Maybe she could finish her drink and escape. Never come back to the bar or Arbor Bay and go get some snow boots and a sled for the arctic and—

“Well, if it isn’t our own personal superstar, Sloane De Carlo.”

Every part of Sloane tensed at the high-pitched bullshit that floated up to her ear from behind. Objectively, she knew it wasn’t Emma’s fault for Sloane deciding to make her public debut by going to the only after-hours establishment within a thirty-mile radius, but she still felt a flash of anger at her best friend.

How dare she tell Sloane to not keep sulking!

How dare she tell Sloane to go out where the people were!

That anger swiftly turned to an even more urgent urge to flee as she faced the new voice behind her.

Carol “The Classic Bitch” Robertson was smiling sweetly. Past her shoulder, Sloane could see a group of people climbing into a booth near the patio door. Among them was Carol’s twin.

Marcus Robertson.

Sloane’s very own former soul mate.

Crap on a spatula.

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

The problem with small towns was not that they were small but that they were awful.

At least, that was Sloane’s deep-seated belief as she tried to smile like she wasn’t panicking inside at Arbor Bay’s own Queen Bee. An unwelcome experience on its own. Never mind the fact that the guy who had taken the spotlight in her freak viral tour was across the room. And the only person in the entire world who knew Marcus was that guy? The bartender standing not more than two feet from them.

Sloane wished she was back on Emma’s kindergarten classroom floor, groaning like the responsible adult she was.

“Hey, Carol! It’s been a while.”

Two years, give or take. A brief conversation at the drive-in fraught with passive-aggressive remarks about how Sloane hadn’t changed a bit since they’d graduated.

Not that Sloane was keeping tabs.

Carol tossed her long, loose blond curls over her shoulder and tilted her head ever so slightly to the side.

“I heard you were back in town, but I didn’t believe it. What with everything going on, I thought you’d be much busier. Then again, I guess you’re not used to the spotlight. It can be hard to manage.”

Sloane gave a small, fake laugh.

“It’s been interesting, that’s for sure, but there’s not much I can really do at this point other than just ride it out, I guess. Taking the blog down wouldn’t even do much, considering we live in a world of screenshots.”

Carol pressed a hand to her chest and faked sympathy.