He steps forward and kisses me on my cheek. “I’ll watch your broadcast tonight,” he tells me. “Let me know when you get home?”

I nod, and he backs away. When he gets to the door, he says, “Nothing has to change between us, Autumn. You’re the one I want to be with.” Julius closes the door quietly behind him.