FROST’S POVI’d finally made it to the ice cream store and Riley was thrilled to see me, immediately putting me to work despite my protests that I’d just come to visit.“Nope, since you left we’ve been having less customers. I can’t miss out on this golden opportunity.”Not like I was complaining.The familiar routine was soothing—scooping ice cream, restocking toppings, wiping down counters.Simple tasks that required just enough focus to quiet my racing and noisy thoughts.“This is good,” I muttered to myself, a small smile tugging at my lips as I finished the last counter. “This is really good.”I wasn’t spiraling as much.I hadn’t thought about Seraphina or Jackson in the last hour.But—I couldn’t stay here forever.Eventually, the evening rush died down and Riley shooed me away, insisting I looked exhausted and needed rest.So much for taking golden opportunities.“Whatever family stuff you’re dealing with,” she said, giving me a quick hug, “I hope it works out. You’re one of th

JACKSON’S POVIt was the next day, and I was seated in the dining area, face-to-face with my raging parents.Apparently, they hadn’t been in the mood to talk to me this entire time because they still needed time to “process things.”Now it was about seven in the morning. I was sleep-deprived, running on little to no energy, and the worst part was—I hadn’t talked to Frost since last night. My phone had died, and of course, I’d forgotten my charger all at once.“I don’t know what you did with my son, but I want him back!”I actually laughed.I couldn’t help it—the sound burst out of me before I could stop it, sharp and humorless, filling the room.I found it genuinely unbelievable that she’d rather believe I’d been abducted by aliens or that my boyfriend was using voodoo on me than just accept that this is who I am.“You think this is funny?” Her voice climbed higher now, that cracking edge of panic creeping in. “You think your father and I find any of this amusing?”“No, Mom. I think i

JACKSON’S POVMom was openly crying now, her mascara running down her cheeks in black streaks.“Jackson, please. You’re not thinking clearly. This man—this Frost—he’s confused you. Made you think you’re something you’re not—”“He didn’t make me think anything!” I stood up, my chair scraping against the hardwood. They could talk smack about me but not Frost.“He just made me brave enough to admit what I’ve always been too scared to realize on my own. My life was on mute before him, Mom. On hold. Like I was just going through the motions of being whoever you wanted me to be. And then I met him and everything changed. I changed. And I’m not going back.”She laughed—a low, broken sound that made my chest ache.“Changed?” She choked out, “Jackson, you’re throwing away your entire future! Your education, your reputation, your relationship with Tammy, your family, everything we’ve worked for, everything we’ve built—” She was hyperventilating now, her voice climbing higher with each word.“Fo

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