Page 22 of Prime Time Romance

As we clear the trees, the forest opens up to a rocky beach and a two-lane steel structure that looks old, but secure enough to travel across.

There’s a rhythmic thwack, thwack, thwack as we leave the land behind and the ocean surrounds us on either side.

With every turn of the tires, the imaginary vise that’s been squeezing my chest since I woke up this morning loosens just a little more.

But then I slam on the brakes. Brynn jolts forward as her seatbelt catches.

“What the heck is that?” Brynn says it before I can.

Ahead of us, on the bridge, is a thick white mist that was definitely not there a moment ago.

“I think it’s just fog,” I answer with far more certainty than I feel.

Brynn twists around in her seat to look out the rear window, then whips back around. “I think we should go back. That doesn’t look like normal fog.”

A quick glance in the rearview mirror tells me she’s right. The road behind us is clear and sunny.

“Well, there’s only one way to find out.” I straighten my arms and hit the gas. The Mini jerks forward. Our windshield becomes an impenetrable wall of wispy white.

But as quickly as we are into it, we’re out.

The thwacking gives way to the crunching of gravel, and we’re once again surrounded by another tall forest.

I breathe a deep sigh of validated relief. “See. Regular old fog. We’re not dealing with the paranormal here. There’s an explanation. I don’t know what the fudge it is, but—”

All at once, I get this strange sensation.

Like the blood in my veins has turned to solid ice.

“You can’t swear.” Brynn’s voice is barely a whisper.

“Darn it.”

“Jesus H. Christmas.”

“Mother of pearl.”

Fuuuuuuuccccckkkk.

“I can swear in my head. It just comes out all wrong.” I open my mouth to try again but stop as the forest clears and Pop’s Old-Fashioned Diner comes into view.

Followed by the beauty shop.

The flower shop.

The redbrick building where I woke up this morning.

Then the most fucked-up sensation of déjà vu.

We’re back in Carson’s Cove.

But we can’t be.

“I’m going to try again,” I tell her.

I rev the engine, determined to prove that this is all some sort of misunderstanding.

The car speeds into the forest….