Page 177 of Fall I Want
“You were hugging,” she says.
“I invited him to snowboard with me.”
Long lashes flutter closed. “Harper gave Julie a prophecy. She mentioned your brother.”
I look at her with the same alarmed expression and then laugh. “You think Nick and Jules will get together?”
She sighs. “I promised I’d play matchmaker if you welcomed him back into your life.”
I shake my head. “Autumn.”
“Before this all happened, he was a good guy, right?” She searches my face. “I don’t believe you’d be best friends with someone who wasn’t.”
“He was a great person,” I explain. “Respectful, caring, and fun. He has a good heart. Or at least he did. He’s not the same though.”
She smiles. “Based on what Harper has shared, you aren’t the same as you used to be either. You found your way and everything worked out.”
“Better than I ever could’ve predicted. Only because I found you.”
“Mr. Dreamy promised he would,” she whispers, her mouth sliding against mine. We move onto the balcony of my father’s penthouse when there are two minutes left.
My dad has hosted a huge New Year’s party every year for the past decade, and I’ve skipped each one. Even if it’s not my usual crowd, I’ll never miss another one. Having Autumn by my side is my new tradition. After news spread of what Celine did at the wedding, she was banned from all events that anyone in my family could attend.
“Ready?” I ask when the gigantic clock begins the countdown. Music and chatter roars from the street. When the clock strikes midnight and confetti falls from the sky, I pull her into my arms. We are teeth and tongue and want and need. A mixture of fire and passion so hot I nearly crumble to ash. When we break apart, we’re breathless.
“Happy new year, wifey.”
“Happy new year, hubby,” she says, grabbing my hand and leading me through the large living room as the pianist plays “Auld Lang Syne.”
“Where are we going?” I ask.
The party would last all night, and my father offered us a room.
“Sit on the bed,” she demands.
“Oh, it’s going to be like that?”
She shakes her head, then pulls a gift wrapped in silver paper from under the bed. It’s heavy.
“I didn’t get the memo that we were exchanging gifts,” I mutter.
“Open it,” she urges.
I rip off the paper and lift the box. Inside is a stack of papers bound together with metal rings.
My eyes scan across the middle.
ALL I WANT
By Autumn Alexander
“This is what you’ve been working on?” I whisper, searching her eyes.
“Yes,” she proudly admits as I pull out the stack.
I flip to the second page and read the dedication.
To my loving husband.
