Page 36 of Fall I Want
Once the sun has fully risen, I go inside and grab my phone. It’sa missed call from my father. Not today. Instead, I get dressed and go downstairs.
Golden rays fill the space and I glance around, replaying old memories of sitting on the floor in front of the fireplace and the snow falling outside. Mom loved the Christmas tree in the room’s corner, but it was ridiculously tall. We had to take turns climbing up and down a twelve-foot ladder to decorate it.
This house is like a time capsule, preserved how my mother kept it, and being here makes me feel closer to her. Harper was right.
The mantel is filled with silver photo frames that contain pictures taken during the five months we were here all those years ago. I’m drawn to them, my eyes scanning over the precious moments she didn’t want us to ever forget. It’s not lost on me that she was close to my age now. She never saw forty.
I set the coffee beans on the counter, knowing I could make a cup, but opt for fresh air. Before I can talk myself out of it, I snatch the keys off the countertop and leave, wanting to see Autumn.
The early morning quietness will never get old and it’s something I crave.
With the top down, I slide a pair of sunglasses on and take the road that leads down the mountainside. Fifteen minutes later, I’m cruising down Main Street noticing how the crowd has continuously doubled in size thanks to the festivities this weekend. The town will stay packed through Valentine’s Day.
I find a spot four blocks away and snag it. As I head toward Cozy Coffee, my phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out, see it’s my father again, and decline the call, turning it off. When I arrive at the coffee shop, I find the end of the line and wait patiently, but it goes fast.
The three women work efficiently and I’m amazed they can handle this crowd on their own. Ethics and skill allow it. The kiosk in the ski resort is full of fucking amateurs.
When I enter, my eyes meet Autumn’s and she grins wide beforefocusing back on steaming milk. A few stolen glances later and I step up to the counter to order.
Blaire laughs. “Becoming a regular while you’re in town?”
“I’m thinking about it,” I tell her. “How many days in a row until I’ve earned my title?”
“By my standards, if I see you more than once a week, you’re already there,” she says. “So the usual or do you want to spice it up this morning?”
“The usual,” I playfully say. “If you remember.”
“Barista preference?” She smirks.
I lick my lips. “No, but if it’s Autumn, please tell her not to fuck it up this time.”
She types something into the computer.
“Noted.” Blaire lifts a brow. “Pumpkin bread?”
I meet her eyes. “I think you know I don’t need any today.”
Blaire laughs, and it’s confirmed. “Three seventy-five.”
“Is it possible for me to pay for everyone who’s behind me?”
She meets my eyes then glances at the line that’s still wrapped around the building. Cozy Coffee is the only gourmet establishment in town, so it doesn’t surprise me.
“Seriously?” she asks, and I can see her doing the calculation of it in her head. “That’s a lot.”
“Yeah.” I grab my wallet from my back pocket and pull out five hundred dollars. “Use this until it’s gone. My treat for your regulars.”
“Are you sure?” she asks.
“Absolutely,” I tell her, and she grabs the crisp bills from my hand. Her mouth falls open as she looks down at it, then I slip more into their tip jar. Julie and Autumn keep glancing in our direction.
“I want to put some magic into the world and make someone’s day better.”
She shakes her head. “Clever. I knew you weren’t an asshole.”
“Oh, I am. But I can be nice too.”
Blaire grins. “Okay, I think you might’ve just become my new favorite regular.”
