I fidget nervously as Lukas, Mr. Big, Chiara, and I all stand on the porch, waiting for our special guests. The news of their arrival is mostly a secret, known to only a handful of people.

“Relax, Autumn.” Lukas places his hand on my shoulder, and that simple contact has my pulse quickening.

But I don’t get more than two seconds to absorb the feel of his warmth before it’s pulled away with the same speed with which it touched me.

I don’t get a chance to look at his face to judge if he felt the same crackle of electricity, because a car with black-tinted windows pulls over, and a new unease rushes over me.

Mr. Big jumps into action and opens the door.

He’s soon followed by Lukas, who, as promised, is here with me.

“He’s hot!” Chiara whispers when Andy Bruno steps out of the car, dressed in black jeans and a gray high-neck pullover.

“He’s engaged, Chi!”

“That doesn’t make him any less irresistible. Tell me he doesn’t look hot to you.”

But even if I tried, I couldn’t look away from Lukas Spencer dressed in a green T-shirt, even in the cold weather. The sun is shining, but intermittently, a gust of wind whips around. I have no idea how he’s not freezing.

“Welcome, Ms. Castellanos,” Mr. Big greets Maya.

She looks around with her burgundy-painted lips curling into a smile. She’s so pretty, standing on the driveway wearing a gray suede skirt and a white turtleneck that matches her long platinum hair.

I take a step toward our guests when Andy pulls Maya closer. She looks up at him, and for a second, they’re lost in each other, in their own world.

A powerful, swoony feeling sparks in the air, and I’m sure no one misses it. The moment Andy proposed to Maya on stage in front of thousands and thousands of guests flashes before me. My chest hurts with foreign feelings. These two are so lucky.

I don’t even know why my gaze drifts to Lukas, but my breath hitches, almost forcing me to take a step back when I find him staring right back at me.

My heart leaps into my throat, and images float before me. In my imagination, Lukas and I exchange places with Andy and Maya. His arm is locked around my waist as if he needs to touch me every waking minute. The way he looks at me, like I’m his whole world.

“I’m sorry,” Maya says, pulling my attention back to the gorgeous couple.

I gulp hard.

“This is so new. I still get carried away sometimes.” She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, and the pink in her cheeks calms my anxiety. She’s exactly like the media describes her: a sweet girl-next-door type.