Something holds me back when I try to turn in my sleep. I open my eyes and find that the pendant Lukas gave me is stuck in my cotton pillow.

I carefully extract it and hold the triquetra close.

A symbol of eternal love—Lukas told me himself.

This could only mean he loves me. Wouldn’t it? Why would he give me something like this otherwise?

I can’t hold back my smile.

Lukas Spencer, my pen pal, my fake husband, is my soulmate.

Can there be any bigger coincidence?

I’m still lost in the happy thoughts when my phone rings. I look at the time. It’s seven. Why is she calling me so early?

“Mornin’, Mom. All okay?”

“Yes, all’s well here. How are things there?” she asks carefully.

“What do you mean?” I sit upright after adjusting my pillow and dragging the covers under my arms. “Everything is okay at the inn. After yesterday, I’m sure it’ll be a little slow today, but maybe that’s good. We have to start full steam on the wedding preparations. There isn’t much time left.”

“Autumn, I’m asking about Lukas,” Mom says, interrupting my chatter. “He was…upset when you guys left. What happened? Did he tell you? Was he okay? Did he talk to you?” She showers me with a million questions.

“Mom, Lukas is okay.” My face enflames as I remember him in his car while his cum was shooting down my throat. He was definitely more than okay.

“Did he tell you what happened? Was it about his father?”

I take a deep breath. “I didn’t ask, Mom. If Lukas wants to share his childhood someday, I’ll be here to listen. But before that, I’m not going to pry. He already misses his mom too much.” My hand tightens around the pendant.

“You…love…him, don’t you?” Mom asks in a slow voice, and before I can answer, she adds, “I saw the way you both looked at each other when you returned from the bike ride.”

She wouldn’t have mentioned it if she knew what had happened on the ride.

“I think I do,” I whisper back.

“Oh, tums. I’m so happy to hear that.”

“Really? I thought you were with me, standing against this whole promise thing.”

“I don’t care about the promise.” She huffs. “But seeing Lukas with you, all this time, there couldn’t have been a better man for you, honey.”

“And you don’t care that he’s…much older than me?”

“Does his age matter to you? Do you think you struggle connecting with him?”

“Not at all. Even when I used to write him letters and emails, it never felt like we were twelve years apart in age. Is it weird?”

“Not coming from you. You were always an old soul,” Mom says sincerely and I grab the phone tightly in my hand.