Chapter 3

Chapter Three

A my took a deep breath, forcing her heart rate to settle as she watched Jacob and Dante disappear through the mist outside. She let out a sigh of relief and leaned against the counter. Despite knowing them both for years, there was something about seeing them in uniform that set her on edge. It wasn't like she was a criminal or anything—far from it—it was full blown attraction. Hard. Fast. Powerful attraction.

Feelings she couldn't afford to have right now. Her hand slid into her jacket pocket, fingers brushing the small bag of weed. Why hadn't she gotten rid of it? That question nagged at her, tugging at the edges of her conscience. It wasn't like she even used it that often. Ryan had been the one to drag her into that scene. Always pushing her to "loosen up" and "have some fun." Now that he was out of her life, she should have just ditched it. Instead, it lingered there, a reminder of a part of her she wished she could just leave behind.

"Everything okay?" Jess's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

Amy plastered on a smile, even though her heart still raced. "Yeah. Just... you know, old habits."

Jess gave her a knowing look from behind the counter. "Still jumpy, huh? You've gotta relax. I'm telling you, Hidden Creek is about as safe as it gets. Besides, Jacob and Dante aren't exactly the types to go sniffing around for trouble. They've known you forever." Jess touched her hand and then nudged her coffee order towards her.

Amy laughed softly, but it was forced. Jess didn't know about her exes, about the mess she'd been tangled in before she decided to come back home. If she did, maybe she wouldn't be so casual about it. The truth was that Amy had fallen into some bad habits when she left Hidden Creek. She'd been trying to outrun the small-town life, the memories of growing up here, and most of all—Dante.

He'd always been the one that got away. No, not got away—she'd pushed him away. Senior prom, the last night she could remember feeling like everything was right. They'd danced, laughed, and even shared a kiss under the string lights behind the gym.

He hadn't called her after that night, but it wasn't as if she had tried too hard to win him over. And right after graduation, she was gone. Off to chase a life that wasn't even hers to begin with.

"Amy?" Jess's voice softened as she wiped down the counter, her brow furrowed with concern. "You're not thinking about Ryan again, are you?"

Amy's stomach twisted at the mention of his name. She bit down hard on the inside of her cheek and shook her head. "No. Not him. Not anymore."

But it wasn't a lie she could sell. Ryan had done a number on her. She knew that much. His rough edges, his recklessness—they had felt exciting in the beginning, but by the end, it was nothing but chaos.

"Good," Jess said firmly, tossing the rag over her shoulder. "Because you deserve way better. And if you're gonna stick around this time, you've gotta stop looking over your shoulder like the sky's gonna fall."

Amy smiled again, this time a little more genuinely. "You're right. I'm fine. Really." She didn't know who she was trying to convince more, Jess or herself.

Jess rolled her eyes, but a grin tugged at her lips. "Well, if you ever want to talk... or need to borrow my dog to walk around town for protection, let me know." She smiled. "And remember, I'm married to the chief of police." She motioned towards the glass. "He may be the boss of the town, but I'm the boss of him."

Amy laughed, the tension finally starting to loosen in her chest. "I'll keep that in mind."

Just then, her phone buzzed in her pocket, vibrating against the small bag of weed. She fished it out, praying it wasn't Ryan trying to weasel his way back into her life. Her heart eased when she saw it was only a notification from her old landlord, telling her that he'd released her from her month-to-month lease.

Thankfully, earlier that morning, she'd managed to secure a short-term rental just outside of Hidden Creek. It was a small cabin by the creek, away from the noise and too many memories of her parents' home.

Her parents were due back home any day now, and she was not going to try and live with them again. Not after last time. She loved her folks, really, but she was twenty-five.

After glancing out the window, her gaze lingered on the fading mist, the place where Dante and Jacob had disappeared just minutes earlier. Her pulse picked up again, not from fear this time, but from something else—something she hadn't felt in a long time. Dante had looked good. Better than she remembered, honestly. Broad shoulders, steady gaze, that easy sexy smile he always flashed her when they were younger.

"Earth to Amy," Jess teased, bringing her back to reality.

Amy blinked and cleared her throat, forcing herself to look away from the window. "Sorry. Just... thinking about how much has changed since I've been gone."

Jess leaned on the counter, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Or maybe thinking about how much someone has changed?"

Amy rolled her eyes, but her cheeks warmed slightly. "He's not the same kid I used to know."

"Nope. He's a man now. And a pretty damn good-looking one at that," Jess added with a wink.

"Stop." Amy laughed, but her heart wasn't exactly disagreeing with Jess. She'd always had a soft spot for Dante. He was the only thing that ever felt right about this town, the only person who made her second-guess leaving in the first place.

"He's still single, you know," Jess added with a wink.

"I'm not looking for anything," Amy said quickly, though the way her voice wavered made her feel like she was lying. She wasn't ready. Not after Ryan. Not after everything.

But as she glanced out the window again, the mist swirling as the sun began to break through the morning fog, she wondered if maybe—just maybe—coming back to Hidden Creek wasn't about hiding from her past.

Maybe it was about facing it.

In the next few days, as the summer came to an official close, she moved her meager things into the small rental and went back to work at the only job she'd held in the time that she'd lived in Hidden Creek.

Working at Hidden Creek Wine & Liquor had its benefits. For one, now that her brother owned it instead of her uncle, her hours were pretty much whatever she wanted. When her uncle had run the place, she'd been underage and had only been allowed to sweep floors and do the bookkeeping, something she'd been good at from a young age.

While she settled into what would be her new life, Amy found herself getting into a rhythm—something she hadn't felt in years. Her quiet cabin, nestled just outside town, became her sanctuary. At night, she'd sit on the small porch with a glass of wine, the sound of the creek running nearby and the occasional hoot of an owl as her only companions.

Working at the liquor store was a familiar comfort. The regulars, the local gossip, and even the predictability of stocking shelves or ringing up customers felt like slipping back into a well-worn pair of shoes. She appreciated the freedom her brother gave her, though she sometimes wondered if he was too lenient. He never pressed her about the past and never asked why she had come back, which was a relief. Maybe he knew better than anyone that the last thing Amy needed was more questions.

As the longer summer days slowly melted into the shorter, cooler autumn days, she kept busy, her hands and mind always moving, always working, like the constant hum of the creek that ran past her cabin. But no matter how occupied she stayed, there was something—or rather, someone—that kept creeping into her thoughts.

Dante.

She hadn't seen him since that morning at the Coffee Corner. Every time she drove into town, she half-expected to run into him again, but each time, the streets were quiet. Part of her was relieved. Another part, the part she didn't like to admit, found it disappointing.

"You know, you could always stop by the station," Joe teased her one afternoon while she was stocking a new shipment of wine. "He's not exactly hiding."

"I have no idea who you're talking about," she said dryly.

Joe made a tsking noise. "Everyone in town knows who I'm talking about," he retorted.

Amy scowled and tossed a bottle of merlot into the cooler with more force than necessary. "I'm not avoiding him."

"Sure," Joe said, stretching the word out with a grin. "That's why every time his name comes up, you either go silent or change the subject."

Amy turned her back on him, focusing on arranging the bottles. "I'm just not looking for anything complicated. Last time I was with someone, it was a disaster."

"Yeah, but Dante's not Ryan." Joe's voice softened as he leaned against the counter. "You know that, right?"

She bit her lip. She did know. Dante was the opposite of Ryan in every way that mattered. Where Ryan had been reckless, Dante was steady. Ryan had been volatile, and Dante was patient. But that didn't change the fact that getting close to someone—anyone—felt like stepping too close to the edge of a cliff. One wrong move, and she'd fall over again.

Joe sighed, sensing her hesitation. "Look, all I'm saying is, maybe it's time you stopped running."

Amy froze, his words cutting deeper than she'd like to admit. She wanted to tell him he was wrong, that she wasn't running anymore, that coming back to Hidden Creek had been her way of facing things. But deep down, she knew that even though her feet had stopped, her heart was still in full retreat.

She'd been avoiding her feelings for him since that first kiss, letting fear and overwhelming desire push her toward reckless choices. No wonder she'd always fallen for the wrong guys—she'd never believed in a real future. Before she could come up with a response, the bell over the door chimed, and a customer walked in, saving her from the conversation. Joe shot her a knowing look before turning to greet the man, leaving Amy alone with her thoughts once again.

That evening, after she closed up the shop and made her way back to the cabin, the familiar tension settled in her chest. She parked her car, grabbed her bag, and walked towards the front door, the cool autumn air biting at her skin. The night felt quieter than usual—too quiet. The kind of quiet that makes you hyperaware of every rustle, every shift of the wind.

She shook off the feeling and unlocked the door. Inside, she turned on the lights and tossed her bag on the couch. She poured herself a glass of wine and stepped outside onto the porch. The night sky was clear, the stars visible against the backdrop of inky blackness. She took a long sip, her gaze drifting to the creek that wound its way through the woods.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket, and she glanced at the screen. A message from Jess.

"Having an impromptu get-together tonight around eight. Care to join us at Xtina and Michael's place?"

Amy hesitated, her thumb hovering over the screen. It would be a good distraction. Better than just sitting home alone for another night. And since Jacob and Dante were best friends, if he happened to show up... well, maybe that wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.

Before she could second-guess herself, she typed out a quick response.

"Sounds fun. See you there."

Amy showered and then changed her outfit more than a dozen times in the next hour. She'd avoided clothes shopping since returning home and most of what she had she'd worn in high school. Thankfully, she was the same size as she'd been back then and, even though dated, her clothes still fit perfectly.

Amy stood in front of the mirror, examining her latest outfit: a simple black sweater, a pair of dark jeans, and her old, well-worn boots. She sighed and tugged at the hem of the sweater, wishing she'd gone shopping when she got back into town. High school clothes weren't exactly fashion-forward, and she hadn't been great at fashion even back then. Still, it was comfortable enough, and she wasn't trying to make a grand entrance. She was just showing up for a casual evening with friends... and possibly running into Dante.

Her heart gave an annoying little jump at the thought of him, but she shoved it down. It wasn't like anything was going to happen. She hadn't seen him since that morning at the Coffee Corner, and chances were, tonight wouldn't be any different.

She grabbed her jacket and headed out the door, locking up the cabin behind her. The night air was crisp. Fall was officially in full swing. The drive to Xtina and Michael's place was short. The road wound through the woods as her headlights cast long shadows across the tall trees overhead.

Spooky season , she thought as she drove.

When she pulled up to the house, she could already hear the low hum of laughter and music spilling out from the backyard.

Xtina had always lived in one of the oldest buildings in or around town. She'd inherited the home a while back when her parents had died in a car accident, which later on had been determined to be murder. A cult leader had caused her parents' deaths and then stalked Xtina and kidnapped her.

The home was a massive plantation style two-story house that sat just outside town. It was surrounded by massive, ancient oak trees. The property had a huge sprawling yard that made it perfect for get-togethers like this.

Amy took a deep breath, trying to settle the nerves that had been bubbling up inside her since she'd agreed to come over. She wasn't usually this anxious about social events, but returning to Hidden Creek had stirred up so many old feelings—nostalgia, regret, and hope all wrapped up into one confusing knot. She wasn't sure how to untangle it.

"Just a few hours. You can handle a few hours," she whispered to herself before heading around the side of the house to the backyard.

"I see you still talk to yourself," a deep voice said from behind her. She squealed and spun around. Dante's smile flashed as he moved closer to her, seemingly sliding out of the darkness.

His skin glowed in the soft light from the overhead fairy lights that hung in the large oak trees that surrounded the parking area of the property.

His dark eyes ran over her, heating her until she desperately wished she could pull off her jacket.

"I see you still enjoy sneaking up on people," she replied, causing him to chuckle.

She felt foolish, so she didn't wait for his response but turned on her heels and headed towards the noise, knowing full well that he'd fall in step with her.

They remained quiet as they walked down the side pathway around the massive house.

As soon as they rounded the corner, she spotted Jess sitting on a lounge chair, laughing at something Michael had just said.

Xtina was playing with a dog as she drank a beer, her dark hair pulled back into a high ponytail. There had been many rumors about the woman floating around town in the past few years, but that was nothing compared to the rumors the kids had spread about her growing up. Still, Amy had never had a reason to dislike Xtina. Actually, she'd always admired her for her strength in friendship. Xtina and Jess had been best friends for as long as anyone could remember. Through thick or thin, the two women stuck together.

Amy had shared a few friendships with a handful of people in her past, none of whom she was still connected to.

Jess and Xtina had always been best friends. Amy could tell that the duo was even closer now than before.

Joe and Liz were there, quietly talking in a swing closer to the back of the home. Her brother nodded and waved at her when he spotted her. Liz looked slightly uncomfortable with her heavy pregnancy but smiled at her when she waved.

Michael's brother Ethan, whom she'd met a few times before, now was married to Brea, a petite blonde woman who kept looking at her funny.

Tara and Selene were sisters but looked nothing alike, but she could see the resemblance between Selene and Lucas.

She was thankful that Lucas and Mia were there and enjoyed catching up with the couple. Most everyone here occasionally came into the liquor store, but this was the first time she was socializing with any of them outside of that first day she'd returned to town.

"Amy! You made it!" Jess waved her over, a wide grin on her face. "Dante's here too." She laughed.

Amy smiled and waved back, the knot in her chest loosening just a little. "Yeah, we bumped into one another out front."

"Come sit with us," Jess said, patting the chair next to her.

She moved over and sat down just as Dante took the chair next to Jacob and started chatting with him.

Her heart skipped a beat as he leaned back in one of the Adirondack chairs, opened a beer, and took a sip while his eyes locked with hers.

Shadows from the firelight played over his dark skin, highlighting his facial features and making his sharp jawline look even more defined. He already looked relaxed, laughing at something Jacob had said, and for a moment, Amy just sat there, frozen. Totally enamored by him.

The feelings he brought out in her, the things that just his simple glances did to her, well, she thought about running, making any excuse to leave. Jess reached over and touched her arm, pulling her out of her thoughts. "I can see it in your eyes. I'm not going to let you escape this quickly. You just got here."

Reluctantly, Amy relaxed in the lounge chair, doing her best to keep her eyes from straying back to Dante. But it was no use. She could feel his presence like a gravitational pull and couldn't stop glancing over at him again. It didn't help that every time she looked, he seemed to catch her eye, too, his gaze lingering just a second too long.

Almost an hour after she'd arrived, Mia stood up and got everyone's attention.

"Tonight. It's tonight," she said suddenly, her eyes going around the group quickly and then landing on her for a brief second before asking the group. "Is everyone ready?"

Amy frowned as everyone around her suddenly sobered and nodded before turning to look directly at her and Dante.

"What?" she asked after a moment of silence.

"Tonight is the night that you will finally fulfill your destiny," Mia said firmly with a grin.