“What are you doing here?” Chiara walks to me and gives me a hand.

“I…” I look around the office in confusion, until my gaze catches the pages littered on the floor with my handwriting spread all across them. I bend down with a loud groan and pick them up before shoving them inside the spiral binder on the table.

Chiara raises an eyebrow before tilting her head toward the door. I follow her movement to spot Vienna standing patiently with a bag in her hand.

Crap.

“I’m…so sorry, Vi.” I try to fix my hair, having no idea how bad I even look. “I was… I…”

“Don’t worry at all. We’re all guilty of falling asleep while working every now and then.” I don’t know if it really looks like that or if she’s just being nice. “I’m also a few minutes early. I just couldn’t wait to share all my ideas with you,” she says in an excited voice free of accusation. “I don’t mind waiting while you freshen up.” She walks inside, going straight for the couch.

“Thank you so much.”

Chiara follows me out of the office. “Is everything alright?”

My lips press together as I shrug. I don’t want to lie to my best friend, but I also don’t know what to say. “Can you please arrange some coffee and something special to eat? Vienna is too nice to have to wait.”

“Of course.”

When I enter the suite, my whole body shivers at the chilling emptiness inside me. It’s not like Lukas and I were always in the room at the same time, but today my heart sees him at every corner, misses him on every beat.

I remember the way he would stand by the vanity and tug on the collar of his T-shirt after putting on his leather jacket.

My gaze drifts to the couch, and an image of him shaking his jeans after tying his boots flashes before me

Jesus, Autumn! Stop this nonsense.

I walk into the closet with the single aim of grabbing something to wear before hitting the shower, but my feet stick at the landing. Lukas’ clothes, neatly hung on one side. Everything is arranged in perfect order. Jeans, jackets, T-shirts.

He was so eager to leave that he didn’t even bother to pack his stuff. But why?

Before my brain can go crazy with all the questions, my phone vibrates in my jeans pocket.

Chiara: Whatever is going on, I’m here for you. xo.

Autumn: Thanks <3

I grab my black pullover, as it matches my mood perfectly, and a pair of black jeggings before exiting the closet.

“I’m so happy we got a chance to work together,” Vienna says as she swipes her iPad screen, showing us another illustration of the food garnishes she has planned for the wedding.