Page 84 of Fall I Want
“Welp, now you’ve all met. We can go,” Autumn says, grabbing my hand, trying to escape.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” her dad says. “Where are your manners, Autie? This is why we should’ve raised her in Texas. This attitude wouldn’t exist.”
“Would you like some tea?” her mom asks, quickly redirecting the conversation. Her smile and eyes are kind, just like Autumn’s, who is a cookie-cutter version. They look alike with the same wavy hair, but her mom has slivers of gray.
“I’d love some tea,” I offer, and Autumn lets out a tiny groan as her parents lead the way inside the house. In the back is a large kitchen with long windows that give a perfect view of the sunrise.
“Have a seat,” Danny offers, and Autumn sits beside me as her mom places a kettle on the stove. Moments later, a plate of pumpkin-shaped sugar cookies are placed in the center of the table.
“You both help yourself,” her mother basically demands, and we each take one.
She turns to Autumn. “How’d you and Mr. Dreamy meet?”
I chuckle and Autumn nearly chokes. “Mom.”
“You told him, didn’t you?”
“Yes, I know about him.” I glance at her. “I walked into the coffee shop and Autumn took my breath away. Then I lied and said the coffee she made tasted like shit.”
“Oh,” her dad says. “Surprised she forgave you. She’s very proud of her barista skills.”
“It took some coaxing, maybe a little threatening,” I say as she watches me. “But yeah, I knew right then and there.”
“The same thing happened to me with Diane,” her dad says. “Except Diane was a mechanic. When she slid from under that cherry-red 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle with grease on her cheek, I knew she was the woman I’d marry. She brushed loose strands from her face with the back of her hand and looked up at me with big brown eyes. When she smiled? Damn. The world stopped spinning. It was fate,” her dad says, smiling as he reminisces. “Always said it was like magic.”
Autumn gulps.
I smirk, and soon after, the kettle whistles. Diane pours tea into our cups and offers sugar cubes.
Her mom looks between us and laughs. “When are you two getting married?”
“Please,” Autumn whispers. “We’re trying each other on. That’s it. Don’t rush us.”
“I predict we’ll be married within a year,” I say, and Autumn’s cheeks heat. “If you allow it, of course.”
“Yourprediction?” Autumn playfully rolls her eyes, knowing Harper said it.
I pick up my tea and shoot her a wink. “Yep.”
“Shall I put it in my calendar?” Autumn playfully pulls her phone from her pocket, then opens her app and types something into it. “Married by Zane’s birthday.”
“I look forward to the notification that will pop up,” I tell her, wondering if Harper’s prediction will be true. A part of me hopes itis. I can almost imagine the day when that reminder pops up, and she’s my wife. A smile touches my lips.
It could happen. Anything is possible. At least that’s been my experience since visiting Cozy Hollow.
“Oh, today is your birthday?” Autumn’s mom asks. “Happy birthday!”
Her dad says the same.
“Thank you. We had breakfast this morning and plan to have dinner and cake tonight.”
“That sounds like fun,” her mom says as I sit in the kitchen and meet this beautiful woman’s parents like she’s mine.
When our cups are empty, my phone vibrates. I slip it out enough to see who it is.
My father’s name flashes across the screen and my brows furrow. I reject the call. A minute later, it buzzes again and I hold down the side button, turning it off.
“Do you need to take that?” Autumn asks.
