Page 49 of The Friendly Fall

My heart drops at the name of the contact:Devon - Do NOT call.

“You, um, have a text message,” I say, handing the phone back to her. The message serves as a reminder that the pictures are just that:only pictures.

“Ugh,” she mutters as she takes it back from me, her eyes on the screen. “Sorry about that.”

“No problem at all.” I force a smile. “So, I’ll pick you up at four on Saturday for the hayride and trick-or-treating?”

She doesn’t look up from her phone, typing away on the screen. “Sounds good.” Her voice is flat, and my shoulders drop, wondering if she’s replying tohim.“I was just texting Granny!” she calls out to me as I walk toward the truck, my arms full of supplies.

“It’s all good,” I reply, setting it down in the back of the truck with a grunt.

“I’m excited for this weekend,” she says, a smile on her face as I turn back around. “Really.”

“So, you’retheEliza.” Mara beams as she climbs onto the trailer, lined with hay. “I’ve heard so muchabout you.”

Eliza raises a brow and looks at me. “Oh?”

“Mom,” I clarify, telling the truth.

She nods and finds a seat on the hay next to Vanessa, while I climb up into the driver’s seat of the tractor. I start the engine and the rhythmic lug of the exhaust drowns out all of the conversation. Looking back over my shoulder, I take in the sight of Eliza, chatting away with my sister, mom, and friends. She’s got a bright smile on her face and is relaxed.

“Come on! Let’s go!” My nephew calls to me, waving his little hands beneath his dime-store cowboy hat.

I chuckle, give him a thumbs up, and hit the gas—not before taking one last look at Eliza though. I wish I could be sitting there beside her, enjoying the cool air and view of the fall colors towering above us.

But she still hasn’t even looked in my direction.

Shaking it off, I maneuver out down the trail I brush-hogged a few days ago. The sound of the tractor continues to drown out most of the conversation behind me, but I occasionally hear a laugh and glance back at my family.

It looks …completewith Eliza there.

But maybe that’s just in my head.

I keep my eyes focused on the deep ambers, warm yellows, and burgundy leaves floating in the air and barely clinging to the branches. Autumn in West Falls is always gorgeous, but this year, I’m feeling the season a little more than usual.

The tractor winds through the trail, the breeze rustling the trees. As we pull back to the barn, everyone is all smiles, their cheeks rosy from the crisp air.

“Thank you, Uncle Nick!” My nephew jumps up, pumping his fist in the air. “But now Ireallywant to get some candy.”

Eliza laughs—it’s a sound I could recognize anywhere—and pushes herself up off the hay. “I think that’s a great idea.”

Mara is all smiles too, and the way she nudges Eliza tells me that they must’ve talked the entire duration of the hayride … and I just hope shedidn’ttell Eliza about, well, myfeelingsfor her.

Mara’s never been one for secrecy.

“So, how about you all get your costumes on, and we’ll go,” Mara says, her voice bright.

“We can go to your neighborhood,” Mom suggests to Eliza. “That’ll ensure that you’re home in plenty of time to help Marilyn pass out candy.”

She nods. “That sounds good to me.”

I don’t know why the meager exchange hits me the way it does, but my chest feelswarmat the sight of Eliza having such a normal conversation with my family—like she belongs here…

“Quit staring at her.” Daniel chuckles in a low voice as he clamps down on my shoulder. “You might make it even more obvious that you’re in love.”

I shake my head as my face heats up. “I thinklovemight be too much.”

“Well, maybe, but you’re obviously crazy about her.”

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