Page 98 of The Autumn We Fell in Love

“Maybe not,” he admits. “But even so, we shouldn’t stop hoping for happiness.”

Hannah materializes at my side, shoving one of the promised beers she’s putting on her tab into my hand. “Thank you,” she murmurs before whirling away to, with a whoop and a holler, call the speed dating event to order.

She explains how everything will work, but I’m not listening. All I can think of is what Jed said — that we shouldn’t stop hoping for happiness.

I’m not sure many of my New York friends would agree. But then, I’m not certain that we’re friends at all.

Maybe Jed’s right and they’re all wrong. Maybe I really can learn to hope for happiness again here in Deadwood.

I don’t know how, or how it’s even possible. But his words lend me the comfort and strength that I so desperately need.

Xander

My head’s spinning, and it’s not from the beer.

No, it’s from the women. Every three minutes I pick up and move to a new seat facing a new woman. And they’re sweet and irreverent and all sorts of interesting things that I didn’t expect. So much so that I find myself having a better time than I ever would’ve guessed.

I’m not sure I’ll walk away from this with a woman on my arm, but this shit isfun.

At one point I catch Andrew’s eye. He inclines his chin at me as if to say,Go get ‘em.

Then he crosses his eyes and sticks out his tongue like he always used to do when we were kids. Any time I was feeling sad, he’d pull out that face and sure enough, I’d start feeling better. Not all the way better, of course, but just enough to start figuring out how to smile again.

This time, I grin back. His eyebrows rocket up and I can’t decide if it’s concerning or satisfying that seeing me smile surprises my brother. Probably a little of both.

Halfway around the circle of chairs, the announcer tells us to take a break and grab a drink.

“Be back in five to find your boo!” she shouts over the din pouring in from the bar proper. I haven’t traded numbers with a single woman, but I’m excited to see who else I’ll brush shoulders with this evening.

That’s when I see her.

All I catch is a flash of long legs, red lips, and curves to die for, but that’s enough.

I duck through the crowd, following in the wake of a woman with thick chocolate hair reaching to her sweet jeans-clad ass, but she disappears into the bathrooms before I can reach her.

With a growl of frustration, I shove through the throngs of people to Andrew’s side.

“Having fun, brother?” he practically has to shout above the noise.

“Did you see that woman?” I demand, ignoring his greeting.

“There are a lot of women here, Xander,” he says, forehead creasing.

“She went into the bathroom. Did you see her?” I don’t know why I’m grilling Andrew, why he’d know her any better than me. But there’s a desperation clawing its way up my throat that I’ve missed my chance with her before ever getting it, and I don’t know what else to do.

He snorts into his pint. “Guess you’re going to have to wait until she gets out.”

“No shit, Sherlock,” I grumble even though I know he’s right.

When the bartender wanders our way, I flag her down and order another beer, chugging at the steadying amber liquid when it comes.

I never knew how much of an eternity five minutes could feel like.

Finally, an eon later, the announcer calls all the speed dating participants back to the side room. I stalk over, glowering at anyone who gets in my way. I scan the pairs of chairs, and then my heart drops.

Because there she is.

Brown hair, olive skin, and dark eyes a man could drown in. She’s making her way back to the speed dating event from the bathrooms.

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