Page 1 of Knot Falling in Love
Chapter One
Maisie
This was supposed to be my vacation from reality. A weekend away from the city and all of my problems, a way for me to forget the literal clusterfuck that is my life and connect with my best friend and her family.
Now, on top of spending close to 8 hours instead of the 6 that my GPS had estimated, my car has decided to die on me without warning. None. Just a few clunks, the engine sputtering and me wrestling it to the side of the road away from the non-existent traffic leading into GhostlightFalls.
I stare down at my best friend Hannah’s contact information, my finger hovering over the call button. I should probably just text, she already has her hands full this weekend since it’s her daughter’s first hunt.
Think of it as a wolf shifter’s sweet sixteen, and no one is being hunted or doing any hunting. They just gather and run through the woods as a pack so that the youngest generation can safely grow accustomed to their wolfy instincts.
Being a human, I only experienced the birthday cake and watching her older brother Elijah shift out of his wolf form at 3 am, shirtless and drenched with sweat. The image lives in my head rent-free on the same level as the scene in Pride and Prejudice where Mr. Darcy emerges from the lake like some sexy Regency swamp monster.
The only child inside of me resists the urge to jump out of my car and figure things out for myself.
How hard can it be? My car is just five years old, things aren’t as complicated as they used to be, but I also recognize the gray clouds above suggest this gloomy weather is going toget worse, my phone is dying and my lovely young car has stalled right next to the bridge leading into town.
The golden light streaming through the car window turns sickly, making my fingers move on their own. Being caught out after sunset in the pouring rain doesn’t sound like my idea of a good time. Though it’d be par for the course with the past few weeks.
“Hello?” Hannah answers, “No, no, we don’t have any diet soda. You’re going to have to make a run to the store later on.”
“Are you busy?”
“Maisie? No, never too busy for you. Alexis, take Jeremiah off the table. I don’t care how clean he is.”
“Do you have a working number for Axel or Rodd? I called the shop, and there’s no answer.” Not to mention, their internet presence is practically nonexistent.
“They must’ve closed a little early for the festival. Why? What happened? Where are you?”
I turn in my seat, looking out the back and side windows, “Just past the bridge near the water tower? I’m not sure whathappened, my car just made a series of noises and the engine cut out. I’m safe, though.” Relatively safe. If you ignore the whispers about the water tower and the stories of trolls living under the bridge.
Most of the supernaturals that live in Ghostlight Falls are pretty harmless, though. Aside from the giants, but that’s another story.
There’s a rustling of fabric, and I can only hear bits and pieces of Hannah’s conversation with someone, “Yeah, it’s Maisie. She’s out by the bridge.” There’s a pause, and she replies. “Okay, I’ll let her know.”
“Maisie?”
“Yeah, I’m here.” I straighten, looking at the clouds.
“Stay put, Eli is on his way.”
“Elijah?!” I squeak out, “I—I thought he was overseas. Is he on leave?”
“What are you talking about? He moved back and has been home for the better part of three years. He took over the body shop after Axel and Rodd retired. They’re off in Spain or Italy, living their best life. I thought I sent you their travel Instagram.”
“You probably did.”
He’s been home for three years, so I haven’tbeen back home in close to four. I figured when I moved back to the west coast for work, I’d be able to visit more often, until things picked up at the company.
“Oh, Jacob’s parents just got here. I can stay on the phone while you wait.”
“No, it’s fine. I’ll call you back if anything happens.”
“Okay, love ya. We are so excited to see you.”
“Love you.”
I sit in silence with my cellphone on my lap, a photo of me and my ex staring back at me. We broke up nearly six months ago and I haven’t changed it. In the beginning, it kept me from calling him and apologizing for the fact that he cheated on me, but now he’s staring and judging. The smile is still not quite reaching his eyes as he’s placing my ridiculous birthday tiara on my head.
