By Your Cider (Autumn Creek #1)

1. Harlow

Harlow

The early fall breeze and the scent of cinnamon sprinkled on my morning airport coffee were hopefully signs that good things were coming. That’s what the change of seasons was for, after all, starting something new.

And fall was my favourite.

I walked along the tree-lined street, drawn to the noise of a rowdy patio. I may have been exhausted from my flight, lack of sleep, and, well, moving countries, but I could still be a cool girlfriend. I could show up and casually fit in with Marcus’s friend group.

Or at least I hoped I could.

Marcus tried to insist I go straight to his apartment and get some well-needed rest when I arrived in Ottawa.

He said he’d pay me back for the Uber ride, and the concierge at the sleek high-rise building he lived in—The Sterling—would buzz me right up.

I could order takeout when I woke up, and we could catch up without the distraction of his friends.

But it had been months since I’d seen him, and I was over doing long distance. I wanted to settle into my new city right away. And I desperately wanted to make it feel like home. Going out with him and being by his side was a good start.

So I rented a car and picked myself up from the airport.

Earlier, as I sat on the cramped plane alone, doodling in the margins of my latest read, I daydreamed about how Marcus would react to the surprise of seeing me.

I imagined he might throw his arms open and pull me into a kiss.

I would instantly click with his friends at the bar where I knew he was.

I might even buy a round of drinks. Only once I’d put myself out there could I retreat back to the apartment and finally let myself rest.

I checked my appearance in a car window as I walked past. My dark brown hair was thrown into a ponytail that should have been easy to handle, but it was still far too long, even when it was tied up.

I’d tried to frame my coffee-coloured eyes with mascara, but the makeup had smudged and now only highlighted how tired I was. Great.

In my daydreams, I hadn’t pictured myself looking so exhausted.

Leafy trees and large houses slipped away as the street opened up into what I knew was a trendy area south of downtown. And I followed the dot on my map, searching for a patio.

When I booked my flight to move to Ottawa, I thought picking a holiday where Marcus would be off work was a good choice. But of course, he’d grimaced over FaceTime and said “I actually have something planned that day. End of patio season, we’re making the most of it.”

Our relationship was low effort right now, stagnant to say the least. Earlier in the summer, he had been supposed to visit me in the UK over a long weekend, but the plans had fallen through.

After all, I was moving only a couple of weeks later.

But I’d reassured myself that finally moving in together was the right next step to take after three years.

I’d been a dead leaf floating on the breeze for too long and I craved the feeling of having roots under my feet.

Things will get better.

Steps away from the pub, I plastered a smile on my tired face before striding over to the outdoor tables framed by a wooden pergola, strung with fairy lights.

As I got closer, I could smell cilantro and tequila in the air amongst the music and loud chatter.

There were glass-bottled beers stuffed with lime wedges and people cheersing to the end of the season, as the trees nearby started to show signs of changing.

I looked around the groups, searching for Marcus’s smooth blond hair in the crowd. Tension melted from my shoulders as I found him, standing with his friends, beer in hand and conversing loudly.

“Surprise!” I shouted, but I was drowned out by the music.

Marcus didn’t hear.

But he did wrap his arm around the waist of a woman as he clinked beer bottles with her. My stomach sank to the concrete as they leaned in closer. And then it plummeted as he turned and pressed his lips against hers.

The crowd swirled around me, but I stood still.

Dumfounded. Mouth open.

Had I really just moved back to Canada—my home country—for a guy who was cheating on me? And was he seriously doing it the day I was moving in?

He must’ve caught sight of me out of the corner of his eye, because suddenly, he did a double take.

I didn’t react. I couldn’t. In fact, I wasn’t entirely sure I was even present in my body.

“Harlow?” He shoved the woman back and she stumbled.

My blood started rushing again, animating me. My mouth slammed shut. I spun on my feet and stormed through the crowd as the future I’d been hoping for crumbled around me.

My skin was burning and my mind raced. As I escaped the thrum of people, the cool breeze calmed me down just enough to keep walking.

“Wait!” Marcus yelled, gaining on me. “I thought you were at my apartment.”

A hot tear slipped down my cheek. I’d convinced myself that one day it would be our apartment, but he had never once called it that.

I should have known.

I slowed to a stop on the pavement. “And I thought you were supposed to be my boyfriend.”

“That meant nothing. I’m drunk, all right!” He held up his hands, and I scowled at him over my shoulder. “Look, men have needs. You’ve been gone a long time.” He took a step closer, and my stomach turned. “But we’re together now.”

“No. We are not.”

He scoffed loudly. “You just moved here to be with me. Don’t be a bitch.”

His words slapped me across the face. “I’m leaving.”

“Call me when you get over your hysterics.” He yelled as I continued marching back to where I’d parked my rental car. “I know that you have nowhere to go, Harlow.”

I knew that too, but it wouldn’t stop me.

I was over three thousand miles from where I last attempted to call home. I had no family and no friends in Ottawa—just a cheating ex-boyfriend, apparently.

All I had was a job lined up. Starting tomorrow.

So I let my fingers take control as I furiously typed in my new destination. It was a long commute, but a drive I was happy to do right now. I hit the gas, turned on the radio, and set off for Autumn Creek.