“I’m okay. Did you forget I’m the daredevil?” I give her a smile, even though my arm is hurting like a bitch.

“Why didn’t you tell me, Lukas?” Her voice sounds heavier than I imagined. I don’t know if this is her usual voice or if she’s emotional. Our exchange has always been through emails and letters.

“You know why.”

“I do not!” She jumps out of her seat. “You wrote to me on my birthday a few months back. You sent me a present for God’s sake.”

She tucks her auburn hair behind her ear and I hold my breath. I fist the thin hospital blanket at the sight of the fall leaf earrings I’d sent her on her birthday.

I’m at a jewelry shop with my best friend, Zane Teager, who’s buying an engagement ring for his fake wife. They’re getting married so he can provide insurance for her. This will either end up with a happily ever after or it’ll rip my friend’s heart out, because he doesn’t do fake.

I take a step back as Zane explains to Mr. Hart how he wants something eternal for Vienna.

But his next words are lost on me as I spot orange earrings in the shape of fall leaves, reminding me of her.

From: autumnthefallqueen

To: lukasspencer

Oh my God, Lukas.

Thank you so much for the best birthday gift. These are so pretty.

I can’t believe you found them at Hart’s Jewelers, of all places. For a second, I thought you were in Cherrywood, but then I realized you purchased them online.

I sometimes wonder how it’ll be when we see each other again someday. Will we feel like strangers? Will it be weird…to talk? Will we prefer to use email instead of words?

Something to think about, right?

~ Autumn

My lips curl imagining us both sitting opposite each other in some cafe, typing furiously in our laptops because talking seems weird.

“I didn’t dress up for you, in case you’re wondering. I just happened to put them on today.” She looks away for a split second before her gaze returns to my face. “Did you buy them yourself and you just let me believe they were ordered online?”

I squirm under her intense gaze.

“Don’t lie to me, Lukas. Not anymore.”

“I was there with a friend. He was buying a ring for his wife, and when I saw them, I immediately thought of you.”

Her lips twist and her mouth is drawn down in a scowl. She hadn’t even looked so pissed off on our wedding day.

“What would have happened if I’d have told you I was here?” I finally ask.

“That’s not the point. The point is, you chose to hide what seems like a huge part of your life. I thought we were friends.”