PROLOGUE
Harper
Ipull into the gravel drive just as dusk settles over the lake, my headlights skimming over the cabin tucked into the trees. Hocking Hills feels removed from real life, like the world loosens its grip once you get far enough from Columbus. Carlie wanted quiet for her twenty-sixth birthday weekend. A break from the hospital. From everything. I want that for her, too.
Carlie had worked her ass off throughout school, never taking breaks, never letting up on herself. She graduated high school early with dual enrollment, so by sixteen, she had her diploma and her associate’s degree. I was in awe when she graduated med school at the top of her class at twenty-four. She is the smartest person I know. I am lucky to count her as my best friend.
And the truth is, I need a break, too. Things with David have been… well, a mess. We broke up, or we’re on a break. He wasn’t clear about what he wanted, and to be fair, neither am I. Which feels wrong. He’s perfect on paper, but that doesn’t mean much.
I am determined to put David out of my mind and just have fun with my best friend and her friends. They’re all a little older than me, but I’ve never minded that. Older people make me feel grounded, like there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.
Laughter drifts from the deck as I grab my bag. And then I see him, and I’m not grounded anymore.
Aiden Sloan stands near the firepit, one hand wrapped around a beer. Thirty-four. Carlie’s brother. He wasn’t around much when we were younger—at twelve years older than me, he had already hit adulthood while we were still figuring out ourselves—but Carlie has always looked up to him. I’ve heard his name my whole life. I’ve just never really looked at him before.
He looks up, and my stomach drops a little.
Broad shoulders that stretch his shirt over them. Sharp blue eyes that see too much. His stubble shades around the brooding frown that’s always on his face, even in childhood photos on their family’s walls. A forearm tattoo peeks out at the edge of the rolled sleeve of his green plaid flannel.
There’s something behind his eyes that makes my stomach flip. Never used to. But right now?—
Suddenly, Carlie comes out of nowhere, squeals, and pulls me into a hug. “You made it!”
“Wouldn’t miss it.”
She pulls me straight to her brother. “Harper, you remember Aiden.”
His mouth curves, slow and deliberate, as he almost squints at me. “You’re Harper Myers.” It almost sounds like a question.
“The last time I checked, yeah,” I tease before I can stop myself.
His eyes flick over my face, warm and unapologetic. “You grew up.”
Heat crawls up my neck. “So did you.”
He chuckles and knocks his beer back. “Good to see you.”
“You, too.”
Carlie’s phone rings then, the sharp sound slicing through the moment. Her expression shifts as she listens. The next thing I know, she apologizes a dozen times, already grabbing her keys. An emergency at the hospital. She’s not even on-call this weekend, but being a pediatric emergency medicine doc, it comes with the territory. Most of the group decide to head back with her to the city.
She hugs me and gives one more apologetic, “I’m sorry to drag you out here?—”
“No worries. Go save babies. We can celebrate you another day.” But I’m not sure it’ll happen. She’s always so busy. But her work is more important than a birthday party. I smile and offer, “I’ll clean the place and lock up when I’m done.”
“You’re a lifesaver?—”
“I’ll help out,” Aiden interjects.
She smiles, pure gratitude in her eyes. “You’re the best. Both of you. Gotta go.” She takes off behind the rest of her friends, and suddenly, it’s just us.
There isn’t much tidying to do, since everyone was here for only a few hours. As the sun sets, me and Aiden sit by the fire with a bottle of wine between us. The lake is still, and the forest around it goes dark before the sun is down. Late autumn blows crisply over us.
“So,” he says, pouring my glass. “What’s your major?”
“Hospitality.”
“What made you want to get into that?”
