“Lukas, what world do you live in? Even Dad knows about Maddy. They are currently the hottest music couple. They were performing a live show when Andy got down on his knee and proposed. You should have seen Maya’s face. It was like a dream, and she couldn’t stop her tears. Oh my God! I had goosebumps just watching Andy wait while Maya stood there stunned. And then finally she nodded a yes.”

My heart pounds as Autumn sits cross-legged before me, her hands close to her heart. She’s looking up at the starry night, but her sparkling eyes clearly convey that she’s transported someplace else.

Is this what she wishes for her future? A giant declaration of love by someone who’s like her in interests and in age?

Of course she does, you fuckhead!

“Lukas?” Autumn whispers my name, and I realize her attention is back on me as I’m brazenly staring at her beautiful face.

“Yeah, sorry. I zoned out.”

“Don’t worry.” She smiles, completely unaware of my thoughts. “Almost everyone zones out hearing their story.” And then the worry lines return on her face. “The whole world is looking forward to their grand wedding, and I’m not sure why they want to see the inn.”

“They want to get married here?” I ask, surprised.

The Butterfly Inn is cute; some might even say grand, at least for Cherrywood. It hasn’t been long since Zane got married here.

It was a miracle that Autumn’s family had to go out just on that particular day. If I’d have known, I wouldn’t have been sulking like a teenager dragged to a family function against his wishes. I would have taken my responsibility as a best man more seriously, even though Zane’s wedding wasn’t real, at least not at the time.

“Maya apparently wants a small, low-profile family and friends gathering. I think she saw some wedding pictures of the inn posted by a food blogger on her social media. It was the wedding where none of us were here. Do you remember I wrote about it in my email?”

I nod.

Talk about a small world.

“This is why I’m nervous. Even though I handled all the preparation and planning, the actual event was handled by someone else. Maybe it was the wedding planner and how she executed everything—”

“Believe me, she wasn’t that great.” The words slip out as I remember the woman who found numerous reasons to fix my tie throughout the ceremony.

Autumn’s eyebrows furrow. “What do you mean?”

I release a shaky breath. “I was here that day for the wedding. Zane Teager is my best friend.”

“You…were…here? How?” She jerks in her seat. “Why did no one tell me?”

“Autumn, nobody knew about me at that time except Mr. Big, and I…asked him not to tell anyone.”