Page 6 of Fake Autumn Crush

My ability to read Julia's facial expressions and body language ebbs and flows. I can see she's nervous, and I hate that. I'm going to do everything I can to make her comfortable.

The server clearly recognizes me but doesn’t say anything while taking our order. Once she's gone Julia whispers, "Do you ever get used to strangers knowing who you are?"

"Yes and no. I mean, it’s happened every day for the past three years, so I'm accustomed to it, but that still doesn't mean it feels normal. Does that make sense?"

She nods. "Perfect sense."

Julia studies the small arrangement of pink and white daisies on our table, then looks up at me with a shy smile. "Thank you for the flowers from the market. Nobody has ever bought me flowers before."

That breaks my heart. This magical creature should have men falling at her feet. "You're very welcome." I tap her shoulder with mine. “Does it make me less manly if I admit I really like having fresh flowers around?"

Her face scrunches up as she squeezes her index finger and thumb together with barely a hair’s breadth between them. Then she giggles. "I'm kidding. Having nature in your space is healthy."

"I love the way you laugh. It makes your eyes sparkle like stars." She looks at me in shock. "I'm sorry." I lean back a few inches. "Maybe I'm starting to fall into writing mode."

She shakes her head, sending her hair cascading around her shoulders. "You can say whatever you want, especially if people are listening."

There's no one else around right now, so I hope she knows I said that just for her. Still, I pull out an orange notebook with a couple of pandas tumbling across it and make a note with my green pen.

"Wasn’t your notebook teal yesterday?" Julia asks.

"Teal is for business stuff," I explain. "Anything with a plain cover is business, logistics or lists. Animals or cartoons is lyrics."

She smiles. "I guess any system is better than no system. But why not get one big book and keep everything in it?"

"No way." I wave a finger at her. “I would be tempted to get a big fancy book that wouldn't fit in my pocket. And those don't work for scribbled ideas, anyway." I flip through the notebook, showing her my scrawled handwriting in chunky random fragments. "I need to feel free to write down the shittiest ideas that pop into my head, because sometimes, when you put them all together, seven shitty ideas turn into one good one."

Our appetizers arrive. This time the server is definitely giving me the eye, but I ignore it, turning to Julia as she asks, "So what's with the retreat? You lock yourself in a cabin and don’t come out until you’ve written the whole album?"

"Sort of. A lot of it will be rewritten in the studio with my band once the song starts coming together, but I need a clear headspace to get the concepts straight. The overarching theme of the album. Maybe seventy percent of the lyrics."

She's nodding. “You have to pour the foundation and figure out the layout of the rooms. The furniture and stuff will come later."

"Exactly! You get it."

"I can imagine that being completely alone is probably best for writing."

It's too soon to tell her that I would love to invite her to the cabin. That I think having a beautiful woman around would influence my writing. Maybe I can suggest it in a soft way.

"If you like alone time, you’d love my family cabin. There's a huge library and three different window nooks that are perfect to curl up for hours with a book. Especially this weekend – it’s only an hour north, but I hear the leaves are already turning, so the view of the valley will be amazing."

"Sounds like heaven." She smiles, taking a sip of peppermint tea. "I do like working for Natalie, but some time off would be amazing."

I know I shouldn't, but can't resist saying it. "I know for a fact that my record label has told Natalie to do anything and everything to keep me calm and get me into songwriting mode." Leaning close, I glance behind me before smiling back at Julia. "I think they're hoping for a double album. One all love songs, and one everything else under the sun."

"So a lot of what already sells, and some new stuff to expand your audience?" She nods. "That makes sense."

"If they want me to change my usual content, maybe I should switch up the writing process too. Take someone to the cabin to bounce ideas around. Could be interesting." My fingers walk across the wooden table to poke her wrist, then back to my coffee mug.

She smiles sweetly, shaking her head. "Let's get through the next two days and see what happens."

"Fair enough."

Over lunch we chat about food and holidays. I learn that Julia and Natalie's parents moved away to be with their friends in Florida several years ago, when Julia was only eighteen.

"So, am I allowed to ask how old you are now?"

"I'll be twenty-two in a couple of weeks."