Walking along the beach with Autumn should feel normal.
But nothing about her feels normal.
She makes everything sharper.
More intense.
The wind pushes her deep auburn hair across her face and she tucks it behind her ear absentmindedly.
"What?" she asks suddenly.
"What?"
"You're staring at me again."
"Observation."
"That's a creepy excuse."
I smile slightly.
"Just... noticing things."
"Like what?"
"Like the fact that you're still holding my hand even though you were mad at me twenty minutes ago."
She glances down.
"Oh."
"See?"
"That doesn't mean you're forgiven."
"I didn't say it did."
We stop near the waterline.
The waves crash softly.
Autumn turns toward me.
Her expression is serious.
"Promise me something."
"I'm listening."
"Luca."
I sigh.
"Fine. What?"
"Don't get hurt."
The request lands deeper than she probably realizes.
Because the truth is-
Getting hurt has always been part of my life.
But looking at her now…
I suddenly want to try not to.
"I'll try," I say quietly.
She studies my face.
Then steps closer.
"You're trouble," she whispers.
I grin slightly.
"You knew that."
"Yeah."
She takes a breath.
"But I think you might be worth it."
And suddenly I realize something dangerous.
I don't want to lose her.