The mayor laughs. “He’s funding theentireproject.”
Whispers circle around the crowd, and I stare at him. I had no idea any of this was going on.
“That’s millions,” I hear someone say behind me.
My stomach drops. Nick isn’t just wealthy; he’s in a different stratosphere.
“We’re so appreciative that you’re here, sir. Would you like to say a few words?”
Nick looks nervous as hell. The entire town square has gone quiet, and hundreds of faces have turned toward the stage.
“Hi.” He finds me in the crowd, and I give him an encouraging nod. “I didn’t expect this. I don’t really do speeches. I typically leave the talking to my brother, Asher. And I know he’ll see this somehow, so I’ll give a preemptive,Shut up, Asher.”
“You’re hot!” someone yells, and I hear all the women in the crowd swoon.
Nick takes a breath. “My sister Eden loved books. She loved fall. She would have loved this festival.” His voice gets stronger. “She passed away five years ago, but she believed in the power of literacy to change lives. This donation is in her memory—because every child deserves to discover the magic of reading.”
The crowd is silent for a moment, then erupts in applause. I’m crying, and I don’t even care.
“And,” the mayor adds, taking back the microphone, “let’s give around of applause to his lovely girlfriend, a local. Nick told me earlier that Julie brings out the best in him!”
Every head turns to me. Phones come out. Flashes go off.
Nick escapes the stage and makes his way back to me, looking overwhelmed.
“I’m sorry,” he says immediately. “I had no idea they were going to?—”
“Are you kidding? That was amazing. You just changed hundreds of kids’ lives.”
“But people will find out. The attention?—”
“I can handle it. I’m so proud of you.”
I shut him up by kissing him in front of everyone. Not for show. Not for Craig, who I can see watching from near the beer tent. But because this man just honored his sister’s memory in the most beautiful way. His fingers thread through my hair, and everyone and everything around us disappears to nothing. I can taste the cider on his tongue, and my heart is so full that it might burst out of my chest.
When we break apart, the crowd is cheering.
“That was …” Nick seems dazed.
I feel the same; he makes me dizzy.
“Come on. You need a drink after that ambush,” I say, pulling him away.
We escape to the beer tent, where Nick downs half a beer in one go.
“I hate public speaking,” he admits.
“You were perfect,” I offer as we stand at the edge of the tent.
“I saw you crying.”
“Happy tears. What you said about Eden … that was beautiful.”
He’s quiet for a moment. “She would’ve liked you.”
“Yeah?” I ask.
“You remind me of her sometimes. The way you make everyone feel seen. How you find joy in small things. Your obsession with fall.”
