Page 26 of Falling Like Leaves (Bramble Falls #1)

Between my music and the sewing machine, I don’t hear the doorbell ring the next morning. And I don’t hear the footsteps climbing the attic stairs. I don’t know anyone’s there until someone taps my shoulder.

“Hang on,” I shout over the music. “I have to finish edgestitching this seam real quick.”

“Bitch, I didn’t come all this way to watch you sew.”

I turn around so fast, the chair almost topples over.

“Fernie!” I scream. She laughs as I jump up and tackle her in a hug. “What are you doing here?”

“You didn’t make it to New York, so I figured I’d come to you,” she says.

She looks around my room—at Mom’s art hanging on the wall, at my makeshift curtains, at my single dresser and clothing rack, at the old TV and DVD player—and turns back to me, her face stamped with apprehension. “We have to save you from this place.”

I chuckle. “It’s not as awful as I thought it’d be.”

“They’ve brainwashed you,” she says. “We need an extraction plan.”

I laugh but she doesn’t crack. I shake my head at her concern. “How’d you know where to find me?”

“I texted your mom last night. She gave me the address.” She sits on the edge of the bed. “I’m on my way to Rhode Island, so I figured I’d stop by and spend the day with you.”

“What’s in Rhode Island?”

She finally grins. “I’m doing a collab with Spider Spices.

They were going to send me some of their products to make videos at home, but then they emailed yesterday to see if I’d want to come try dishes featuring their spices at some restaurant they own in Rhode Island.

Obviously I wasn’t going to pass up this chance, but honestly, I’m pretty fucking stressed.

It’s a massive opportunity. I really need it to go well. ”

“Wow, that sounds huge,” I say. Part of me is envious of my friend.

Big things are happening for her, and collaborating with such a popular brand could open a lot of doors for her future.

But… for the first time probably ever, a bigger part of me is relieved I’m not in that position.

It’s been nice knowing my biggest worry lately is whether I’m going to get riddles written in time or whether the Caffeinated Cat will be open when I’m in need of a harvest spice latte.

Things that don’t involve me stressing about my whole future being on the line.

“It is. I’m really excited.” She nods at my sewing table. “What are you working on over there? I didn’t realize you were back to sewing again.”

“A little.” I point to a minidress I made the other night. “My mom didn’t let me bring much, so I’ve been piecing together some cute outfits from donated clothes.”

Fern’s eyes bulge as she takes in the black-and-white plaid mini pinafore dress. “That is so freaking cute! I’m so glad you’re making stuff again. We should promote your clothes in my videos!”

“You review food, Fern,” I remind her.

“I could talk food and fashion.”

I wave her off. “It’s a nice thought, but there would be no point. It’s just a hobby.” I stand and link our arms. “Anyway, we should head out. We don’t want to be late.”

She looks at me, confused, as I tug her toward the stairs. “Late for what?”

“A scavenger hunt.” I grin. “But first, we need provisions.”

Less than fifteen minutes later, we walk into the Caffeinated Cat, and Fern nearly keels over the second Marty approaches.

“Holy shit. What do they feed their cats here?” she asks. “Why is that thing the size of a taxi?”

I laugh and bend down to pet my favorite oversized cat. “He’s a Maine coon.”

“I have no idea what that means,” she says, brushing the cat fur off her black pants. “Can we please just order coffee and get out of here?”

“I had no idea you hated cats so much,” I say, leading her to the counter.

“I only hate them in person. Love watching TikTok videos of them,” she says. “Which is how I know they’re unpredictable assholes with fast reflexes who seem to enjoy messing with people.”

“Hmm. That’s pretty accurate.”

When we reach the counter, I’m surprised to see Cooper working.

“Hey. Thought we were people-watching today?” I say, trying to mask my disappointment.

“Don’t worry, Mitchell, I’m off in thirty.” He glances behind me, where Fern is standing, and his eyes widen. She’s freaking stunning, so I’m not surprised. And I refuse to be jealous of my friend. “Cooper, this is my friend—”

“Fern Berry,” he says, cutting me off. Then he looks at me, his jaw still nearly on the floor. “You’re friends with Fern Berry?”

Fern smiles at him, flirtation painted all over her perfect face. “Nice to meet you, Cooper. Ellis is my bestie.”

“Nice to meet you.” He turns back to me. “Why wouldn’t you tell me that?”

I draw my eyebrows together, puzzled. “Why would I tell you that? How was I supposed to know you’d care? Or that you’d even know who she is?”

“Fair. Okay, well, what can I get for you guys? It’s on me,” he says.

What is happening right now? “You’re not paying for our stuff, Cooper.”

“She’s Fern Berry, Ellis. I’m paying. And I already know what you want, so, Fern, what can I get for you?”

Fern looks at me. “I like him.”

I try not to roll my eyes while she gives Cooper her order; then we head to the other end of the counter to wait for our drinks.

“So, who is he? How do you know him?” she asks. “It seems I interrupted plans you two had today.”

I hadn’t thought of it before, but yeah, I guess she did. And now that I know Cooper recognizes her and is clearly impressed and maybe even a little smitten, it’s going to be a long day of trying to act like I’m not bothered.

“He’s just a family friend. And you didn’t interrupt anything,” I tell her. “We made the scavenger hunt, so we were just going to hang out and watch everyone try to figure out the riddles.”

“Sounds… fun,” she says. But her face says otherwise.

Cooper puts our drinks on the counter with a bonus lemon cookie. “Meet you at the gazebo?”

“Sounds good,” I say, patting an old gray cat on the head. Fern and I grab our order and give Cooper one last wave.

“So,” Fern says as soon as we’re outside, “are you guys hooking up, or…?”

“Who? Me and Cooper? No.” I shake my head emphatically. “Absolutely not.”

“Mm-hmm,” Fern hums, unconvinced.

“What? We’re not.”

“Your chemistry would say otherwise,” she says with a cheeky smile. “But okay.”

I take a sip of my latte, trying to hide the blush undoubtedly coloring my face.

Fern surveys the town, taking in the people walking around with their hot drinks and warm smiles, scavenger-hunt papers in hand; the small businesses with their items set up outside on the leaf-covered sidewalks; the town square draped in signs for the Harvest Hunt.

“I’ll give it to you that this place is, like, unreasonably charming,” she says. “But it’s so little. What do you even do here?”

I lead her across the street to the gazebo. “I’ve mostly been helping out with this festival my aunt runs. Otherwise, I’ve just been hanging out, I guess.”

“ You? Hanging out?” She shoulders me playfully, and I roll my eyes.

“School hasn’t been that hard, so I haven’t had to study as much. And I’ve made some good friends who have been dragging me out of my comfort zone.” I smile at her. “They even convinced me to go to a football game.”

Her head swivels to me, her wild red hair blowing in the chilly breeze. “ What? How on earth did that happen?”

“Everyone was going.” I shrug. “Plus, a friend of mine was playing, so I went to cheer him on.”

She shakes her head, bemused. “Man, Ellis Mitchell casually hanging out and going to football games. There must be something in the water here.”

We sit on the gazebo steps, and I break the lemon cookie in two, handing her half as I tell her about the Bramble Falls autumn events. She takes a bite and freezes, her eyes bulging as she grips my forearm.

“Are you okay?” I ask, worried she might be choking.

“No,” she says. But she begins chewing, her face a picture of pure bliss. She swallows and looks at me, holding up what’s left of her half of the cookie. “Holy shit, Ellis. This is unreal.”

I grin. “I know, right?”

“I legit might have to come back and review this place,” she says, shoving the rest of it into her mouth.

When she finally swallows, she takes a sip of her drink and brushes the cookie crumbs off her shirt.

Then she turns to me. “In all seriousness, I think I get it now. I thought I needed to mount a whole rescue operation, but you’re here having a grand old time. ”

My instinct is to tell her she’s wrong. That I’m desperate to come home. But I’m not so sure that’s true anymore.

I pull my legs in closer and wrap my arms around them. “I’m not going to pretend I don’t miss New York, and I’m definitely stressed about how this might affect things with Columbia and my internship. But, I don’t know…” I shrug. “Being here isn’t the worst thing in the world.”

Something about saying these words aloud uncoils some of the tension that’s been sitting in my shoulders ever since my parents sat me down to tell me they were separating.

Fern smiles softly at me. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but Bramble Falls kind of looks good on you.

Maybe you needed a little sabbatical.” Her face turns stern.

“But you obviously belong with me in Manhattan, so don’t get too attached to this place.

I don’t want to have to find another roommate for next year. ” She faux shudders, and I laugh.

“There’s no danger in that, don’t worry. The plan is still Columbia. We’ll be selling all your stuff to make room for mine in just a few short months,” I joke.

Fern shrugs. “Your clothes are cuter than mine, anyway. Sounds like just the excuse I need to take them over.”

A while later, Cooper exits the shop, and my eyes snap to him.

“God, he’s hot,” Fern mumbles as we watch him approach. He’s in a rust-colored sweater, dark jeans, and brown boots.

“Yup.”

“Wish I had more time here. The things I could do with your little family friend…”

“Fern!”

She laughs. “What? You’re thinking it too.”