17. Nat #2
We met at the ax range for a friendly competition, which Autumn was excited about, since she’d finally be able to participate.
She helped Jamie’s mom learn to throw, and it didn’t go unnoticed that Jamie was unimpressed with her hit, which nearly touched the bull’s-eye.
When he threw his own practice throw, it was apparent that he was only jealous.
At least he got it on the board that time.
“You really expect me to believe you haven’t improved your swing after nearly a year of doing this? Jamie Davis, have I taught you nothing?” Autumn laughed and playfully razzed Jamie as he threw his ax and shamelessly missed the target.
“You might need to teach me a little more,” Jamie teased. “Hey, glad you all made it.” His face was bright, even if he was also nervous.
Lola and Luis came rushing over, and Autumn’s parents were chatting together with Chase and Emerson off to the side, looking like the perfect spectators.
“We didn’t miss it, right?” Luis exclaimed, out of breath.
Autumn’s eyes went up.
I stepped in. “No, the competition is just about to start. You’re both right on time.”
Jamie looked relieved, and I laughed, knowing that if Autumn wasn’t distracted checking all the axes, she’d see right through this whole song and dance.
“This is a pretty great turnout,” Autumn commented as the stragglers from our staff finally arrived. She was already so impressed and full of love. It was beautiful to see.
Jamie grinned and handed her an ax, but not just any ax. The handle of this one was painted bright yellow, and a sunflower had been painstakingly etched into the wood handle by Jamie as a gift for their six-month anniversary.
“Of course, they made the time, honey,” Autumn’s stepmom said as she picked up an ax. “You’re a very special person.”
She propped the ax over her shoulder. “You know buttering me up won’t matter, right? I’m going to destroy all of you. It’s not even fair.”
Laughter erupted from everyone, except her father, whose crossed arms didn’t pair well with the smile he was fighting.
Jamie was grinning and obviously enamored. “I don’t know about that. I think you’re going to have to prove it.” His nerves seemed to melt away when she teased him, and witnessing the interaction made my heart squeeze. I felt grateful to be a part of their special moment.
Autumn was giddy as she tried to get more information. “So, should we do this as individuals or as teams?”
“Teams,” Jamie declared with a boyish grin. “And you’ll be on mine, won’t you?”
“You’re a terrible pick. But a good boyfriend. Sure. Why not?”
Jamie shook his head and nudged her shoulder. “Thanks for carrying me,” he joked as their team stepped up and threw their axes.
To no one’s surprise, Autumn nailed a bull’s-eye. I had to hand it to her, she had excellent hand-eye coordination when it didn’t involve feeding herself s’mores. Then again, maybe those messes were Jamie’s fault, too.
I smiled as Jamie stepped up next and made a big show of telling everyone he was swinging and that he was ready to win.
He wound up, released the ax, and just like he had the first time he’d met Autumn, according to the camp legend, it went through the woods in the direction of the lake.
Jamie threw his hands in the air, feigning exasperation, as his gaze followed his ax.
“You did not just do that.” Autumn took his hand and spouted mostly playful insults at her boyfriend as they trudged off together to get the wayward ax.
The group of us nonchalantly veered away from the range to a hidden piece of the beach, fifty feet from where Jamie was taking her. I’d recently learned about their second meet-cute last year and loved the way he was calling back to it.
When Autumn neared the beach a step ahead of him, she stopped abruptly and turned to Jamie, then back to the beach. We couldn’t see it, but I’d watched him spell out the message Will you marry me? meticulously in stones on the sand.
“What do you think he’s saying?” Hazel asked as Leo held her shoulders so she didn’t fall off the precarious rocks she was teetering on. There were more than ten of us and barely enough space to see through the trees.
“Probably something like, ‘All I do is dream of you,’ followed by, ‘This is all thanks to Leo,’” Leo boasted. He probably believed that.
The group chuckled until Jamie got down on one knee. I was pretty sure everyone held their breath until Autumn launched herself into his arms, nearly knocking him over. Once he got back on his feet, he lifted her and spun her around, which was enough for us to head in their direction.
We found Jamie with tears in his eyes as he slipped something onto her finger. They walked toward us with big smiles, and then I heard Jamie’s voice.
“A real ring is coming, I promise.”
Autumn smiled softly and cupped his face. “I don’t care. I love this one.”
They turned to see all of us cheering and jumping up and down, sharing in their excitement.
Jamie beamed at us with the biggest smile. “Thank you all so much!”
Autumn was pink-cheeked as she showed off the intricate ring Jamie had woven out of friendship bracelet string. The untarnished happiness in her eyes was only broken when she came to a realization. “Wait, so the competition?”
“Was all a setup for this. But we can finish it if you want, sunflower. I won’t throw it out here again,” he teased, and she lit up laughing.
She grabbed his hands in hers. “I love being on your team.”
The group of us let out a collective Aww at the sweet moment, and the parents congratulated the couple.
After dinner and cake, we discussed options for how we could celebrate the new engagement. In the end, most of us decided to celebrate by going to the local bar.
The parents chose to stay back and let us young folk go out. The group ahead of me was exchanging their favorite Jamie and Autumn stories on our way to the cars when I caught Leo’s strained voice behind me.
“But you used to be such a romantic. Now you’re so cynical.” He said it like a sad fact.
Jack’s reply was barely above a whisper. “I’m happy for them. I’m happy for all the couples who find love, really. It’s just not for me.”
My heart squeezed at the raw quality in his low tone.
Leo seemed to feel it, too, as he tried to assuage him. “Not everything will blow up in your face like it did last year.”
I thought back to last summer and considered the way Jack was now. It was like he’d had a personality transplant, at least around me. I hadn’t known him well back then, but Leo definitely had. What had changed?
Jack didn’t answer. Instead, he power walked past me.
Over my shoulder, I saw Leo’s pinched brows, right before he caught me looking.
I turned back. Jack had made it up the trail to congratulate his best friend, but I would bet he wanted out of his conversation with Leo.
Jack smiled and threw an arm around Autumn and then Jamie.
What the hell had happened to him last year?