Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
Autumn
I t takes me a few seconds to remember where I am.
Hollow Manor.
In Zane Alexander’s gigantic bed surrounded by windows.
The large T-shirt is up over my boob and I’m sprawled across the mattress like I’m at home. I reach over to his side and find it’s cold to the touch. I’m not sure why I feel disappointed. I sit up, enjoying the view and readjusting my clothes.
I’m in awe that he gets to wake up to this daily. I can only imagine it with the snow-capped mountains and the slopes right outside the windows.
The visibility is fantastic on the mountain today and I can see the tall peaks in the distance. A smile touches my lips as my hand rubs across the silky sheets, and I lie back, staring at the constellations painted on the high ceiling, thinking about last night. He had me so turned on that I had to handle it myself. No more tequila around him needs to be something I enforce in the future.
However, I’m not ashamed. Imagining him pretending to be asleep as I got off to thoughts of him has me squeezing my thighs together again. Proof that he’s buried deep under my skin already.
Had I taken one more shot, I would’ve begged for him, but I respect his no. Sometimes a girl just has to take care of herself. Before I can think about anything else, my bladder screams out in protest. When I stand, I’m shocked I don’t have a hangover, considering how much I drank. He wasn’t joking. I actually feel great and alive .
My feet touch the cool black marble with golden flecks that look like fairy dust. This house feels magical and whimsy, with its hidden details and quirks. I could spend weeks in this house and never be able to take it all in. Everywhere I look, I notice something different. Care went into building and designing the manor. That much I know.
After relieving myself, I wash my hands, wishing I could brush my teeth. I glance at the leather toiletry bag with golden zippers and read Tom Ford in tiny letters, then I unzip it. Inside are normal things.
I open the cabinet under the sink and see an unopened package of toothbrushes. I swipe the orange one then open and squeeze a line of the spearmint toothpaste that I’ve smelled on his breath onto the end.
As I look in the mirror, a smile touches my lips, because for the first time in two years, I woke up somewhere other than my bed in my loft. I tuck hair behind my ears, trying to look somewhat presentable before going downstairs.
The curse feels broken, like today is a new beginning. The thrill of that rushes through me.
I walk out of his room, taking in the space and the sunlight through the windows. It shines against the paintings, naturally spotlighting them on the walls. Zane was right. The house is gorgeous in the daylight with personal touches that are often overlooked in spaces. At night, it’s a totally different vibe, a little spooky when the lights are off, but I like them both.
I slide my hand down the smooth railing of the stairway, and at the bottom I see Zane in the kitchen. He's standing with a dark-haired woman, laughing. He hugs her tight. I stop, not wanting to impose, and try to sneak away. As if he senses my presence, he looks up and pins me in place with his gaze.
His eyes trail down my body then back up to my face, and I notice the fire in his eyes as a sexy smile meets his lips.
“Autumn. There you are.”
Escaping is now completely out of the question.
He lets go of the woman and I walk toward them, my palms sweaty. Is this his ex? The woman he said would never take him back. He waves me closer and I wish I could read his mind, so I could learn who she is. The last thing I want is a weird confrontation.
“I was just talking about you,” Zane offers, then turns to the woman who’s watching us.
When our eyes meet, I immediately know who she is—Zane’s younger sister—the girl I played with at the pumpkin patch over two decades ago. The last time I saw her she was with her mom and older brother. But I don’t remember any details about them, just her.
My heart hurts knowing what happened after, not able to imagine how that must feel to lose a parent at such a young age. I can’t comprehend it.
“I’m Harper, or Lucy, however, I don’t go by that name any longer.”
She holds out her arms and squeezes me in a tight hug. “I have very fond memories riding the carnival rides with you on bracelet weekend and playing a lot of games.” She releases me.
“I think those pink bears we won are still at my parents’ place somewhere,” I say with a laugh.
“Really? That’s awesome.”
The two of us became best friends and then I never saw her again. The rumors about Hollow Manor creeped up soon afterward and I stupidly helped perpetuate them.
Zane focuses back on Harper and speaks up. “You should hear the story about the house and how we were all murdered in here. Now three ghosts haunt the quarters.”
It’s creepy how he easily strolls through my thoughts.
“Honestly, Mom would’ve loved that.”
“That’s what I said.” He grins, and it's true happiness. It’s a good look, one I hope stays.
“Ready to tell me what you’re doing here?” he asks his sister.
“I came to tell you happy birthday, of course. I couldn’t bear the idea of you being here alone on your special day. I wanted to surprise you and I brought your favorite cake.” She glances at the black box on the counter. “The fact it made it here without me swiping my finger across the chocolate icing once is a miracle.”
Harper glances at me and her eyes trail over Zane’s name on my chest. I know how this looks, and I’m totally okay with it.
“But,” she continues. “It seems like you didn’t actually need me.”
“Just ask,” Zane finally says. “You want to.”
“Okay. Are you two together?”
Zane wraps his arm around me and pulls me into him. I study his mouth before meeting his eyes.
“We’re fake dating.” There is heat behind his gaze and words. I could kiss him right here, right now, in the early morning sunlight, because when he looks at me like that, the world fades away.
“Uhh, I see nothing fake about this,” Harper mutters, focusing on her brother. “Please tell me this means you’re attending Dad’s wedding.”
“Only if Autumn joins me.”
“And?” She turns to me, smiling wide, giving me the same doe-eyed expression as Blaire and Julie. She’s already paired us together too. I can see it.
“I’ve agreed,” I explain. “I’m not backing out now.”
She laughs and interlocks her fingers. “I can’t wait to see everyone’s faces when you two walk in. Heads will spin.”
“You think so?” Zane asks.
Harper confidently nods. “You actually found your forever person.”
He holds up his hand. “Okay, you can stop now.”
“The only reason I am is because I don’t want to embarrass you in front of your future wife,” she admits. “But during your wedding reception, I want you both to tell everyone at the toast that I predicted it, okay?”
Zane playfully rolls his eyes.
“You’ll tie the knot before the end of the year,” she adds. “I’ll bet either of you.”
“Confidence runs in the family?” I ask Zane.
“You have no idea.” He wraps his arm around my shoulder, pulling me into him. My stomach growls loud enough for him to hear. “Hungry?”
I feel the carved ridges of his muscles through the T-shirt, and his breath grows ragged. “Starving.”
“Now I feel bad for showing up unannounced. I messed up the morning after.”
“No, no. It’s not like that at all, trust me. No lines have been crossed.” He glances at me and I know the word yet hangs on the tip of his tongue. It pops into my mind like a whisper.
“Regardless,” she says, grabbing her designer handbag from the counter. “I think I’ll give you two some privacy and head to the resort. Can we meet for dinner later?”
I smile with a nod and Zane agrees, but only after I did.
“Great. I’ll see you both tonight.” Just like that, Harper wiggles her fingers then walks out the front door with her purse over her shoulder. “See you later, lovebirds.”
When the door clicks closed, he lets out a sigh. “I’m sorry about that. I didn’t know she was coming.”
“No, it’s fine. It’s your birthday. You should hang out with your sister, even if she has jokes.”
“About that,” he says. “She wasn’t kidding.”
“Wait, she really believes we’re getting married? Is she psychic or something?”
“Clairvoyant is the official term. I’ve seen it in action. The things she has predicted in my life are creepy.”
“Like what?”
“Meeting you.”
A chill runs over my arms.
“Right down to the detail of me forcing you to be my friend.”
“What?” I study him. “What else happens?”
He smiles and shrugs. “I can’t tell you. Unfortunately, you’ll have to get your own prediction from her. It’s just how it works.”
I take a step forward and he places his hand against the small of my back. My face softens. “Do we end up together?”
“Yes. We get our happily ever after,” he whispers, swallowing hard.
Between my dreams about him and his sister’s premonition, I’m slightly freaked out. What if there is something deeper at play here?
“You believe her,” he says. “I can see it on your face.”
“What if it’s fate? Two people shouldn’t fuck around with that.”
“How about we just take it one day at a time and see what happens?”
“Okay,” I say, needing a distraction because I’m too lost in my head replaying the invisible string that has forced us together this past month. There are too many unexplainable things that have happened between us.
Zane lifts the lid to the cake. It smells sweet, and he swipes his finger across the icing before placing it in his mouth.
“How is it?”
“Delicious. Try it. The inside is strawberry cream. Best cake in the states.”
I slide my finger across the soft sugar and taste it. Orgasmic, it’s the only way to describe it, but the moan that releases from my throat does it for me.
His brow pops up. “Never been jealous of icing until now.”
I chuckle. “It’s yummy. But we should eat actual food.”
I can’t remember the last time I slept in, but I also haven’t drunk tequila like that since I was in my early twenties. Yes, it’s sleeping in, considering I’m up for work each day at four.
“Would you like to have breakfast with me? We can stop at your place so you can change into something more comfortable.”
“And what if I wanted to show up wearing your clothes?”
“Do you?” He takes a step back looking me over from head to toe. “I’m down for whatever you’d like to do.”
My eyes slide down him. His head falls back with laughter. “Let’s go eat.”
“Let’s,” I say, and he rushes upstairs. Five minutes later, he’s dressed, grabbing his keys and adjusting the baseball hat on his head. I snag my phone and then we leave.
I’m in awe, driving out of Hollow Manor in the morning. Fog floats and rolls across the road.
“Do you think Harper is right?” I ask as the gate slides open.
“I don’t know.” He glances over at me. “I just want your friendship. Nothing else. No expectations. Just me and you getting to know one another. Being each other’s plus one to the holiday stuff and having fun,” he explains, making it sound simple.
“What if I meet the man of my dreams while we’re pretending to be together?”
“The man of your dreams?” He kicks the Jeep into drive and we turn onto the main road that leads to town and his words aren't lost on me. “Bottom line is, I want you to do what makes you happy because that’s what matters most.”
He drops me off at my apartment and parks as I change into some leggings and a sweater, then I grab a baseball hat too. By the time I’m ready, he’s crossing the street, meeting me on the sidewalk full of tourists.
The diner that serves the best breakfast is only four blocks away, so we walk. By some miracle, there are free tables when we enter. The host slides two laminated menus from the large stack of them then guides us to our table.
Zane’s hand is on the small of my back as we move to the booth by the windows. All eyes are zeroed in on us and I look down, making sure there isn’t something on me. I glance back at him and he pops his brows at me, smirking.
We slide in and sit across from one another. I read the menu, even though I don’t need it.
“Is everyone staring?” I ask, scanning over the laminated paper.
“Yes,” he says, not meeting my gaze.
“Do you know why?” I feel like there is a spotlight on our table.
“Who knows?” He shrugs. “It’s like that everywhere I go.”
Our server sets two mugs on the table and immediately fills them with coffee then leaves to give us time.
Zane shoots a wink to several older women beside us who giggle when he moves his attention back to me. The charisma he exudes without even trying. Damn. Men like him are why cults exist. I think I'd join.
“Did you just flirt?” I keep my voice low.
He licks his lips and opens his mouth, but before he can speak, it's time to place our order.
“An apple cinnamon waffle, bacon, and scrambled eggs.”
Zane closes his menu. “I’ll have the same.”
Then we’re left alone, I get up and slide next to him. Instinctively, he wraps his arm around me and pulls me in close. “You smell amazing.”
I smile, taking a hot sip of my coffee as his fingers trail against my skin. Goosebumps cover me and he glances down at them.
“Hm.” Is all he says.
“Autumn!” Mrs. Mooney yells, joining us. She grins wide. “Is this him?”
“I’m confused,” I say, glancing at Zane.
“The man you had us put a love spell on. Alex?”
My face burns red.
“Actually, yes. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Zane says, holding out his hand toward her. She gently takes it and he gives her a smile.
“Honey, he’s cute. Total boyfriend material. I can’t wait to tell your mama about him later tonight at our little shindig,” she says.
“Mrs. Mooney,” I say as my entire body catches on fire with embarrassment.
Zane chuckles beside me, picking up his cup of coffee. I can tell he’s enjoying this conversation as I die a little inside.
I huff. “Please don’t meddle. I want the right to tell my parents I’m with someone first.”
“After last night, I think the whole town knows.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, feeling like I don’t have the full story.
She pulls out her cell phone, squinting as she types. Moments later, she turns and shows me the town’s official private group on social media.
A picture of Zane and I kissing at the patch is pinned to the top. The text says: Someone add them to the Pumpkin King and Queen ballot.
I flick my finger down her screen and speed read the comments. My name was dropped and everyone is calling Zane either Alexander or Alex.
I gasp. “This is bad. How do I get it removed?”
“You need to contact the admins.”
Then I see the amount of likes it has on it. Thousands.
“Anyway, I am gonna put you on the ballot. You’ll be at the ball, right?”
“Yes,” Zane says before I can even process, and Mrs. Mooney stands, wearing a large, toothy smile. “Our love spell worked!”
She walks away and I turn to him. “We have to go to my parents’ house directly after breakfast.”
“Why?”
“You have to meet my mom and dad before this spreads around town. I don’t want them to think I’ve kept you a secret. They’ll take it personally.”
Our breakfast is slid in front of us in record time, considering how busy they are.
“Let's go then. The last thing I want to do is piss off my future in-laws,” he says, chuckling, picking up a crispy slice of bacon and biting into it.