Page 53 of Fall I Want
“What the fuck was that?” Julie asks after I wash my hands and return to my espresso machine.
“Zane just cursed me.”
“You were already cursed, remember?” She’s confused, but she doesn’t know the turmoil that’s swarming inside of me.
When Sebastian walks up to the register, I hear him ask about the flowers.
“Oh, Autumn’s boyfriend brought those for her this morning,” Blaire says. “He’s thoughtful. Anyway, how have you been?”
They hold a pleasant conversation and I glare at Julie.
“What am I supposed to do?” I ask between gritted teeth.
“Ignore him like he ignored you before he broke up with you.”
“You’re smart,” I say, needing the reminder. My cheeks still burnand my body continues to buzz. I’m floating on cloud nine and shouldn’t be.
The sticker pops up on the printer and Julie takes it.
I read what Blaire wrote.
Sea Biscuit. Medium Mocha.
Julie snickers. “I’ve got it.”
When he passes the espresso machine, I keep my eyes down, focusing on the dark liquid pouring from the spout. Julie hurries and makes his coffee and calls his name with zero enthusiasm.
“Hey, Jules,” he says to her as she hands him his cup.
“It’s Julie,” she corrects. Her nickname is reserved for her friends only.
“Right. Anyway, thanks.”
He leaves the coffee shop and doesn’t look back. Julie returns to my side.
“That kiss was passionate as hell. What did it feel like?”
My body is still singing. “Like . . . magic.”
Chapter 12
Zane
Iforce myself to walk away from Autumn, stunned by the intensity of her lips against mine. She tasted like sugar, spice, and everything nice. While I kissed her to prove a point to her stupid-as-fuck ex, it made me realize the connection we have is much deeper than I originally suspected. There is no explanation for it.
But when she grabbed on to me, deepening the kiss, something that’s stayed dormant for a lifetime ignited deep inside me. Overpowering emotions streamed between us, and I swear she cast a spell on me.
I replay all that she’s shared with me, mentally cataloging facts about her, but I need to know more. I want to know everything about her: what makes her happy or excited, her favorite foods, and her favorite color. I want to know Autumn at her core.
When I’m finally home, I go upstairs to the office my father insisted be built in the house so he could work from this location when my mother wanted to escape. My eyes slide across the desk and the oversized windows that face the resort. The sunlight floods in, but I turn on the lights to better see the space. I move forward to sit in the high-backed executive chair and pick up the silver frame, noticing the picture of the four of us at the Winter Olympics. At that point in my life, I dreamed about joining the U.S. Team andwas on my way to becoming one of the top snowboarders in the world.
I let out a deep breath and tuck the framed photo into the drawer. Then I notice a folded note with my name on it. When I open it, I see my mother’s perfect handwriting.
My sweet boy,
I know you’ll discover this after I’m gone, but I’ve decided I’m leaving this house to you when that time comes because you love being here. I wonder when you’ll find it, though. How old will you be? What is your life like? Are you happy? I hope you’re visiting Cozy Hollow because you are, not because you need healing. However, know the mountain air can cure anything. Well, almost anything, though it certainly cannot cure cancer. (It’s a joke. It’s okay to laugh.)
I love you so, so much. You are strong, and you have such a beautiful heart. Yes, I’m taking full credit for raising you to be kind, polite, and caring. Yes, you are every single one of those things. I hope by now you’re able to take a compliment.
