Iwake up to find Nick already awake, propped against my headboard, scrolling through his phone in the early morning light.

    “Morning,” I mumble into his chest.

    “Morning, beautiful.” He sets his phone down, running his fingers through my hair. “Happy October.”

    “Mmm.” I stretch against him, then freeze. “Wait. Do you hear that?”

    There’s noise outside, like a small crowd has gathered.

    I get up and move to the window, pulling back the curtain. My stomach drops. There are at least thirty photographers on the sidewalk. Some are sitting inwn chairs with coffee from Cozy, like they’re camping out for the day.

    “Oh my gosh.” A few of them snap pictures of me, and I step back and let the curtain fall. “Nick.”

    He joins me at the window, wrapping his arms around me. “Shit. There’s more than yesterday.”

    “Yesterday, there were five. This is …” I turn in his arms. “This is psycho level.”

    For the past week, we’ve been followed anywhere we go. At first, it was almost amusing how far they’d go. Several tried to catch us doing something scandalous, only to get pictures of us grocery shopping, holding hands, or trolling them. But each day, more arrived. I’ve been followed to work so much that Nick started walking with me. They’ve waited outside the coffee shop, taken pictures of me while I work, and even tried to interview my customers. Yesterday, one followed my mom to her book club meeting.

    As soon as the thought leaves my mind, my phone buzzes.

    Mom

    DO NOT go to the shop today. I’ve taken you off the schedule for the rest of the month. This is too much, honey.

    Julie

    Mom, I can’t just NOT work. It’s October!

    Mom

    I’m not asking you. I’m telling you. Lie low until this dies down.

    Julie

    This is ridiculous. It’s the busiest time of year!

    Mom

    Which is why I don’t need photographers blocking the entrance for our customers. Take a vacation, sweetie. You haven’t had one in years. Enjoy the season for once.

    Julie

    Mom … please.

    Mom

    I’ve spoken. Stay with Nick. Be happy. The shop will survive.

    I show Nick the texts. “She’s banning me.”

    “Your mom’s smart,” he says, kissing my temple. “She’s protecting you.”

    “But October is busy. The pumpkin drinks, the tourist rush?—”

    “Which your mom has been handling for decades.” He turns to face me.

    My phone vibrates again, and I expect to see another text from my mom, but it’s Craig.

    Craig

    Saw the circus outside your ce. I love you, Julie. I will always love you. I would’ve never put you in this position. If you need an escape from him, I’m here.

    Nick reads it over my shoulder. “Fucking vulture.”

    “He’s trying to use this against you,” I say.

    Nick pulls me closer. “What do you want to do? We can’t stay here.”

    “We could go to Riverside,” I offer.

    “Yeah?”

    “It’s private. They can’t follow us there.” I nce back at the people down below. “Truthfully, I need a break from this. And if I can’t work …”

    “We could enjoy October. Like normal people.” He grins. “Well, as normal as we can be with all of this.”

    “How long does it take for them to leave us alone?” I ask.

    “It’s impossible to predict, but we can y it by ear.”

    I sigh. “A week at Riverside doesn’t sound so bad.”

    “No, we have the hot tub under the stars with actual privacy. I’ll cook for you every night. Plus, the view.”

    His eyes slide up and down me, and I fall into his arms.

    “Will this be what destroys us?” he asks, and I can hear the pain in his voice.

    I pull away, meeting his honey-brown eyes. “It will take more than this.”

    “I hope so.” He’s already reaching for his phone on the bedside table. “I need to call Asher and tell him what’s going on.”

    While he talks, I start packing, trying not to feel guilty about abandoning the shop during peak season. But Mom’s right—the photographers are affecting business.

    “Zane’s on his way,” Nick says, hanging up. “He’s going to create a distraction so we can slip out the back, where Autumn will be waiting for us.”

    “This is unbelievable,” I tell him.

    “I know. I’m sorry they’re making our lives difficult.”

    “Not your fault.”

    “Kind of is.”

    “Nick”—I cup his face—“stop ming yourself for things that are out of your control. If you could snap and make them disappear, I know you would. We’re handling it. Together.”

    “Together,” he agrees. “Are you sure your parents don’t hate me for this?”

    “Are you kidding? She’s probably thrilled I’m finally taking a vacation and dating someone. She’s been trying to get me to take time off and hook me up, but I’ve refused.”

    I finish packing two weeks of clothes in an oversized duffel. Nick gets dressed and continues to stand by the window, watching everyone outside.

    Ten minutes pass, and he gets a text. “Zane is here.”

    “Great,” I tell him as he takes my bag and swings it over his shoulder.

    Secondster, there’s a knock at the door.

    “Should I answer it?” I ask.

    “No, let him pull attention,” he says as we move to the back door.

    I take onest look at my invaded sanctuary.

    “Hey.” He stops me before we walk outside. “This week, no photographers, no drama, just us and October. Got it?”

    “Sounds perfect.”

    “Good. Because we still have a list we need toplete.”

    Despite everything, Iugh. “Priorities.”

    “Always.” He grins. “Now let’s go enjoy your favorite season.”

    As we sneak out the back, hearing Zane arguing with photographers about “private propertyws,” I realize my life has be surreal.

    We creep through my small backyard toward the fence, and Nick suddenly stops. “Jules, where’s the gate?”

    “There isn’t one.”

    “What do you mean, there isn’t one?”

    “We have to jump the fence.”

    He stares at the six-foot wooden fence, then at me, then at the duffel bag. “You’re joking.”

    “Nope. Come on. I used to do this all the time as a teenager.”

    “In those boots?”

    “Just help me up,” I tell him.

    Nick drops the bag over first, then makes a step with his hands. “This is insane.”

    “This is an adventure,” I correct, cing my foot in his hands.

    He boosts me up, and I swing my leg over, dropping down on the other side with a thud.

    “You okay?” he calls over.

    “Perfect! Your turn, city boy.”

    I hear him muttering something about “ridiculous” before he pulls himself up and over with surprising grace.

    “Not bad for a hockey yer,” I tease.

    “Piss off,” he says, but he’s grinning.

    “Hey! You two!” A photographer has spotted us from the side of the house. “Nick! Julie!”

    “Shit, run!” he says.

    We grab the bag and sprint toward Autumn’s idling car. She already has the back door open, and we dive in like we’re in an action movie.

    “Drive!” Nick shouts.

    Autumn peels away from the curb as photographers start running toward us, cameras shing.

    “Thanks for being our getaway driver,” I pant, trying to catch my breath.

    “What are best friends for?” Autumn grins at us in the rearview mirror. “Besides, this is the most excitement I’ve had in weeks. Very Bonnie and Clyde.”

    “Less murder, more paparazzi,” Nick says, pulling me against him.

    “Same level of drama though.” Autumnughs. “Riverside?”

    “Please,” we both say in unison.

    “How bad is it?” Autumn asks, ncing at us in the mirror.

    “Bad enough that my mom took me off the schedule,” I exin.

    Autumn gasps. “In October?”

    “And Craig’s trying to start shit,” Nick adds.

    Autumn’s hands tighten on the wheel. “That asshole had better stay away.”

    “He’s irrelevant.” I squeeze Nick’s hand.

    “We just need some time to breathe. Oh, did we forget Zane?” I ask as we travel through town.

    “He drove himself,” Autumn exins. “It’s easier to separate in situations like this.”

    Nick whispers in my ear, “I’m sorry about all this.”

    “Don’t be,” I whisper back. “I’d jump a hundred fences with you.”

    As Cozy Creek disappears behind us and we head toward the cabin, I realize that despite the chaos, I’m exactly where I want to be.

    I’m next to Nick, heading toward a week of privacy, with my best friend making jokes about our ridiculous escape.

    And in a weird way, I’m grateful for it all.