Page 48 of A Match Made In Fall

More than amazing.

Our first kiss alone would have been enough to make the entire evening unforgettable. And there was more than just one. But nothing compares to the first kiss.

There are no words that adequately describe how it felt. It all happened so quickly it still seems blurry. One second we were walking down the street, and the next my boot caught on a crack in the sidewalk. I started falling, fully prepared to hit the pavement. And then Austin caught me like a knight in shining armor. That was all it took, and then he was kissing me. It happened right there on the sidewalk in the middle of town with plenty of people around to witness it. But honestly, I couldn't have told you if the street was crowded or empty. It was only the two of us.

And Marlow’s was an absolute blast. The place felt like stepping into another era. It was a classic soda shop with dancing servers, incredible desserts, and an energy that made everyone in the restaurant instant friends. And even after all this, the night kept getting better. First the kiss and then Austin asked me to dance. It sounds wild, but I think my soul needed that. For the first time in months, I feel like something is changing. It’s like I've finally reached the end of a long, dark tunnel and can see the light at the end. And I think I’m emerging as a different person.

When I walk into the kitchen, I find my mom making coffee.

“Morning.”

“Good morning,” she sings. “I expected you to sleep in after your late night.”

I’m sure she wants details, but I have my own questions about last night.

I sit down at the table. “So, what happened with Dexter after we left? How long did he stay?”

“He stayed about an hour,” she says. “It went fine—we told him you’d moved on. Since Austin seemed to go along with it, we didn't tell Dexter anything different.”

I sigh. “What did he say?”

She pours two cups of coffee and joins me at the table.

“Of course he asked how long you'd been seeing each other. We told him things started shortly after you got here. There wasn't any reason to give him specifics.”

“Okay.” I wrap my hands around the mug. “Did he mention leaving town?”

Mom shakes her head. “He just said he’d be here for a few days. I’m sure you’ll hear from him at some point.”

I nod. “Yes, I figured.”

A few seconds pass before she smiles. “So, did you have fun with Austin?”

Leave it to my mom to get right to the point. “I did.”

She doesn’t hold back asking all the questions, and I tell her bits and pieces, carefully leaving out a few details that are just for me and Austin.

“I’m so happy you had a good time,” she says. “Did you make more plans?”

I nod. “Yes, we talked about it.”

She claps and leans over to hug me.

“Okay, we’re going to the craft fair today before the game. So go get ready.”

I groan. I completely forgot about the craft fair.

“Um, I might skip it and try to get this situation with Dexter sorted out.”

Mom frowns. “Are you sure? There's a petting zoo.”

I laugh. Watching Jude interact with baby goats would be adorable, but I don’t want to drag this out. Dexter came here for a reason, and I can’t avoid it.

“I can meet up with you later if you’re still there,” I promise.

This seems to satisfy her. After she heads upstairs to get ready, I pull out my phone and send Elise a text.

The Dexter situation has become dire. Call me when you get this.