Even though Mady was a traveling journalist, the truth was she usually didn’t have to be on the road all that much. Lately, though, that had changed. Her life had turned into a blur of airports and boarding passes, hopping from one flight to the next with hardly a breath in between.
She didn’t regret choosing this career; it had given her stories, purpose, and a sense of freedom. Still, the spark in her eyes had dimmed, just slightly, ever since someone had broken her heart back in high school. Maybe it wasn’t even about him anymore. Maybe that was simply what adulthood was—a little bit of sadness here and there.
“Great. Is John picking you up?”
I heard a tired sigh. “No, he has a big meeting in the morning.”
“I’d pick you up, but I’ve got the early shift.”
“No worries, babe. I’ll take a taxi. We’ll hang when you have time.”
I missed her, now more than ever. We were talking more these days. About life. About Luke. Now she treated it like a slow-burn novel she’d secretly been rooting for the whole time. She was especially waiting for the part where he shows up in the rain.
“Can we finally start the wedding planning when you’re back?”
“Oh God, I have so many Pinterest boards it’s embarrassing. Good thing we have a whole year to plan this.”
“Well, according to your mom, you had this planned since middle school.”
“Pfff... don’t know what you’re talking about,” she dismissed me.
“Halloween party. 7th grade.” I laughed, reminding her of the self-made wedding dress with uneven edges and her mom’s borrowed shoes that were too big for her.
“Yeah, well, I dominated that event.”
Suddenly, a sharp bang at the door yanked me out of the moment. I’d just stepped out of the changing room. Expecting to send away a late customer, I walked to the counter, but as soon as I reached it, dread washed over me.
A tall, looming figure slammed his fist against the door, each thud rattling straight through my chest. Mady’s voice became a distant murmur, barely reaching my ears.
Jackson, clearly drunk, shouted my name, his voice slurred and ragged as he staggered against the frame. He fumbled with the handle, shoving the door with the desperate force, making the wood rattle in its hinges.
No, no, no.
“Hazel, let me in. Let’s talk!” His words were casual, but the tone was impatient.
What do I do? What can I do? I’m alone.
I forced myself to stay calm and ran through the options I had, though there weren’t many.
“Hazel? Where’d you go?”
Mady’s voice pierced through the static of my thoughts. My eyes were glued to Jackson—unsteady, glassy-eyed, nothing like the version of him I used to know. My throat tightened, every breath catching sharp and shallow, while a cold sweat prickled along my palms.
“He’s here,” I breathed, barely louder than a thought. “Jackson’s here.”
The moment the words left my mouth, it all finally became real, sending a jolt of panic through me. This time, I didn’t even try to hide the fear in my voice.
“What do you meanhere?”
“I mean here, at ORiley’s. Outside, but... here.”
“Oh, my God. Are you safe?”
“I think so. The door’s locked, but no one else is here,” I said, a crack in my voice. “I’m alone.”
And just as I’d conjured it myself, Jackson slammed his hand through the window, shattering the glass. I screamed at the noise.
“HAZEL? What happened?” Mady shouted.
