“What do you think he’s saying?” Hazel asked as Leo held her shoulders so she didn’t fall off the precarious rocks she was teetering on. There were more than ten of us and barely enough space to see through the trees.
“Probably something like, ‘All I do is dream of you,’ followed by, ‘This is all thanks to Leo,’” Leo boasted. He probably believed that.
The group chuckled until Jamie got down on one knee. I was pretty sure everyone held their breath until Autumn launched herself into his arms, nearly knocking him over. Once he got back on his feet, he lifted her and spun her around, which was enough for us to head in their direction.
We found Jamie with tears in his eyes as he slipped something onto her finger. They walked toward us with big smiles, and then I heard Jamie’s voice.
“A real ring is coming, I promise.”
Autumn smiled softly and cupped his face. “I don’t care. I love this one.”
They turned to see all of us cheering and jumping up and down, sharing in their excitement.
Jamie beamed at us with the biggest smile. “Thank you all so much!”
Autumn was pink-cheeked as she showed off the intricate ring Jamie had woven out of friendship bracelet string. The untarnished happiness in her eyes was only broken when she came to a realization. “Wait, so the competition?”
“Was all a setup for this. But we can finish it if you want, sunflower. I won’t throw it out here again,” he teased, and she lit up laughing.
She grabbed his hands in hers. “I love being on your team.”
The group of us let out a collectiveAwwat the sweet moment, and the parents congratulated the couple.
After dinner and cake, we discussed options for how we could celebrate the new engagement. In the end, most of us decided to celebrate by going to the local bar.
The parents chose to stay back and let usyoung folkgo out. The group ahead of me was exchanging their favorite Jamie and Autumn stories on our way to the cars when I caught Leo’s strained voice behind me.
“But you used to be such a romantic. Now you’re so cynical.” He said it like a sad fact.
Jack’s reply was barely above a whisper. “I’m happy for them. I’m happy for all the couples who find love, really. It’s just not for me.”
My heart squeezed at the raw quality in his low tone.
Leo seemed to feel it, too, as he tried to assuage him. “Not everything will blow up in your face like it did last year.”
I thought back to last summer and considered the way Jack was now. It was like he’d had a personality transplant, at least around me. I hadn’t known him well back then, but Leo definitely had. What had changed?
Jack didn’t answer. Instead, he power walked past me. Over my shoulder, I saw Leo’s pinched brows, right before he caughtme looking. I turned back. Jack had made it up the trail to congratulate his best friend, but I would bet he wanted out of his conversation with Leo. Jack smiled and threw an arm around Autumn and then Jamie.
What the hell had happened to him last year?
EIGHTEEN
Jack
Fireside Bar was hoppingfor a Thursday night. The first of our group walked in, and I questioned if we should find somewhere else, but it was tradition to celebrate big events here.
Lola pushed past me and headed to the bar, jumping in to sling drinks with her daughter, Maya, who ran the place during the summer.
I couldn’t get my conversation with Leo out of my head. He may have been annoyed with me over my newfound feelings about love, but he was a relentless romantic. He just didn’t get it.
It wasn’t like I wasn’t happy for my friends. I wanted to believe things would work out, but I also knew that love didn’t last. I just hoped they’d be the exception to the rule.
I’d watched countless relationships, including all of mine, end with disastrous results. It didn’t inspire confidence. And after my most recent relationship blowup, I wasn’t willing to try it again. I was fine with living a peaceful, busy life in the mountains, surrounded by my found family.
Autumn and Jamie were the last to walk in, and the bar erupted in cheers. It was no surprise that their engagement had already spread through town. You couldn’t tie your shoelaces without someone talking about big news.
I walked to the bar, which was full of patrons eagerly awaiting drinks, and found my spot in line.
