I’m about to pick them up when Lukas shakes his head. He stares at me for a few moments, confusion and something resembling nerves haunting his face before he looks away. Without a word, he pulls the silver chain hanging around his neck from under his T-shirt and unlocks it to retrieve a black metallic ring.

Lukas twists it, and with a flick of his fingers, the ring clicks open into three parts: two hands surrounding a tiny heart.

I gasp in surprise when he says, “This belonged to my mother.” Lukas pushes two of those thin parts onto my ring finger before handing me one. “You can count on me, Autumn. I’ll be here as a friend, always.”

I like that he added the last word, because this marriage isn’t for forever. My dad’s lawyer already has the annulment papers ready, and as much as it hurts me to think of Grandpop leaving, that moment will also be the end of my marriage with Lukas. Maybe it’ll be a few hours or even a few days.

My hands shake when I slide the thin band onto his thick finger, where it stops halfway.

“I’ll get it resized,” he says before fisting his hand. “Once put on, this shouldn’t be taken off,” he whispers to himself, but I hear it nevertheless.

And then taking me by surprise, he shakes my hand. Moments later, Lukas takes off, leaving me wondering when I’ll see him again.

1. Autumn

1

AUTUMN

Present Day

I’ve just placed a cup of coffee on my desk when my best friend, Chiara, scampers into my office. “Autumn, there’s a couple at the reception desk screaming their heads off. You better come out.”

“I was just there. What could have happened in the past two minutes?” I ask, although I’m already rushing behind her.

We enter the reception area of The Butterfly Inn, the cozy, romantic lodge that’s my family’s pride and joy and a beloved part of all of our lives. My mom inherited it from Grandma, who inherited it from her mother, and now at the age of twenty-two, I’m ready to take charge.

I know this inn inside out, every nook and every corner, and I feel its energy running through my body as soon as I wake up.

My mom says it’s our great-grandmother showing she’s with us. Maybe she’s right.

Ever since I can remember, I’ve been here every day after school, helping Mom and learning how the business works. She treats this place like it’s no less serious than practicing rocket science.