“Why would you want to win, then?”
Sophie’s question was one that had been whispering in the back of Tessa’s mind since she boarded the plane to Alaska. But the desire to run a highly sought-after restaurant with instant success based on the owner was too much to pass up. Tessa could make a name for herself running that kitchen. “I want to be somebody.”
Sophie nudged her with her shoulder gently. “Youaresomebody, Tess. You don’t need some fancy restaurant to prove that.”
“Someone people will remember. But not for some cheating scandal I hadnothingto do with.” Tessa nodded for them to keep walking. “I feel stupid. I’m the one who encouraged Derek to apply for the show. I invited my demise to tag along, and the rat dumped me the night before we left for the airport.”
“What if they set you up?” Sophie said. “The show, I mean. Derek brought that recipe from New York, but think about it, Tess. They might’ve taken it from him, and then decided it would make a good bit of drama should you get far enough.”
Tessa swallowed, refusing to believe that. “No, this was definitely Derek’s idea. He knew I’d beat him.”
“Don’t we just have the best taste in men?” Sophie joked.
Except Liam. But Tessa didn’t dare say that out loud. “There, it’s up ahead.” She pointed to the fresh divot in the mountainside and picked up her pace, relieved to finally return to the crash site so they could get back sooner. They might be able to play the ‘we didn’t know’ card once. But with Old Man Franks, there was never a guarantee.
“What does it look like?” Sophie asked.
“It’s a heart on a silver chain. Has a little blue gem on the heart where the top hoops meet.” Tessa had given herself a lot of excuses over the years as to why she kept the gift. Mostly, she thought, it was so she never stopped believing that love existed. Because no matter how things ended that summer, what she and Liam had was real.
Tessa crept along the edge of the dirt road, careful to avoid the soft muck that had sucked in her tire. She didn’t want to clean Cadence’s shoes tonight if she didn’t have to. Laundry would take long enough.
“The necklace Liam gave you.”
Tessa’s breath hitched. “How’d you know about that?”
“Because I saw you two at the festival.”
“You were eleven.”
“With eyeballs. Crazy concept, huh?” Sophie’s smile, even in jest, was kind. Like a much-needed hug after a long day. Her gentle spirit had been passed down to her daughter, as well. The world needed more Sophies.
“I don’t know why I’ve kept it.”
“So, what about you and Liam, then?” Sophie asked.
“There is no me and Liam.” But even Tessa had a hard time believing those words. It was so easy to be sucked into his orbit. She’d only been back in Sunset Ridge for two days, and already it felt like home. Of course, it had felt that way all those years ago, so Tessa was extra cautious of her feelings now.Soeasy to get swept away.
“Are you sure?” Sophie asked.
“Yes.”
“He’s quicksand, Tess.”
“I know.” How Liam laid his trap less than forty-eight hours after her return was something she couldn't wrap her head around. It should be impossible, yet her memories of New York and the show were fading, replaced by the possibilities of a future with Liam. He was more dangerous than any contractual penalty the show could impose.
“How’d you lose the necklace out here?”
“I don’t know.” They searched for at least twenty minutes, Tessa’s borrowed shoes no longer void of mud and pasted-on leaves. Her fingers needed a rinse, too. But she didn’t want to waste the last of their water, even if the hike back was mostly downhill.
“I don’t think it’s here, Tess.”
About to admit defeat and suggest they head back, the faint roar of an engine echoed in the distance. Tessa’s breath froze. It was too loud to be on some other road. If they didn’t get off this one, they’d be caught. “We need to hide.”
“What?”
“Hide!” She yanked Sophie’s arm and pushed her up the dirt embankment toward the tree line. “We’re not supposed to be out here.”
“Did the no-trespassing sign not give that away?” Sophie called over her shoulder just before Tessa gave her a final push upward. Sophie rocked at the top of the soft, eroding dirt but managed to grab on to a birch tree trunk.
