Page 8 of The Stars

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.