“That’s it. I can’t take this anymore.”
Untangling herself from the blankets, Gia stomped over to the closet and pulled out a pair of socks. Yanking them on, she stomped out of the room and down the stairs. She’d spotted her old hiking boots in the mudroom when she first got home. They looked untouched, other than the layer of dust and spiderwebs covering them.
Grabbing her boots, she brought them outside. With jerky movements, she slammed them against the railing, scrunching her nose at the plume of dust. Cautiously, she peered into the boots and breathed a sigh of relief when she didn’t spot any critters hiding inside.
Now that they were clean enough, she carried them backthrough the house to the front door, grabbing the car keys to the minivan her parents had left behind for her. They’d opted to walk to the restaurant instead. She yanked on her boots and closed the door behind her.
She knew where she needed to go.
It was time to visit Thao.
The drive to Moonshadow Falls was as familiar as the back of her hand. With the sun still high in the sky, she rolled down the windows of the minivan as she drove slowly out of the center of town and toward the outskirts.A large lake stretched along one side of the road, and she followed it to the cliffs that dominated her childhood memories. The mountainside offered a spectacular view and, not for the first time, she wondered how Willowbrook remained such a well-kept secret. It would be the perfect vacation site or movie set. Maybe it could even serve as the backdrop to a small-town Hallmark romance.
The short drive was peaceful. Quiet, despite the wind blowing through her hair. The fresh air was a stark contrast to LA smog. For a moment, the weight sitting on her chest eased, lifting enough to where she’d felt carefree and young again. As if all of her problems had been blown away with the breeze. If only it were so easy.
As soon as she parked the van in the visitors’ parking lot, she felt reality weighing her down again. Hopefully, a nice hike in the woods would distract her.
Grabbing her phone and leaving the keys in the cupholder, Gia climbed out of the minivan, making sure all the windows were rolled up in case it rained. Weather around Willowbrook could be temperamental and unpredictable. The last thing she wanted was to ruin her parents’ car… again.
Hands braced on her hips, she glanced up at the trails leadingher through several miles of incline before reaching the peak. Her hiking boots were a little snug, but they would get the job done.
She’d forgotten to grab a hat before she left, but since the trails were mostly shaded, she should be fine. Plus, the afternoon sun wasn’t as harsh now as it tracked over the lake.
Taking steps toward the trail, Gia wished she’d thought to bring her headphones. Being alone with her thoughts in the wilderness seemed like a scary prospect. Funny how she was more scared of the voices in her head than of being attacked by wild animals. At least she was unlikely to encounter a wild animal—unlike her thoughts, which never seemed to shut up.
The sound of leaves crunching beneath her boots as she followed the trail was satisfying. The birds chirped happily in the trees, and the sounds of scurrying squirrels kept her company. In the distance, if she focused hard enough, she could hear rushing water. The cliffs dropped off into Crystal Hollow Lake, which eventually connected to the Atlantic Ocean, several states away, through rivers and streams.
While the lake itself was relatively calm where she was headed, she knew things could get dangerous if she wasn’t careful and got caught in the undertow. It was a sobering thought as she continued her trek.
About ten minutes into her solo hike, the sound of her own voice inside her head was driving her nuts. Since she spotted no one else in the woods and there were no other cars in the parking lot, it was probably safe to assume she was alone out here.
It should have scared her to know she was alone, but it filled her with comfort instead.
She practiced the lines she’d memorized for the role she’d failed to secure. She’d worked so hard to land a job and lost it all too easily.
It’s not fair.
Gia knew more than anything life was hardly fair, but she could still feel the loss of something she’d worked so hard for. No doubt they already found her replacement. It shouldn’t have beenhard to do, since it was a coveted role with many talented actresses vying for it.
She knew it had all been too good to be true.
Maybe if I hadn’t fought back…
No, she was not going down that path.
With horror, Gia thought about her replacement.
Would they have to endure what I did in order to land the role? Is there some sort of secret initiation to be a part of the A-list club?
It all seemed so dark and twisted.
If it was the price she had to pay, she was glad she’d escaped. There was no way she would have been able to look at herself in the mirror if she’d allowed things to progress.
Coming back to Willowbrook, to her hometown, seemed like a better idea with each passing moment. There weren’t many people who knew where she came from. She’d kept her past a secret—something she hadn’t been willing to share with the vultures.
If the paparazzi knew where she was hiding out, they would swarm Willowbrook. The small town couldn’t handle it—Willowbrook didn’t even have a hotel or room shares to accommodate outside guests.
The tourism would likely generate revenue to help fix up the small town, though.
