Autumn Kisses

By M.M. Nightly

My name is Autumn Shields.
I thought high school was rough, but nothing prepared me for the heartaches that would come after it.

No matter how hard I try to deny it, I can't keep my feelings hidden any longer.
I am in love with my next-door neighbor, Aaron Tyler.

After finally telling him, and learning that he feels the same way, our relationship soon goes from neighbors to lovers. But there was trouble in paradise. His bitter ex, different life paths after graduation, and my overprotective father seem to continually keep us apart. After going off to college, my family's unexpected troubles bring me back to our small town and back to him.

Is fate trying to bring Aaron and I back together? Or are we destined to forever love each from afar?

• Language: English
• Publisher: M.M. Nightly
• Release date: Oct 9, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215274170

Book preview

Autumn Kisses

North Carolina

A Perfectly Stated Series Story

M.M. Nightly

Copyright

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2022 by M.M. Nightly

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review.

For more information, address: https://www.facebook.com/authormmnightly/

First paperback edition: October 2022

Book design by: No Sweat Graphics & Formatting

Edited by: Ryder Editing and Formatting

Table of Contents

Copyright

Table of Contents

Autumn

Aaron

Autumn

Aaron

Autumn

Aaron

Autumn

Aaron

Autumn

Autumn

Aaron

Acknowledgements

About the Author

Autumn

The police report stated that the family ate dinner and went to bed like they did every day. Nothing was out of place or stolen. There are rumors that the killer was perched in the attic all day, waiting for the family to fall asleep. Whoever massacred that poor family, on that unfortunate night, was welcomed in by the family or knew them well enough to know their routine, and where certain items were stored in the house. To this day, the killer has yet to be caught or identified.

I’m sucked into my newest crime drama novel when a loud bang on the lunch table I’m sitting at startles me, making me look up from my book.

Hey there, Fall. New book?

Of course.

My book is interrupted by my next-door neighbor, Aaron Tyler. He’s tall, muscular, brown hair, jock; the type of guy that every girl swoons over and dreams of dating. Except for me. I’ve grown up with him. We went through our awkward middle school years together. He is like a brother to me.

"You’ve lived beside me for how many years now, and you still can’t call me by my name? It’s Autumn. Not Fall. Not Leaves. Autumn."

But it’s so much more fun to call you by a nickname. He sits on the table, smirking and winking at me.

Oh, yeah? Well then, let’s make sure we remember how to spell your name. A-a-ron. Can’t forget that silent ‘A’ in there.

I forgot how to spell my name on a test. One. Time. In like the third grade. Thanks for never letting me live that one down.

What do you need, Aaron? Isn’t there a gaggle of girls you can annoy somewhere away from here? I close my book and cross my arms.

Probably, but I felt like annoying you.

Lovely.

Actually... I need some help.

Go figure. With what this time?

I wasn’t exactly paying attention in English class, and didn’t read the book for the test this Friday. Can I study your notes or get a soup version of it?

Soup version? Really, Aaron.

Yeah, the shorter version that has all the important parts, but without all those added details and things you don’t need.

Condensed. You mean a condensed version. How did you ever make it to senior year?

Don’t start, Autumn. I’m passing all my other classes. English is a bit tricky. You know I have dyslexia and it’s hard for me to read. I’m a hands-on learner. He makes a squeezing motion in the air with both of his hands.

Okay, fair point. Here are my notes. Use what you can, and good luck. I grab my blue English notebook from my bag and slide it across the circular lunch table. Wait a minute... was that a sex joke?

He mouths the words ‘thank you’ at me while laughing and backing away from the table, but I just nod my head up at him and use my right hand to shoosh him away.

My best friend, Kinsey Reyes, comes over to the table and sits down beside me. So, I saw Mr. Too-Hot-For-His-Shirt was here. I’m surprised he finds a way to keep his clothes on while he’s at school. She uses her hand to fan at her face. Did you finally tell him you love him and want to get married and have his babies?

Lowering my face into my book to hide the instant rush of blood to my cheeks, I breathe out heavily and quickly shake my head. You mainly come over to hang out in the summer and he just happens to take his shirt off when he mows the yard. He’s my next-door neighbor, and I basically grew up with him... he’s like a brother. That’s as far as those feelings of love go. Kinsey is a master of sass and sarcasm. She’s also really great at detecting lies. She knows my deepest, darkest secrets, but like the amazing friend that she is, she lets this conversation go.

The high-pitched squeal of the broken bell in the lunchroom breaks the silence between us. My house after school? Kinsey asks, like she doesn’t already know the answer. Prom’s this weekend and we need to finish getting everything ready before then. Who did you ask again... Derik, right? The one on the baseball team? Did he ever give you an answer? Please say he said yes.

I’ll tell you everything later, Kinsey. Good luck in Science. Kick that test’s ass!

As the last bell rings and kids fly out of nearby classrooms to get home, I take my time gathering up my things and head to my Jeep in the student parking lot.

The student parking lot is quite small, maybe twenty to twenty-five spots. There’s a patch of trees to the left of the parking lot, right next to the bleachers and an opening to the football field behind it, then there’s the school to the right of it. I park facing the football field. Kinsey had me park like that so she could see all the guys practicing after school when we were here over the summer tutoring kids that needed some extra help, and I’ve just continued parking like that since then. Noticing a folded piece of paper underneath my right-side wiper blade, I place my backpack on the hood of the Jeep and grab the paper.

Easy A,

Rode home with Sascha.

Still come over. You need to tell me everything. (;

Killer K

At least she left me a note this time instead of having me sit around until she finally remembers to text me. ‘Easy A’ was the nickname she gave me freshman year when I made the A Honor Roll. She’s the only one that’s allowed to call me that; if other people at school heard it, they would think I got that nickname another way, especially the guys on the football team. Speaking of which, I happen to look over at the field right as the guys were warming up to start throwing the ball around. Aaron waves over at me, putting his pinky and thumb to his head like a phone and mouthing the words ‘call me’ before tapping his wrist to signal after practice, like he normally did if he caught me before I left.

The spring air is nice and cool, as a faint breeze blows through my shoulder length auburn hair, mixing a floral scent with my honey shampoo. There was a storm coming in and I was hoping to be at Kinsey’s soon before the rain got bad. Grabbing my bag off of the hood, I swing it into the backseat before climbing into the driver’s seat. Before I can recognize what is going on, a bigger breeze blows into the car, causing my hair to fly up and get caught in the door right as I close it. My head is caught at an awkward angle to my left.

Son of a bitch! I really hope no one saw that.

Opening the door, I pull my hair in and lean my head forward onto the steering wheel; leaning right onto the horn. I sit up straight, holding back tears. Looking forward, I notice that half the football team and a majority of the cheerleaders are looking over in my direction. Football ended last fall, but they all still get together after school to hang out and gossip.

Oh, shit. I sigh, dropping my shoulders.

Aaron runs over, still holding the ball. Everything okay? I may or may not have seen that glorious display of Autumn play out. He uses his free hand to gesture beside me from my head to my toes.

It’s fine. I’m fine. The world hates me. Apparently, I’m married to Murphy’s Law. It’s been a long day. I need to get to Kinsey’s. I’ll call you later. I look back at the field as the rest of the team starts to yell at Aaron to bring back the ball. The cheerleaders are grouped together again, probably gossiping about anyone and everything.

Except for one. A leggy blonde with her arms crossed tightly across her chest is staring at us with her lips pursed in annoyance.

You should probably get back over there. The guys want the ball back and the ice queen is shooting daggers at me again with her eyes. Tell your girlfriend, for the like brazillionth time, that we’re not together.

Eh, probably. And she’s not my girlfriend.

Well, maybe you should tell her that since she’s going around school, threatening other girls to stay away from you.

I have, but she’s psycho, and to be honest, I’m kind of scared of her. I only got with her because of that whole football players are supposed to be with cheerleaders thing. And really, Autumn? Brazillion? The test in first grade asked for the biggest number we knew. It’s not my fault I was seven and couldn’t spell billion.

But how many exactly is a brazillion, Aaron? Maybe we should ask a Brazilian person and see if they know. I can’t help it, but I end up laughing harder than the little giggle I was hoping to do with that joke. Thanks, I really needed that.

No problem, but call me later. I mean it. There’s something I need to talk to you about. He yells something to the guys on the field, but when he looks back at me, the look in his eyes tells me there’s something important that he needs to get off his mind.

Pulling into Kinsey’s driveway, she barely gives me any time to park before she’s running out to my Jeep, and jumping up and down in front of my window.

I get out, making sure I’m an arm’s length from the door before I close it, so my hair doesn’t get stuck in it again. Calm down, Kinsey. What’s got you so excited?

"Next weekend! Remember? We have one week, Autumn. One. Week. Tell me everything. Did Derik say yes? Do you have a dress? What about shoes? Did you find some cute heels? Have you thought about your makeup or do I get to do your makeup? What about your hair? There are so many things we still need to do before