Page 29 of A Love Like Pumpkin Spice (Wayward Hollow #1)

Nic

“We wish you a merry autumn,” Lauren sings to the tune of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” as we trudge through town, a swing in her step and a bright smile on her face.

It’s the first time I’ve been back in town since Jay and Marissa appeared.

Amanda vowed to keep an eye on her website inquiries herself.

Meanwhile Lauren and I had a grand time hanging out with my cats, baking more autumn treats, and rewatching Gilmore Girls .

Although Lauren always bid her farewell when Henry came over to visit because, as she said, “You two are too sweet. I’ll get cavities. ”

But Kieran assured me he hasn’t seen either of them in town for the past few days, and now here we are.

A part of me wonders if he only said that because he’s sick of bringing me coffee, instead of having all of us meet up at Caleb’s.

But whenever he complained about it, either Lauren or I put a cat in his lap.

That never failed to make him forget about his dissatisfaction at having to be our personal coffee-bringer.

Caleb’s coffee might have been too strong for Lauren and me when we first drank it, but now? We can’t imagine life without it.

And now we’re back in town, coffee in hand, because Kieran told us today is the autumn fair meet up, and he ordered us here to help.

“ The decorations definitely need a female touch, so I signed you up,” he’d said, which didn’t really leave any option to say no. And despite the questionable work distribution, Lauren and I decided to put our all into it.

Over the past few days, we put our heads together, checked what kind of decorations were available and could be quickly delivered, then made a list of everything we wanted to buy.

Both of us were more than ready to buy them ourselves and declare the decoration a contribution to the community. But whichever committee organizes the autumn fair decided to wave them through as expenses.

Which didn’t stop us from making a trip to the nearest store to buy even more ourselves. Once we started, there was no limit—whatever we found cute went into the cart. And whatever we don’t use for the autumn fair will get put up at one of our houses.

I’m pretty sure by the time we’re done, Wayward Hollow will look like an autumn wonderland. Visitors will have no choice but to give in to the autumn vibes. It’s going to be awesome.

“Do you think they really got the scarecrows?” I ask Lauren, but she only answers with a giggle and points to the other side of the street where a whole army of scarecrows is awaiting us.

“They weren’t kidding,” she laughs and links her arm with mine to cross the street. “We could stage a famous battle with those.”

“Or Caesar’s assassination?” I think aloud, tapping my chin. “‘Et tu, Brute’ strangely fits my life.”

“God, I love that you can joke about it already,” Lauren says, relieved, and gives my arm squeeze. “I have no idea what I would do if you were one of those people who didn’t deal with trauma through humor.”

“Nic! Lauren!” Kieran waves at us from afar. He’s wearing a red and black lumberjack shirt and has a small hay bale flung over h is shoulder. Romanticizing this fall was Lauren’s and my mission, but he’s definitely a step ahead of us, at least outfit wise.

“Am I tripping or is that kind of hot?” Lauren whispers while we wave back at him and I can’t help but laugh.

“I think you’re tripping, but then again, you also think that black-and-white fish from Finding Nemo is hot.”

“And many others share that opinion. Don’t discriminate,” she playfully scolds me, and we make our way to Kieran.

We barely take two steps when I suddenly hear the sharp click of heels on asphalt behind me, and my blood freezes in my veins.

Because I know who it is. I don’t even need to turn around. There is only one person who would wear fucking heels in a town like Wayward Hollow, and sadly, we share genetics. God damn it.

“Nicola! Oh my God, there you are!”

I freeze. That sugary sweet voice she uses when strangers are around drips down my spine, like scalding hot caramel. Fuck. I thought she was gone.

Lauren tightens her arm around mine, shooting me a worried glance, and I give her a reassuring smile. I take a deep breath, then square my shoulders and turn around slowly.

There she is.

Marissa. Dressed as if she jumped out of a damned autumn fashion magazine.

Every single hair of her blonde bob lies perfectly, and there’s not one wrinkle in her designer outfit.

She’s completely out of place here, where everyone is dressed for manual labor.

She’s wearing that overly friendly, disingenuous smile that has gotten her everything in life—the one I’ve dreamed about wiping off her face for years.

“Wow,” she says, walking up to me as though nothing ever happened between us.

The way she smiles, you’d think we were the best of friends who hadn’t seen each other in a while and just ran into each other by chance.

“I mean, look at you. Small- town life becomes you. I almost didn’t recognize you at first. You”—she makes a broad gesture at me—“look so relaxed. You really stopped trying, and it totally works on you.”

Lauren builds herself up next to me, clearing her throat, but I beat her to an answer. It’s one of the more harmless backhanded compliments she’s given me, and over the years, I’ve learned that ignoring her jabs will rile her up more than any reply could.

“What do you want, Marissa?”

Her perfectly lined eyes, framed with fake lashes, widen in mock surprise and she clutches her chest dramatically.

“Well, that’s not very welcoming. I thought only nice people lived in this town. I only wanted to come visit my baby sister!”

“Is it money?” I lift my eyebrow, then glance at Lauren, our eyes speaking volumes without a word being exchanged. “I bet it’s money.”

“Come on, you’re overreacting again. I think it’s time we bury the hatchet!”

“You what?” I can’t help myself—I burst into laughter, and I’m not sure whether it’s because Marissa is being fucking ridiculous or if it’s hysterical. “ Bury the hatchet? Oh my God, that’s funny. You planning to bury it in my back again, or twist the one you left there?”

For a moment, only one split second, her mask falters. Her nostrils flare, and her jaw clenches, but she quickly catches herself.

“Oh, Nic, you’re still too dramatic. You and Jay were never a good match to begin with. You must have realized that. You need to let it go. Let the past be the past.”

“No, thank you.” I shake my head. Marissa’s face tightens and Lauren tenses, and I gently squeeze her forearm.

Marissa’s not worth catching a charge for violence.

“I’m doing fine without you. In fact, I’m doing great.

Way better than I ever did.” I let go of Lauren and step closer to Marissa, plastering my own overly sweet smile on my face.

“And I meant what I said. You’re dead to me.

Now, how about you turn around and get the fuck out of my life? ”

Marissa’s smile doesn’t waver, but the belittling amusement leaves her eyes, making room for pure hatred. She takes one small, deliberate step forward, heels crunching leaves under them.

“You know”—her voice dips low, until only I can hear her—“I’d hoped you’d come to your senses, but I guess not. You’re still nothing more than a circus monkey, making a fool of yourself and hoping to find people who might actually love you.” Her head tips slightly as she gives me a once-over.

I’m not going to lie, it stings. Not ‘a thousand needles prickling my skin’ sting, the way it did on the evening I caught them. It’s a dull pain, like someone flicking the same spot thousands of times.

“And I thought you might actually get it through your thick skull that you will never get a penny from me.” I curl my lips into an emotionless smile. “Guess not,” I quote her mockingly and cross my arms in front of my chest. And then I decide to rub it in.

“Who needs a loving family when I’ve got money to live the life I always wanted?

The fact I get to live it without you butting in?

An added bonus. Now, let me be as clear as I can possibly be and spell it out for your goldfish brain: I never want to see you again.

You will never, in any universe, ever see a penny from me.

And trust me, Marissa, after that stunt you pulled, I am willing to go to great lengths to ensure that. ”

She holds my gaze for a second. Then another. The facade crumbles as her smile slowly drops.

“For once, Mom and Dad can’t come to your rescue,” I continue, my voice sharp. I take a step forward, making her walk backward. “Because their opinion matters even less than yours. I’m done. With all of you.”

She catches herself, coming to a halt and plastering a fake smile back on her face, accompanied by a glare that could kill.

“You’ve always been so dramatic. Honestly, it’s exhausting.” She turns to Lauren and adds with a bright smile, “I don’t know how you put up with her. You’re a saint.”

Lauren’s about to open her mouth—probably to say something unrepeatable—but I shake my head. Not here. Not for her.

This is my fight. Not Lauren’s.

“Enjoy your little fantasy, Nic,” Marissa says as she backs away, her heels echoing across the street. “But remember—fairy tales always end. Usually right after someone angers the wrong witch.”

“God, your threats are laughable.” I roll my eyes. “What are you going to do? Run to Mom and Dad the way you did when you were ten? News flash, Marissa, the times where they could tell me to share my toys are over.”

She gives me a hard stare, her lips quivering, then spins on her heel and storms off, appearing completely unbothered to the unknowing eye.

But I know her.

I can see the anger in the way she flexes her fingers as she pulls out her phone, no doubt preparing to unleash whatever venom she didn’t get to pour out in person.

“A fault confessed is half redressed?” Lauren says with her eyebrow raised high, but I shake my head.

“You’ll never catch her admitting fault. Not even to herself. That notion doesn’t exist in her mind.” I take a deep breath. “Whatever. I’m ready.”