LOGIN“Here,” I said, sliding the phone across the table toward Mia.She collected it immediately, leaning forward and zoning in on the picture with that laser-focus look she always got when something juicy crossed her path. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she studied the image.“What do you think?” I asked, unable to keep the curiosity out of my voice.“He is handsome, that’s for sure,” Mia said after a beat, a slow, appreciative smile spreading across her face.“I know, right?” I replied, feeling a little burst of proud-mom warmth despite myself. “He looks decent and levelheaded too. At least from the picture.”Mia nodded in agreement, still scrolling through the photo. “Yeah, he does. He’s got that calm, thoughtful vibe going on. I like it.” She glanced up at me, eyebrows raised with fresh interest. “So where did Seraphina meet him?”I let out a soft laugh and shrugged, the pride in my self-control still buzzing under my skin. “Honestly? I have no idea. All I know is that his name is Kai.
THEA ASHFORD °❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:・ Mia poured two generous glasses, the pale liquid catching the light as she slid one across the table to me. “She’s going to be fine!” she said brightly, clinking her glass against mine. “Come on, Thea. She’s no longer a child. Crestwood is going to be good for her. A new start with new friends. I’m sure that’s what she wants.” I took a slow sip, the wine crisp and cold on my tongue, but it did nothing to loosen the knot in my stomach. “I know,” I let out the words automatically. My voice sounded hollow even to me. I set the glass down and stared out at the garden where Micah was chasing butterflies, his laughter carrying faintly through the open doors. “I know she’s not a little girl anymore. But after what happened at prom… it just feels like she’s running away.” She reached across the table and squeezed my hand. “Baby, that prom thing was one bad night. She’s not running away, she’s running toward something that feels like her own life, I guess. Don’t you
Heat crawled up my neck as I hurried the rest of the way down the long driveway. The tall iron gate swung open automatically when I approached, like the house itself was welcoming me back into its jaws. I slipped through and let it clang shut behind me with a heavy finality that made my stomach drop. Markus’s black car was still parked in front of the stone steps. I paused for a second, frowning. Was he still here? I shrugged it off. Not my problem. I pushed the heavy front door open and stepped into the cool, modern interior of the mansion. The moment I crossed the threshold, the peaceful bubble I’d been floating in popped. Noah was in the living room. Shirtless. A cigarette burned between his fingers as he paced slowly in front of the tall windows, phone pressed to his ear. The fresh bandage I’d taped to his temple stood out pale against his inked skin, the rest of his tattoos crawling over his shoulders, chest, and down his arms like dark stories I didn’t want to read. Smo
The trail was quiet except for the soft crunch of gravel and the occasional rustle of leaves overhead. I kept my eyes on the path ahead, when Kai decided to break the silence.“So… what do you think?”I blinked, glancing sideways at him. “What do I think about what?”He gave a small, almost shy shrug, hands tucked back into his hoodie pockets. “About all this. The lake. The woods. Me dragging you on a random walk with my mom and hyper little sister. The whole… normal picnic thing.” He shot me a quick look, that crooked smile flickering. “Just wondering if I was being too much. Or… if it was okay.”I slowed my steps a little, chewing on the inside of my cheek while I tried to find the right answer.“I don’t hate it and it was… nice,” I said finally. “Really nice, actually. I wasn’t expecting any of it. Especially not the rock collection tour.”Kai’s smile grew, soft and relieved. “Good. I was worried I’d scared you off. Plus the whole ‘lake agrees you’re safe’ bit. That was probably th
“Okay,” I told her, squeezing her little hand gently. “Friends.”Mira let go of my hand just long enough to do a happy spin, pigtails flying, then grabbed it again like she was afraid I might disappear if she let go.Kai finally looked over, pretending he hadn’t been eavesdropping the whole time and I watched as Elena spread out a big checkered blanket on a flat patch of grass near the water’s edge, while Kai set the basket down and started pulling out containers of sandwiches, fruit, and what looked like homemade cookies. Mira was already bouncing around, arranging rocks she’d collected as “special seats” for everyone.I took a small step backward, already feeling like an intruder.“I should probably head back,” I said quietly, gesturing vaguely in the direction of the mansion. “I don’t want to intrude on your picnic.”Mira’s head snapped toward me so fast her pigtails whipped around. “Nooo! You have to stay!”Elena looked up from the blanket, her smile soft but firm. “Oh, honey, you
Kai’s mom smiled widened. “And what’s your name, sweetheart?”“Saraphina,” I answered, shifting my weight a little. “Saraphina Ashford.”Her eyebrows lifted just slightly, like the name meant something to her, but she didn’t press. Instead she adjusted the basket on her arm and gave me a small nod.“Nice to meet you, Saraphina. I’m Elena. Kai’s mom.” She gently rested a hand on Mira’s head. “And this little escape artist is Mira, Kai’s sister.”Mira beamed up at me like we were already best friends. “Do you want to see my rock collection? I have a shiny blue one that looks like the sky!”“Um…” I hesitated, glancing between the excited little girl and her mom, then at Kai. The normalcy of it all still felt like it might shatter at any second, but Mira’s hopeful face made it impossible to say no.“Sure,” I said, managing a small smile. “I’d love to see your rock collection.”Mira let out a delighted squeal and grabbed my hand without warning, tugging me gently toward a cluster of bigger
“So you’re in a relationship with Caleb,” he murmured, voice so low it almost disappeared into the wind. I opened my mouth to explain—to spill the whole ridiculous, humiliating truth—but he cut me off before the first syllable could escape. “Did you know?” I blinked. “No… No! I swear I didn’t kn
Every muscle in my body locked at once, breath snagging in my throat so hard it hurt. I knew that voice. I knew it all too well.How could I possibly not recognize the voice when I’d spent months listening to it ask gentle questions, hold space for my silences, murmur “take your time” when I coul
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:・ The morning light sliced through the penthouse windows like a hangover headache, unforgiving, and way too bright. I’d gotten back sometime after three, showered off the night’s residue, and collapsed into bed still tasting sweat, and Amelia’s fear. Sleep had been shallow, fractured b
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:・ The drive home was quiet, but not the awkward kind. Gage’s hand stayed on my thigh the entire time, thumb tracing slow, absent patterns through my jeans. Every once in a while he’d squeeze lightly, a silent reminder that he was thinking about me. I stared out the window, watching the







