Page 70 of Yours Truly, Fall

You’re too good at the game of Memory, but I’ll still beat you at other card games every time. By the way, I’m cashing in my rain check. Saturday at eight, be ready to lose your shirt in some strip UNO.

Everyone adores you for good reason. You’re loyal, brave, humorous, and flirtatious; you say the sweetest things and then turn around and have me pinned to the bathroom tile and begging for more. Oh goodness, don’t show this to anyone, okay?

I’m back. I had to open the window to let some cold air in.

I never believed in karma because it didn’t serve me well, but boy did we show the universe. Brandon Culver and I. No one would have guessed. Not even us. But now that we’re the real deal in a forever kind of way, I was wondering if I could ask one favor.

Meet me under the bleachers at six p.m.

I’ll be waiting.

Yours Truly,

Autumn

Am I taking a chance? Not really. He’ll be there, but I feel it’s important to make new memories.

“Fall?” Summer calls from the bottom of the stairs.

I push send and hop off the bed. My stuff still fills the room, but it won’t for long. It’s time to move on. “Coming.” I adjust my kitty ears in the mirror and hurry downstairs to help finish decorating.

Stepping back to admire her cupcake arrangement on the treats and sweets table, Spring asks, “Are you going to ask him to marry you?”

“I keep forgetting that it’s you in that red wig.” The fitted ’50s dress and hair pinned curls are outstanding, but red hair is kind of my territory.

“Brolin’s favorite show is Mad Men, so I wanted to be in theme for him for our date tonight.”

“You look incredible. If he doesn’t like that outfit, you’ll have no problem finding someone who does.”

“Thanks, sis.”

When I look around, I’m so proud of what we’ve accomplished in a few hours. Summer and Daniel have taken Roman to trick-or-treat downtown at the shops since Winter had to be at the store anyway. Dolly’s on her third calzone in the shape of snakes, and Brenda Culver showed up with not one, but two lasagnas for the party. She also slipped me the recipe, which is like winning the lottery. I can’t wait to make it for Brandon. Food is his love language.

“Hey, Fall?”

“Yeah?”

“You never answered the question. You can always ask him to marry you. It doesn’t have to be super traditional when I know you both want the same thing.”

I’m not opposed to the idea, but I still worry it’s too soon for him. How does one navigate winning Mr. Eligible Bachelor and then, less than a year later, getting married? “We know it will happen, but⁠—”

“But you like a plan. I know. So does he.”

I check my watch. My heart skips a beat when I see the time. “I have to go. I won’t be gone long.”

“Go get your man.”

I am. It feels like the dawning of a new era, and it starts under the bleachers. I hop in the 4Runner, still not used to how high it is off the ground compared to the Corolla. But I’ve never had a brand-new car, so I’m spoiled by all the fancy features.

Stacy pulls onto the property and rolls down her window. “Are you coming back?”

“Yeah, make yourself at home, and I’ll be back a little later.” More cars are showing up for the party, so I get going.

Turning onto the high school grounds reminds me of our getaway the last time. A smile takes hold remembering how he kissed me. That tiny peck set things in motion, and there’s been no looking back since.

I park and look around, not spotting his truck, and jog toward the football field like a cat on the prowl. Literally. It’s Halloween. People will understand.

Slowing as I approach the spot where so much heartache was launched, I take a deep breath. Everything has changed. Me. Him. Our whole lives have been different since then. I stop on the spot where we first kissed, where he asked me to be his girlfriend, and I said yes. I stand where good memories were created and still exist when blocking out what happened later that night.