I blink. Cassie’s leaving. Tonight. The words sit heavier than they should, pressing into my chest, sending a ripple of something I can’t quite name down my spine. This changes things. Because this means it won’t be the three of us anymore, it’ll just be Haven and me. No best friend watching over her, keeping me in check. Just us. And that’s… fuck. It’s terrifying. And it’s exciting as hell.

I grip the wheel a little tighter, my jaw tightening, my pulse kicking up a notch as I press my foot to the gas. I don’t know what this means. But I do know one thing. Whatever happens next? It just got a hell of a lot more interesting.

9

Haven

Cassie is sprawled across the bed once again, her phone in one hand, lazily flipping through whatever social media chaos is keeping her entertained, while I pace the length of the small Airbnb bedroom, my fingers gripping my phone like it might spontaneously combust in my palm.

I swallow hard, exhaling through my nose, trying to ignore the way my pulse has been pounding a little too hard since I read Carter’s text. Since I realized this is actually happening. “I—uh, he’s on his way,” I say finally, voice a little tight and uneven.

Cassie doesn’t even look up. “Shocker.”

I shoot her a glare, my nails tapping against the back of my phone. “No, I mean—like, he’s actually on his way right now.”

She sighs like she’s dealing with a child. “Yes, Haven. That’s what ‘on my way’ typically means.”

I groan, dropping onto the edge of the bed, my knee bouncing, my brain running a full-on marathon in my skull.

Cassie finally looks at me, brows raised, taking in the absolute disaster I’m becoming. She sighs, locking her phone. “Okay. What’s the damage?”

I frown. “What?”

She waves a hand at me. “You’re spiraling. Let’s get it all out now so you don’t freak out in his car and make this weird.”

I groan, flopping back onto the mattress. “I’m not going to freak out.”

Cassie snorts. “You’re five seconds away from a full existential crisis.”

I let out a slow breath, staring at the ceiling. “It’s just… real now.”

Cassie tilts her head. “And that’s bad because..?”

“No,” I say quickly, too quickly. “It’s just… different.”

Cassie nods like she already knew I’d say that. “Well, if it makes you feel any better, I’m not gonna be in your way much longer.”

That makes me sit up, my stomach twisting. “What?”

She shrugs, reaching for her phone again. “Told you, I’m having my friend pick me up at the diner if we don’t make it back here in time.”