Molly and I might have grown up together, but we lived completely different lives. She packed up after graduation, leaving the city behind, and never looked back. She chose love, real love.

As we drove along the highway, heading west, the irony wasn’t lost on me. I just ran from my wedding and was now on my way back to a place I’d been avoiding for years.

But desperate times, right? Plus, it was the only place I could go to think. And with my life unraveling before my eyes, I needed to do some serious soul-searching. Just thinking about it brought me a strange sense of comfort.

“Do you think you could spot me a small loan until I get the rest of my things?”

She pursed her lips. “I have a better idea.”

“What’s that?”

“You’ll see. Just trust me.” She winked.

“You better not make me regret calling you.”

She rolled her eyes. “Why don’t you try to get some sleep. I’ll wake you up when we get there.”

I nodded and sank deep into the seat. My eyelids felt heavier with each passing second.

Molly’s voice faded into the background as she talked to Finn. I rested my head against the window and allowed the exhaustion to take me under.

CHAPTER TWO

HARLOW

“Hey, sleepyhead. Time to wake up.” Molly nudged my arm gently.

I blinked my eyes open and pressed a hand to the back of my neck. I had a slight ache from my head being positioned against the window for almost five hours.

“Where are we?” I asked, sitting up and squinting through the windshield.

“See for yourself.” She pointed to the green and yellow sign: Welcome to Marcellus Falls.

An equal part of nerves and nostalgia hit me at once. The sign alone was enough to send a flood of memories rushing back. Summers spent soaking up the sun by the lake, bonfires at night, strolls down the main drive, and concerts in the park.

And of course, him. We would joke about how we never crossed paths until that summer. My mom’s house was tucked away, on the other side of the lake, where it was quiet. We ran in different circles and led different lives until that night.

Marcellus Falls wasn’t just a town to me; it was a piece of my heart. It was also where I found my first love and experienced my first heartbreak. Every corner, street, and building held amemory of some sort. By the looks of it, this place hasn’t changed much in five years.

As we cruised through the center of town, we passed by Clover’s Diner, the place where my mom and I would spend Sunday mornings after church. It was our special spot. Now, it was closed and another reminder of all that I lost.

The feeling of nostalgia faded the second we turned off Lakeshore Road. Instead of turning right toward the lake, Molly took a left, heading up a hill. I sat up in my seat as we pulled into a curved driveway.

The structure in front of me was enormous. Long windows, oversized doors, beautiful stone accents, and a wrap-around porch with a wooden swing.

This rustic one-story home screamed Brooks Dawson. It was exactly the kind of house I pictured him living in.

My breathing became rapid. She wouldn’t, would she?

“Where are we?”

“Before you kill me. This is the best option.”

My fingers dug into my arms. “No.”

“Hear me out.”

I swung my gaze to hers. “I’m never trusting you again.”