“Shit,” I mutter, removing it from my wrist and placing it in my pocket.
“And I’d recognize your ass from a mile away,” she says, slapping Julie on her butt.
Zane pulls his phone from his pocket. “Get together. I need to memorialize Nick being a little bitch.”
Laughter falls out of my mouth.
“You’re going to run your mouth, Mr. Matching Sweater?” Julie glares at him.
“Oh, sorry. Don’t want to set off Red Menace.” He chuckles. “Come on. Be good little pumpkins.”
We pose for him, and then the four of us take a photo together.
“Apple cider time!” Autumn announces, pulling Zane with her.
We wait in a line that’s twenty people deep. Our conversation floats from topic to topic. It’s easygoing.
“Are you still leaving in November?” Zane asks.
“Yes,” I admit. “I have a meeting on the second that I can’t miss.”
“Oh.” Autumn glances between us. “But you’re coming back afterward?”
“I don’t know yet,” I say. “Ask me at midnight on November first.”
“Is that when you turn into a pumpkin?” Autumn asks.
“Possibly.”
We each order large apple ciders that are steaming with cinnamon sticks slid inside.
“How do we drink this?” I ask, removing my pumpkin head.
“Cheater,” she accuses.
“It’s called being adaptable, babe,” I say.
She removes hers as well. As we drink our ciders, we stroll through the patch with Autumn and Zane. Many of the pumpkins are carved into extravagant designs and are lit, glowing in the night.
“Look at this one!” Julie points to a pumpkin in the shape of a haunted house, complete with tiny windows. It’s Hollow Manor.
“Isn’t that incredible? You both have to see this one,” Zane says, leading us to a massive pumpkin carved into a dragon, scales and all.
“I can’t imagine how much work this took,” Julie says, smiling as she takes photos of it.
Autumn clears her throat. “I think this is the perfect time to announce the news.”
She’s giddy.
I glance between Zane and Autumn, wondering what it could be.
Julie grows impatient. “Hurry and tell us!”
“My book is going to auction! The one I wrote last year.” She’s ecstatic.
“Autie!” Julie squeals, hugging Autumn as tightly as she can. They’re both giggling and laughing. “All I Wantwill be published?”
“Yes!Can you believe this?” Autumn laughs. “I got a call from my agent today. Publishers arefightingfor it!”
