Julie tastes like sugar. When I finally pull away from kissing her, she’s breathless. Her cheeks are flushed, and her green eyes sparkle beneath the jeweled crown. I’m ruined. Absolutely fucking ruined.


    The bass shakes the floors of Hollow Manor, but she pulls me toward the dance floor anyway. Her hand is in mine, and herughter spills out of her. We dance through two songs, then three. She teases me for not knowing the words, and I tease her for knowing them. The crowd fades away until it’s just us.


    We eventually trade the dance floor for the outdoor bar, weaving through the crowd of costumes until I lead her toward a tall table near the edge of the terrace. A skull candle glows in the middle, casting light on our faces. Julie leans into me without thinking, like her body already knows where it belongs.


    I grab us two of the signature drinks, Love Potions. When we’re alone, we finally breathe. She smells like vani, and it’s mixing with the spice of cinnamon from the drinks we’re sipping. Her wig is slightly crooked from dancing. She’s beautiful, her teal costume shimmering under the strings of lights overhead.


    I slide an arm around her waist. “Did you have a good day?”


    “It was incredible. Thank you,” she says. “But it still felt too long without you.”


    “You’re wee. I couldn’t get you off my mind.”


    “Same,” she confesses, and it makes my heart flutter.


    The music thumps in the distance, andughter drifts across thewn. Her warmth seeps through the silk costume. Every time my thumb slides over her hip, she exhales like she can’t help herself.


    She’s the calm in my fucking sails.


    We finish our drinks and grab new ones, and then she leads me toward the firepit. The mes lick upward, sparks flying into the night sky. A few people nce our way, smiles tugging at their mouths like they’re in on the secret, but I don’t care who sees us together.


    I sink into one of the Adirondack chairs and open my arms. Julie takes myp like she belongs there. My arm wraps around her waist, and her smile catches in the firelight.


    When I kiss her, it’s less about want and more about need. It leaves me wrecked, wanting more of her.


    The fire pops and crackles, sparks shooting up into the October night. I could sit here until midnight, letting the townsfolk swirl around us, pretending the world outside of us doesn’t exist.


    “All right, lovebirds!” Zane shouts, cutting through the spell as we stare at the mes.


    Julie startles, blinking at me as a veryrge crowd gathers near the stage. Autumn grins and enjoys every second.


    “What’s happening?” Julie whispers.


    “Costume contest,” I say, already groaning at Zane, who’s tugging me up by the arm.


    “On stage. Both of you.” He doesn’t give us a choice.


    Julie’sugh bubbles against my chest as she takes my hand. “Come on, ddin. Let’s dazzle the crowd.”


    We’re moved onto the small stage, and the Fairy Godmothers sit in the front row, fanning themselves dramatically. I’m convinced they fell straight out of a Bridgerton episode with those petticoats and wigs.


    “And for our final entry of the night!”


    Julie’s cheeks turn pink, but she ys along, lifting the hem of her costume to curtsy while I bow.


    The crowd cheers with approval.


    “Vote time! This is based on loudness, so scream for who you want to win!” Autumn calls into the microphone. “For the pirates! The skeletons! The vampires and …” She gestures to us. “Princess Jasmine and ddin!”


    The cheer is deafening. People chant our names, the Fairy Godmothers leading with, “Jules and Nick! Jules and Nick!” until I chuckle.


    Julie turns to me and grins. I never want to forget this look on her face.


    “Unanimous,” Autumn deres. “The winners are Nick and Jules!”


    Zane steps forward, holding up an envelope like it’s a goddamn Oscar.


    “Grand prize,” he says, milking it for all it’s worth. “Weekend trip to Napa Valley during Valentine’s Day. Compliments of Autumn and me.”


    Julie gasps. “Are you serious?”


    “Dead serious,” Zane says. “Flights, hotel, vineyard tours. The works. You’re wee.”


    She hugs him so hard that he actually stumbles. “Thank you.”


    I cross my arms. “You couldn’t have just given away a bottle of wine?”


    Zane smirks and leans in. “That’s too easy.”


    Julie beams at me, her green eyes shining like she’s already picturing the trip. I can’t wait to get away with her.


    When we finally take the steps off the stage, her grin is so bright that it could light the entire town.


    “We’re going. No matter what our decision is tonight,” she insists.


    “I’ll agree to that,” I say, knowing that if she doesn’t choose me tonight, I’m still promised onest week with her. It’s a selfish agreement.


    As the band returns to the stage, I steer her toward the haunted house at the edge of thewn. “We have onest scare.”


    The structure looms at the front of Hollow Manor, with fog spilling down the steps and strobe lights shing in the windows. Screams echo from inside, followed byughter. Julie squeezes my hand tighter, her jeweled bracelets glinting in the moonlight.


    “I don’t think I want to get jump scared,” she mutters.


    “I’ll protect you,” I tease, tugging her closer.


    She shoots me a look. “I don’t need protection.”


    “Tell that to your death grip on my hand.”


    Her cheeks flush, but she doesn’t let go. If anything, she clings tighter.


    Inside, the air smells like smoke and dry ice. ck curtains brush our faces as we make our way through the narrow hallway. A zombie lunges from the shadows, groaning loud enough to make Julie shriek. She immediately buries her head in my chest.


    Iugh, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “Definitely don’t need protection.”


    “I’m actually a wussy,” she says, her voice muffled against me.


    We move deeper, weaving through rooms full of skeletons and clowns. Every time something jumps out, Julie startles, thenughs. She’s glowing in the shing lights, her cheeks pink, her eyes bright, and I can’t stop watching her.


    By the time we reach the final stretch, the fog is thicker. A figure in a mask ms a fake chain saw against the wall, sparks flying. Julie yelps and practically climbs into my arms.


    “Okay, okay,” I whisper, holding her tight.


    The chain-saw guy moves on to his next victims, but Julie doesn’t let go. She’s breathless.


    Before we exit, she grabs my hand and yanks me through a half-open ck curtain, into a side room that’s pitch-ck, except for a single flickeringntern in the corner. Ites on and off randomly to make it scarier.


    “Jules—”


    Her mouth is on mine before I can finish. I’m hard and desperate for her. I press her back against the wall as she pulls me down to her, fisting the front of my vest like she’s starving for me. I groan against her lips, bracing my hand above her head. The other one grips her hip, and I pull her flush against me.


    “Fuck, you’re so hard,” she whispers, kissing me.


    Her body presses into me and I want her closer. The need to have her is overwhelming, and we’re nearly insatiable.


    Julie breaks away just long enough to whisper, “I need you, Nick.”


    She drags my mouth back down to her hungry lips.


    “Careful,” I rasp, my forehead pressed to hers. “I might not let you leave this room.”


    Her nails scrape lightly against the back of my neck, sending shivers down my spine. “Maybe I don’t want to,” she confesses.


    Her words undo me.


    I kiss her harder, deeper, until we’re both gasping. Her crown tters to the floor, along with her wig. My hand slides beneath the edge of her top, feeling the heat of her skin and the arch of her back as she melts into me.


    Somewhere outside, another scream echoes, but here in the dark, it’s just us. Just the sound of our breathing and the taste of her mouth.


    “I don’t want to either, but …” My lips trail along her jaw, and I press my mouth to her ear. “I need you to meet me at the gazebo in five minutes.”


    Her breath catches. “Why?”


    “Because,” I mutter, kissing her softly, “it’s time to exchange our letters.”


    Her eyes search mine, still dazed, still burning, but she nods.


    I leave her with onest kiss, then force myself to walk out before I change my mind and devour her right there in the dark. My chest is heaving, my lips swollen, my body aching for her, but this moment deserves more than shadows and fake cobwebs.


    I step outside alone, and the night air hits me. My heart pounds harder than it ever did on the ice. I walk across thewn, past the chatter and Halloween music, until I reach the gazebo at the edge of the property.


    Autumn and Patterson hung the lights in it yesterday, and it glows like something out of a dream. Strings of fairy lights twist around the white beams, casting everything in soft gold. Pumpkins line the steps, and their happily carved faces flicker, guiding me inside.


    I take my ce on the bench and pull the orange envelope from my pocket. Her name is written across it in my handwriting. It holds my truths and how I feel about her. It’s lightpared to the weight of what it means.


    For once in my life, I’m not nervous about a crowd or an opponent or the press. I’m nervous about one woman, the only woman who matters. The one I’ve fallen head over heels in love with without even trying.


    The sound of soft footsteps pulls my attention away.


    Julie.


    She’s still in her Jasmine costume, though the wig and crown dangle from her hand, like she gave up pretending a few haunted rooms ago. Her real red hair tumbles around her shoulders, wild and perfect. She’s clutching her envelope in her other hand like it’s both armor and a confession.


    When she steps into the glow of the lights, my lungs seize.


    She’s everything.


    I stand, meeting her halfway. For a moment, we just stare at each other. The party is a distant hum behind us; the night holding its breath.


    “This is it,” I whisper.


    “It is.”


    I nce down at my phone and watch the time click to midnight. We exchange envelopes, then sink onto the bench beside one another. Our knees brush, and the fairy lights above us twinkle like stars.


    “No matter what, still friends,” I say.


    “No matter what, we still have time at Napa Valley,” she reminds me. “Where we’ll have tons of sex?”


    “Absolutely,” I promise. “Ready?”


    Julie nods, biting her lip. “More than ever.”


    My fingers tremble as I unfold hers, the orange paper catching the lights. Her handwriting curves across the page, and every word already threatens to undo me.


    That’s how I feel before I start reading.


    Nick,


    The night we met at Booker’s, I didn’t want to admit what I felt. I told myself that meeting you was bad timing. But then you smiled at me. That ridiculous, cocky smile, and I knew right then that I wasn’t fooling myself. I wasn’t annoyed with you. I was terrified the moment our eyes locked. In that short amount of time that we spent together, I knew you were the man who could break down every wall I’d built.


    I’ve thought about that night so many times. The way you leaned across the bar to chat with me and how you teased me felt right. Then you looked at me like you could see our future, and that took my breath away. Even now, it’s almost hard for me to admit. But that night, after meeting you, something permanently shifted inside me.


    This was supposed to be fake, but it was impossible to pretend. I can’t stop thinking about the coffee shop kisses that left my head spinning; or the orchard, where I let myself believe in something good again; or the night you stood in my condo and told me you weren’t going anywhere. I hope you meant that.


    I’ve tried to brace myself for the possibility that, tonight, you’ll decide that we were temporary and that we’re meant to be friends only. I don’t want that, but I will respect your decision, even if I disagree. If the time I had with you is all I’ll ever have, then know that I’ll cherish it for the rest of my life. I will always keep your secrets and hold the memories we shared close to my heart.


    But the truth is, I don’t want to lose you. I don’t want to go back to being just friends. I don’t want to let go of the only person who has ever made me feel this seen, this safe, this wanted.


    So, here it is, Nick. The truth I can’t hold back anymore … I’m in love with you, and I hope you feel the same.


    You’re not just my October, Nick. I want a chance at forever. You’re the calm in my chaos, the warmth in my winters, the reason spring feels possible, and the fire I’ll never stop chasing in the summer. You’re it. You’re everything I’ve ever wanted in a partner.


    I don’t want it to end in November; I want it to be the start of our beginning.


    You’ll always have a piece of my heart.


    Julie


    My chest aches as I finish thest line. You’ll always have a piece of my heart.


    I can’t breathe or think. Every word on this page is everything I’ve wanted to hear but never believed I’d deserve. Booker’s. The orchard. Her condo. The pumpkins. Forever. She’s fallen in love with me.


    I nce up, and she’s staring at me with those wide eyes.


    “How did we write the same thing?” she asks.


    I shake my head. “I don’t know.”


    “How is this possible?” we ask simultaneously.


    Herugh breaks on a sob. Sheunches herself into my arms, straddling myp on the bench like she can’t get close enough. I crush her against me, kissing her like I’ve been starving for this moment my whole life.


    This kiss is everything. Every confession. Every broken wall. Every fear turned into certainty. She tastes like salt and sweetness and Julie, and I know in my bones that I don’t ever want to stop kissing her.


    When we finally break apart, foreheads pressed together, both of us breathing hard, I whisper, “I love you, Jules.”


    I frame her face in my hands, forcing her to see me, every raw piece of me.


    “I love you too. In every way.” She smiles through her tears, a sound between augh and a sob spilling out of her. “Please say it again.”


    “I love you.” I kiss her mouth. “I love you.” I kiss her cheek. “I love you.” I kiss the corners of her eyes, her nose, her chin. “Every season. Every day. Every second.”


    Her hands fist in my vest, kissing me softer as the lights hum above us and the carved pumpkins flicker at our feet.


    And I know with absolute certainty that this is the beginning of everything.


    “Will you fly with me to New York today?” I ask, ready to beg.


    Her eyes search mine, and she whispers the only answer I need. “Yes. I will.”