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“Yes, please, my feet have completely frozen.” Brittany stamps her boots against the ground.

Chad checks his watch. “It’s a bit early, isn’t it?”

It is, but I’m not suffering this moron another moment longer.

“We’ve got plenty. We can finish the rest at the hotel where it’s warm,” Brittany says, sliding her fingers into his hair. That’s all it takes to convince Chad. She’s better at this than he is, and I don’t think he knows.

Ellery is the perfect host on the ride back, keeping them comfortable and placated, wishing them safe travels when we drop them off. I’m not as forgiving as she is.

“Phew, they were a lot.” She buckles her seat belt as we set off. “You looked like you were going to kill him earlier.”

“I was considering it.” My fingers tighten around the steering wheel.

She laughs, and I want to hear it again. At least she doesn’t sound scared anymore.

“How you ever got on without me, I’ll never know.” She fiddles with the radio to find a station.

I don’t answer. I got on fine. That’s the problem.

As we climb the mountain road, I almost don’t turn off. The sensible thing is to take her home, drop her at her door, wait until I hear the latch, drive away. Same as every night.

Instead, I turn down the narrow track near the peak of the mountain, before the descent into Ravenslight Creek. It’s obscured by trees and rough to drive, but I could find it with the headlights off.

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll know when we get there.” I keep my eyes on the road so I don’t have to look at her, so I don’t have to wonder why I’m doing this when every rule I’ve made for myself says I can’t. I want this night to end with her happy, and not thinking about fucking Chad.

“Do we have to? I really want to get home for a hot shower and bed.”

I ignore her grumbling as we wind around bends, spruce hemming us in on both sides, climbing higher until the track abruptly ends in a tight circle.

“Out.”

She groans but gets out, wrapping her coat tighter against the chill. I check the forest to make sure we’re alone.

“This way.” I point to a trail, barely visible in the low light.

She folds her arms across her chest, planting her feet. “I’m not going up there. In the dark. Alone.”

“You’ll be with me.”

“What if you’re a murderer?”

A laugh erupts from my mouth. I’m so shocked by the sound I snuff it out almost immediately. The last time I heard it, I was still in California.

“You’re alone in a van with me six nights a week. If I wanted to, I’d have done it by now.”

“Fine. But if you murder me, my best friend will tell Marthe.”

“Can we go, please? It’s not far, and it’ll be worth it. I promise.”

It’s a short climb. She goes ahead of me, and I stay close enough to catch her in case she stumbles.

I’ve stood up here in every season. Rain coming sideways, forty below, summer nights when it never gets properly dark. Never with anybody.

When she pushes through the brush, her steps slow, and stop.

Chapter 16