Page 81 of The Autumn We Fell in Love

“No.” She’d shaken her head. “We’re better than that.”

And then she’d turned and continued on into the gymnasium, chest wide and chin set. After a moment, Tristan had followed.

To all appearances Isla had seemed unfazed. But as I’d walked with her, she’d leaned her weight into me, and I’d understood that the life she’d found herself leading was anything as easy as she made it look.

I recall as we stumble through the woods that she’d smelled like vanilla then, too. How strange that this hadn’t changed in the years since we were so young together.

I breathe it in, savoring the spice of her. I wouldn’t mind smelling this aroma every single one of the rest my remaining days. Not at all.

I only wonder if I have the courage to break the promise I’d made to myself years and years ago, to leave Isla Ingersole alone for the sake of my friendship with Tristan and the rest of their family.

I wonder, too, what the Ingersoles would think of my shift in intentions toward Isla.

Am I willing to risk their love for a chance with her? She’s worth it, but damned if I know if she’ll have me.

I spy lights ahead gleaming through thinning trees. “Here,” I murmur to Isla, “we made it.”

She doesn’t speak, but leans further into me, even though it’s less needed than ever as the forest path gives way to smoothly manicured grass. My blood feels like fire and my hands clasp more firmly to where they touch Isla. She doesn’t shrink away. Instead, she turns and smiles at me through the dimming light.

“Thank you,” she whispers.

And in that moment, I know.

I know that I have to risk it all and see if Isla Ingersole might care for me the way I do for her. The way I always have.

Because if I don’t try, I’ll wonder forever. Life is too short to regret not speaking the truth of your heart.

I have to try.

But first, I have to get Isla to a doctor.

I see Tristan sitting on the front stoop, arms wrapped tight around him against the chill. I give a shout, the sound focusing my mind on our pressing task even as my heart swoops and soars between my ribs at the knowledge that I will no longer hold myself back from Isla — unless she wants me to.

I pray to all the gods that might ever have existed that she wants me.

Isla

Ishould feel relieved to reach my parent’s house.

But instead, when Ash hands me off to my brother, saying he’ll go get the car started, all I feel is sadness at the cold that replaces the places where his body stood close to mine.

“What happened?” The concern in Tristan’s voice brings me to my senses — mostly. My body wants to follow Ash, but instead I turn to my brother.

“Nothing but my own natural clumsiness. I fell, that’s all.”

He snorts. “Must’ve been some fall. Can you put any weight on that ankle?”

I test it — as if hauling it through the woods with Ash’s help wasn’t test enough — and wince. “Sort of.”

The tires of Ash’s car crackle on the driveway as he pulls up alongside me. He gets out and strides around to my side of the car to open the passenger side door for me, but his eyes are on me, roving my body. I shiver and hope my brother doesn’t guess why.

“You’re not putting any weight on that are you?” he asks, looking between me and my brother.

“No,” I blurt, though I obviously just was.

“I asked if she could,” Tristan says.

“It’ll be fine —“ I begin, but Ash cuts me off with a growl that makes my knees go weak in a way that has nothing to do with my injury.

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