It was finally October, and Joshua could feel that fall magic in the air—even in Los Angeles. The air had just the slightest crispness to it, and Bella? She was thriving. The second Joshua mentioned pumpkins, she lit up like it was Christmas morning.

“You’re taking me pumpkin shopping?” she gasped, clutching her hands dramatically to her chest like it was the most romantic thing anyone had ever done. “Babe… this is serious.”

He laughed, already knowing what kind of chaotic autumn energy was about to follow.

They pulled up to a cute little pumpkin patch on the edge of the city—a place Bella had found on Instagram weeks ago and bookmarked just in case. It had hay bales, scarecrows, orange string lights, and enough fall-themed photo ops to make her squeal.

“I need a wheelbarrow,” Bella announced within five minutes of arriving.

Joshua raised an eyebrow. “For one pumpkin?”

She turned slowly. “One? One?! I need one for the front porch, two for carving, one small white one for aesthetic, and that weirdly warty one for personality.”

Sure enough, she loaded that wheelbarrow like a pro—making Joshua push it, of course. She’d stop every few minutes to snap pics, holding pumpkins up to her face or making him pose with a mini one on his shoulder while she giggled from behind her phone.

“This one looks like you,” she joked, holding up a round, squat pumpkin with a lopsided top.

Joshua looked at it. “How does that look like me?”

She shrugged. “It’s cute, sturdy, and a little off-balance.”

“Gee, thanks.”

By the end of the trip, their car was filled with pumpkins, cider donuts, and one corn stalk Bella insisted they needed for “fall vibes.” As they drove home, Bella leaned back in her seat with a satisfied smile.

“I love fall. And I love pumpkins. And I love you.”

Joshua glanced over and smiled. “In that order?”

“Maybe.”

He reached over and took her hand. “I’ll accept that. As long as I get the first slice of pumpkin pie.”

Bella grinned. “Only if you help me bake it.”