Chapter 9
Chapter nine
Autumn
Early morning sunlight floods Jack’s bedroom, golden and soft, painting the tangled sheets in a warm haze.
I stretch, muscles deliciously sore, body singing with memories of last night—his hands everywhere, his mouth, the way he said my name like a secret.
I should be exhausted, but I feel wired, jittery with nerves and happiness and a little bit of panic.
Jack’s still asleep, arm heavy over my waist, one hand resting low on my hip. He looks younger in the morning with his hair messy, lashes dark against his cheeks, and lips swollen from kissing me for hours. It would be so easy to stay, to pretend the world doesn’t exist outside this bed.
But the Murphys are not known for patience.
I wriggle out from under his arm, tiptoeing around to find my clothes. I try to be quiet, but of course, Jack stirs.
He cracks one eye, voice thick with sleep. “Where are you going?”
I can’t help but smile. “If I’m not back home soon, they’ll send the National Guard. Plus, I’m pretty sure Mia tracks my phone.”
He reaches out, pulls me into the sheets, rolling me on top of him. “Let them look for you. You’re not leaving until I get a proper good morning.”
I kiss him, soft and slow, letting my body mold to his, hands exploring familiar skin. For a few heartbeats, I let myself get lost, heat building as his mouth trails down my neck, his hand sliding under my sweater.
I break away, breathless, laughing. “You’re trouble, Jack Wilson.”
He grins, eyes sleepy and wicked. “You love it.”
My stomach flips, joy and fear tangling up inside me. I do love it. I love all of this. And that scares me more than I want to admit.
Getting out of Jack’s house is a comedy of errors. I can’t find my other sock. My hair’s a mess. Jack tries to tempt me back to bed twice. When I finally slip out, the sun is already high, Main Street humming with weekend bustle.
The moment I step into the kitchen, I’m ambushed.
Mia is waiting at the counter, phone at the ready, grinning like she just won the lottery. “Good morning, sister. Want to tell your adoring fans why your phone was at Jack’s house all night?”
“Maybe I just needed legal advice,” I deadpan, but my cheeks give me away.
Mom breezes in, raising an eyebrow. “You look flushed, Autumn. Not coming down with something, are you?”
I try to ignore it all and rush to my room to change into warmer clothes.
When I get outside, the tree lot is packed with kids running wild, neighbors dropping hints, and every single person in town is suddenly full of questions.
Mrs. Halpern corners me at the cocoa stand, whispering like she’s delivering a state secret. “You know, dear, Jack’s a catch. I heard he volunteered to help at the bake sale. All the women are talking about you two.”
“Good to know,” I mumble, cheeks on fire.
Jack arrives not long after I start working. I try to tell him he doesn’t need to help, but he smiles and helps a customer.
Mia snaps photos of us hauling trees and posts them with captions like #MurphyMagic #HolidayHottie. Every time Jack and I pass each other, sharing a wink, it feels like the whole town is watching, waiting for a show.
By lunch, I’m hiding in the barn, pretending to take inventory while my heart races in my chest. Jack finds me, pausing in the doorway, one eyebrow raised. “You hiding from me, or from the family circus?”
“Both,” I admit, trying to sound casual. He shuts the door behind him, crossing the barn in three strides. His arms are around me before I can protest, pulling me into his warmth.
I press my forehead to his chest and exhale slowly. “I feel like I’m going to jump out of my skin. Everyone knows about us. I’m not sure what to do with it. With any of this.”
Jack tilts my chin up, his eyes serious now. “Autumn. Talk to me. What’s going on in that head?”
My throat tightens, but I force it out. “I want you. I want all of this. But I’m terrified. I’ve never felt this much, this fast. I’m scared I’ll lose myself, or mess it up, or you’ll change your mind once the holidays fade and the real world comes back. My life is in the city and yours is here.”
He holds my gaze, gentle but firm. “Hey. I’m not going anywhere. I don’t want you to hide how you feel. I don’t care if everyone in this town knows. I want all of you.”
I swallow, blinking back tears I didn’t expect. “It’s just I’ve always had a plan, Jack. I don’t want to get lost in someone else’s life, no matter how good it feels.”
Jack smiles, brushing a tear from my cheek. “We’ll figure it out, together, yeah? Even if it’s scary.”
Something inside me loosens, all the tension melting away. I press a shaky kiss to his lips, letting myself believe him.
“Okay,” I whisper.
His arms tighten, lips warm on my forehead. We stand there, wrapped up in each other, the rest of the world fading. For the first time all day, the noise inside me goes quiet.