I wipe tears from my cheeks, and she pauses, staring at me.
“Oh my goddess.”
“Tell me. If I have something in my teeth, I’ll be mortified.”
She shakes her head. “You’re going to fall in love with that man.”
“No, I’m not,” I huff out. “I know too much about him.”
Blaire doesn’t look convinced. “Did I eavesdrop correctly? Did he say he’s staying until November?”
“Yes,” I whisper and realize I’m smiling. “But we’ll see. That means nothing. Last time, he was supposed to stay two weeks, but within seventy-two hours, he was gone without a goodbye.”
“I think he’ll be the perfect distraction for you. Poor Craig.” She rolls her eyes and then bumps me with her hip. “This season is going to be different for you. I can feel it in the air.”
“Don’t jinx me,” I say as the afternoon crew enters.
“It’s a good thing,” she confirms.
For the final hour of my shift, I’m in my head, thinking about Nick and what it means now that he’s here. I secretly hoped I’d get the opportunity just to chat with him again. His conversations are good, and it helps that he’s not bad to look at. The invitation is a new beginning, a way for us to start over.
I glance at the clock, counting down to seven. I have four hours to decide whether to go or not.
“Is a planet in retrograde or something?” I ask Blaire over my shoulder. “Why is it raining men on me right now?”
She shrugs. “Mercury’s in retrograde, but Venus is ascending. You know what they say—third time’s a?—”
“If you say charm, I’m burning all your sage.”
She mimes zipping her lips, but her eyes are dancing with hope.
Somehow, I’m the only one who remembers that some patterns are meant to be broken, not repeated. If Nick leaves again without saying goodbye, I’ll forget that he exists.
Meeting him the first time was by chance. The second was a coincidence. But the third? It would be a choice. Right now, I have a big decision to make.
3
NICK
Isit in the Range Rover outside Hollow Manor—the black mansion that overlooks Cozy Creek—for a full minute with the engine off. I’m still trying to convince myself that being here is a good idea, even if I have nowhere else I’d rather be.
The house looks exactly how I remember it from when we were teenagers, before Zane’s mother passed away. There are new additions though. Dark wood flower boxes are now under the windows, full of orange and deep purple flowers. A sparkling wreath made of golden autumn leaves hangs on the oversize door, and pumpkins are lined up on the steps. It’s the little details that show signs of the life Zane has built while I was hiding in my Manhattan office. He’s made this place a home, and I’m happy that he’s found true love. He deserves it.
I suck in a deep breath, trying to get my shit together before I get out. We’re on the mend, but it’s still hard because I carry so much guilt.
In January, I flew here so Zane and I could reconcile. We’ve gotten together a few times when he’s visited the city, and we text occasionally. We’re trying, now that his dad married my mother. It’s impossible to avoid one another during the holidays.
The last time I was here, I ran into Julie again and learned she was Autumn’s best friend.
My phone dings with a text. I unlock it.
Asher
Did you make it there okay?
Nick
Sitting outside of Zane’s as we speak.
