Fall Favor (Seasons In Montana: Fall)

Chapter 1

The first week of August

Manny

“Manny, we have to talk.” Jolie, my girlfriend, who’s also a coworker, hops into my truck just as I’m shifting into gear to leave work for the day.

“Don’t slam—” Bang!

The door. I grit my teeth. Why can’t she remember? It drives me crazy when anyone slams a vehicle’s door with more force than is necessary. I take a deep breath and try to relax the tension in my jaw.

“Sorry. I need to get this off my chest right away.” She glances toward the office with an irritated moue pinching at her lips. She offers a weak grimace when she faces me.

Uh-oh, here it comes—the ultimatum.

Seriously, I’ve been expecting it for a couple of months.

I honestly don’t know why I’ve been dragging my feet on making things…

permanent between us. Jolie is a nice woman.

She’s smart and funny. She’s also stylish and always smells nice.

She’s good company and a good friend, even though we don’t have anything in common, and the sex is okay, I guess. But maybe that’s the problem.

I love Jolie like I love her twin Jorie—as a friend and coworker—but… there just isn’t any spark between us. No fireworks or crazy out-of-control feelings. No desperate need to be with her or get back to her when we’re apart. I love her, I just don’t love her…

“Manny. Let me start by saying, you’re a great guy.

You’re smart and funny. I like your company even though we don’t have much in common.

You’re a good friend, and you usually smell nice when you aren’t covered in motor oil or engine fluids.

” Her nose wrinkles as she spies my rough hands resting on the steering wheel.

“The sex is nice, not great but not terrible either… Really, this is not you, it’s me. ”

I wince. Not exactly what a guy wants to hear. My stomach sinks.

“God, I’m screwing this up, but even you have to admit there isn’t one drop of passion between us.

We’re easy like a pair of those ugly shoes you see on TV.

You know the ones you don’t have to bend over to put on?

And Manny, I want to bend over, you know?

Life’s too short to wear the fucking ugly shoes!

Ah, hell, that came out wrong. Don’t think I’m comparing you to ugly shoes…

It’s just that there aren’t any sparks. No fireworks or out-of-control feelings, and honestly, I think it’s this place.

I’m in the wrong place. Living in Wintervale is slowly leaching the life and fun right out of me.

I need action! I need adventure! I need passion!

What I’m trying to say is I’m leaving.” She opens the door and hops out as quickly as she got in.

“You’re leaving? But…”

“I love you, Manny, but I just don’t love you, you know?”

“Jolie, wait. Don’t slam… Fuck.”