Once again, I wake up at five a.m., even though I could have slept in a bit longer. Festival day makes me feel like a kid on Christmas morning. I unlock my phone, seeing I already have a text from Nick, sent at 4:47 a.m.


    Nick


    Why am I awake? This town has broken my city-boy’s sleep schedule. Good morning! Hope you have a great day.


    Julie


    Morning! Wee to small-town life. Your internal clock now runs on coffee-shop time.


    Nick


    Speaking of coffee … are you working today?


    Julie


    Until 3. Then it’s ME + YOU + FALL FESTIVAL TIME! AHH!!!


    Nick


    Your enthusiasm for pumpkins is borderline concerning.


    Julie


    Says the man who literally graphed our rtionship.


    Nick


    We agreed never to speak of the PowerPoint again.


    Julie


    I don’t remember agreeing to anything.


    I grin and roll out of bed. Even though I don’t have to be at work until seven, I’m too wired to go back to sleep. Last night keeps reying in my mind. Nick was a good sport and chatted with me while I showered, and I can’t forget the way he looked at me in that green dress.


    By the time I get to Cozy Coffee, ire is already there, surrounded by pumpkin-shaped cookies.


    “You’re early,” she says, then looks at me closely. “Oh my God, you had sex.”


    “I did not!”


    “You’re wearing that I had good sex face.”


    “I have an excited about the festival face.”


    “That’s definitely not it.” She studies me. “Or maybe it’s almost sex face. What happened after Bookers?”


    “Nothing. We walked home, and he was a perfect gentleman.”


    “Boring.” She groans. “I’m supposed to be living vicariously through you.”


    “Before we left for dinner, he sat on my toilet and talked to me while I showered.”


    ire almost drops a tray of cookies and sets it down. “What? That’s what I do! And I’m not even trying to get in your pants!”


    “Neither is he. We’re F-R-I-E-N-D-S. Do you know what that spells?”


    “Yes, I do. Friends who absolutely want to bang each other.” She shows me her phone. There’s a photo of us at Bookers that someone snapped when we weren’t looking.


    “I’m going to murder the Fairy Godmothers. Who took that?” I ask.


    “I dunno, but they keep doing updates of your rtionship on Insta.”


    My eyes widen. “No. They need to stop that. Who do I need to talk to?”


    ireughs. “It’s a runaway train. Just ride it. Or ride Nick.”


    All I can do is shake my head.


    The morning rush hits before I can process this.


    We work like busy bees, and I’m thankful I had Sierra, one of our teenage employees, join us this morning because there was no way ire and I could’ve handled it. Next week, I may add another person to the morning shift just because it seems busier than usual.


    Every tourist wants special drinks, and locals keep stopping to ask about tonight. The excitement streams through the air, and I’m counting down to when I can leave work.


    “You and that handsome boyfriending to the festival?” Mrs. P asks for the third time.


    “Of course. It’s tradition,” I tell her. “I wouldn’t miss this kickoff for anything.”


    She smiles wide. “Can’t wait to see you two lovebirds.”


    “Tell the Fairy Godmothers to stop meddling.”


    “Sorry, sweetie, no can do.” She walks away, giggling.


    Around ten, my phone buzzes.


    Nick


    How’s the coffee battlefield?


    Julie


    Beautiful, pumpkin-scented chaos. Someone just ordered fifteen pumpkin spicettes.


    Nick


    The horror!


    Julie


    Tons of people have asked about you.


    Nick


    Is this where I say pumpkin spice?


    Julie


    Why are you making me think about safe words while I’m at work?


    Nick


    Behave yourself.


    Julie


    Never.


    “You’re sexting at work,” ire says from behind me as the orders keeping.


    “It’spletely tonic, and I’m one hundred percent multitasking. Plus, I’m the boss, and I can do whatever I please.”


    “You could do Nick.”


    “ire!”


    “What? Zero lies detected,” she says.


    The door chimes, and Tom Valley strolls in with his perfect mustache. “Jules! My boys areing for the festival. Caden’s still single.”


    “Sorry, Tom! I have a boyfriend now.”


    “I heard. But if that city boy breaks your heart, Caden’s just a phone call away.”


    I chuckle.


    ire nces at me. “Maybe you should rub some of that off on me. You have men lined up as backup boyfriends. Meanwhile, I’m hoping the festival fortune teller will predict someone tall, dark, and handsome in my future.”


    “Maybe she will.”


    “She predicted I’d find love near waterst year. I dated that swimmer for two weeks before he ghosted me.”


    “Public pools don’t count as near water.”


    “Now you tell me!” she says with augh.


    The afternoon crawls by. Every time the door opens, I hope it’s Nick, but he’s helping Zane and Autumn volunteer for festival setup. ording to the book club’s Insta updates, he’s been stringing lights and moving hay bales all morning. He’s officially their new real-life book-boyfriend material. Thement section aggravates me.


    “Your fake boyfriend is getting the full small-town experience.” ire shows me a photo of Nick helping the fire department set up the stage.


    He looks good. Really good. His T-shirt stretches across his chest as he lifts equipment, and his smile is genuine as he talks to other volunteers.


    “That man is not faking anything,” ire says. “He fits in.”


    “He’s leaving on November first,” I tell her. “He’s returning to New York.”


    “Why?” she asks.


    “I dunno. Because he has a life away from Cozy Creek,” I say, returning to the rush, happy for my thoughts to be captured by sugary drinks.


    Finally, three o’clock arrives. Tracy practically shoves me and ire out the door.


    “Are you going to the kickoff?” I ask ire.


    “Probably. But I think I’m going home to take a quick nap. I’m exhausted,” she says.


    We exchange a quick hug, then go our separate ways.


    I pull my phone from my pocket and text Nick.


    Julie


    FREEDOM! Heading home to shower! Still on for tonight?


    Nick


    Hell yeah! Can’t wait to see you.


    Julie


    So much same!


    I read his message and smile as I practically run home.


    When I reach my door, there’s arge white box with an orange ribbon waiting on my porch. No deliverybel, just my name in handwriting I don’t recognize.


    Julie


    My heart races as I carry it inside. I set it on my kitchen counter and carefully open it, parting orange tissue paper to reveal the most beautiful burnt-orange silk dress I’ve ever seen. Underneath is a velvet jewelry box.


    With shaking hands, I open it. Diamond earrings shaped like tiny pumpkins catch the light, along with a matching pendant. They’re from Calloway Diamonds, which is the most exclusive jeweler in the world. These must have cost a fortune.


    I find the card and open it.


    The way you light up about fall deserves proper appreciation. They sparkle just like you.


    Happy autumn, Little Red. Hope this is your best one yet. Can’t wait to see you sparkle tonight.


    —Nick


    I stare at the gifts. This is too much.


    My phone rings. It’s Nick.


    “Hi,” he says.


    “Hi. I can’t ept this.”


    “And why not?”


    “They’re too expensive. This is supposed to be fake and?—”


    “Jules”—his voice softens—“I think our definitions of expensive are much different. And there is nothing about how I feel when I see you happy that’s fake. It’s a real gift, not one encouraged by fake-dating standards.”


    “This probably costs more than my mortgage.”


    “But you’re smiling. I can hear it,” he says.


    He’s right. I am.


    “In the grand scheme of things, it’s just money. Ites and goes. Let me spoil you if I want.”


    “Okay, but no more expensive gifts.”


    “Define expensive. A million dors? Two? Babe, I could spend a billion on you right now and not even notice.”


    “Nick!”


    “See you soon, Little Red.”


    He ends the call before I can say anything else.


    I shower quickly, then slip into the dress. The silk hugs every curve like it was made for me. It might be. The burnt orange makes my hair look like fire, and my skin glows. When I put on the diamonds, I barely recognize myself in the mirror. I look like I’m falling in love.


    “Stop it,” I tell my reflection. “It’s been less than a week.”


    But my heart isn’t listening.


    I walk to the town square since it’s only a few blocks away. The festival is already in full swing. Families everywhere, the smell of apple cider and kettle corn filling the air, local bands setting up on the small stages scattered around.


    I spot Nick by the main stage, talking to Zane and Autumn. He’s wearing dark jeans and a ck button-up with the sleeves rolled to his elbows. When he sees me, he stops mid-sentence.


    “Jules!” Autumn rushes over. “You look amazing! Wow! Someone is taking my Pumpkin Queen crown this year!”


    “Hush,” I say, catching Nick’s eye over her shoulder.


    She and Zane were crowned the Pumpkin Queen and King of Cozy Creekst year. Their love story is one people will tell their kids.


    Nick excuses himself from Zane and walks over to us.


    “You’re beautiful,” he says, like it’s a fact. He takes my hand and twirls me around.


    I’m giddy, and Autumn notices.


    “Going to take my girlfriend to get some cider before the line gets too long,” he says, interlocking his fingers with mine.


    “Oh. My. God,” Autumn says as we walk away. “This is the real deal.”


    She squeals.


    “Stop it!” I say to her over my shoulder as Nick drags me away.


    We spend the next hour doing festival things. We watch teenagers bob for apples after we get our faces painted. Little kids race past us in costume toward the corn maze. Afterward, we eat caramel apples that get stuck in our teeth. Nick evenughs when I get whipped cream from my hot cocoa on my nose, gently wiping it off with his thumb. He ces it in his mouth, and I have to look away because it’s too damn sexy for me to handle.


    “I haven’t done anything like this in years,” Nick admits, watching a guy fail at the ring toss.


    “A festival?”


    “Fun without an agenda. Being present instead of thinking about the next meeting, the next deal,” he admits.


    “And how does it feel?”


    He looks at me—really looks at me. “Like I’m waking up.”


    Before I can respond, Mayor Hutchinson’s voice booms over the speakers. “Ladies and gentlemen, before our main entertainment tonight, I’d like to ask Nics Banks toe up here for a moment!”


    Nick freezes. “What?”


    “Did you know about this?” I ask.


    “No. I just helped with setup. I didn’t?—”


    “Mr. Banks, don’t be shy!” The mayor waves him forward.


    The crowd starts chanting his name, and Nick shoots me a panicked look before heading to the stage. “What do I do?”


    “Go,” I say, encouraging him.


    “Folks, before we start the kickoff, I wanted to give my appreciation to this generous young man. Nick here decided earlier that he would make a veryrge donation to our literacy program to help us rebuild and expand the library.”


    “How much?” someone yells from the crowd.


    The mayorughs. “He’s funding the entire project.”


    Whispers circle around the crowd, and I stare at him. I had no idea any of this was going on.


    “That’s millions,” I hear someone say behind me.


    My stomach drops. Nick isn’t just wealthy; he’s in a different stratosphere.


    “We’re so appreciative that you’re here, sir. Would you like to say a few words?”


    Nick looks nervous as hell. The entire town square has gone quiet, and hundreds of faces have turned toward the stage.


    “Hi.” He finds me in the crowd, and I give him an encouraging nod. “I didn’t expect this. I don’t really do speeches. I typically leave the talking to my brother, Asher. And I know he’ll see this somehow, so I’ll give a preemptive, Shut up, Asher.”


    “You’re hot!” someone yells, and I hear all the women in the crowd swoon.


    Nick takes a breath. “My sister Eden loved books. She loved fall. She would have loved this festival.” His voice gets stronger. “She passed away five years ago, but she believed in the power of literacy to change lives. This donation is in her memory—because every child deserves to discover the magic of reading.”


    The crowd is silent for a moment, then erupts in apuse. I’m crying, and I don’t even care.


    “And,” the mayor adds, taking back the microphone, “let’s give a round of apuse to his lovely girlfriend, a local. Nick told me earlier that Julie brings out the best in him!”


    Every head turns to me. Phonese out. shes go off.


    Nick escapes the stage and makes his way back to me, looking overwhelmed.


    “I’m sorry,” he says immediately. “I had no idea they were going to?—”


    “Are you kidding? That was amazing. You just changed hundreds of kids’ lives.”


    “But people will find out. The attention?—”


    “I can handle it. I’m so proud of you.”


    I shut him up by kissing him in front of everyone. Not for show. Not for Craig, who I can see watching from near the beer tent. But because this man just honored his sister’s memory in the most beautiful way. His fingers thread through my hair, and everyone and everything around us disappears to nothing. I can taste the cider on his tongue, and my heart is so full that it might burst out of my chest.


    When we break apart, the crowd is cheering.


    “That was …” Nick seems dazed.


    I feel the same; he makes me dizzy.


    “Come on. You need a drink after that ambush,” I say, pulling him away.


    We escape to the beer tent, where Nick downs half a beer in one go.


    “I hate public speaking,” he admits.


    “You were perfect,” I offer as we stand at the edge of the tent.


    “I saw you crying.”


    “Happy tears. What you said about Eden … that was beautiful.”


    He’s quiet for a moment. “She would’ve liked you.”


    “Yeah?” I ask.


    “You remind me of her sometimes. The way you make everyone feel seen. How you find joy in small things. Your obsession with fall.”


    “Nick …” I swallow hard.


    “Sorry, that’s probably weird?—”


    “It’s not. It’s … thank you for everything. I’m sure I would’ve liked her too.”


    “You would’ve both ganged up on me,” he says,ughing, but I see the sadness in his eyes.


    “Guess I’ll have to go harder on you to make up for it,” I say with a wink. “Want to dance?”


    “Yes,” he tells me.


    We walk across the grass to the dance floor that’s set up in front of the stage. A country band called The Heartbreakers is ying, and the lead singer, London, is so damn talented. Afterward, we share a funnel cake and end the night by watching the fireworks burst over the mountain. As the festival winds down, he walks me to my condo.


    “Want toe inside?” I ask as we take the sidewalk that leads to my condo.


    “Is that a pickup line?” His mouth quirks upward.


    “Maybe. Or maybe I just want to keep pretending this is real for a few more hours.”


    He grabs my hand; the streetlight casting shadows across his face. “What if we stopped pretending?”


    “Nick …”


    “I know. I know we have rules. But, Jules, today didn’t?—”


    “Come inside,” I say softly, not wanting anyone to overhear this conversation. “We need to talk about this. About us. About what we’re doing.”


    “Yeah,” he says, following me. “We really do.”


    My hands shake as I unlock the door, knowing that whatever happens next could change everything between us.