“Nana Grace, we missed you so much!” They cry, squeezing her tight. My heart clenches at the sight.

“Oh, girls! We missed you too. Five days away from you feels like forever!”

I watch as my mother cradles Syd like she’s always been hers, and my father embraces Ari like she’s been his granddaughter since birth. They’ve grown so close over the last five months. My heart swells at how effortlessly they’ve welcomed the girls into their lives and how much love they pour into them without hesitation or limits. But it’s all still a lie. A beautifully crafted, well-intentioned lie.

And if my parents ever found out the truth, they’d be devastated.

Still, I push the guilt aside and exhale a sigh of relief now that our parents are here. Vic steps closer, presses a warm hand to my back, and leans down to kiss my cheek.

Then together, we head out to Maxine’s Bar-N-Grill to fake nice with Krista.

Chapter 21

A Double Date with Darkness – Kerry

The moment we pull into the parking lot, a strange chill runs down my spine. It’s probably nothing. Still, I can’t shake the feeling that something’s off tonight.

Krista spots us the moment we step inside, waving enthusiastically from a booth in the back.

We try to make our way toward her, but there are… obstacles.

I’m stopped at nearly every turn—former colleagues, childhood friends, parents of students I haven’t seen in years. They pull me into tight hugs, fire off a million questions, and spill all the local gossip.

Townie #1: We need you and the OGs back at the school Kerry!

Townie #2: This new batch of teachers? Handpicked by your ex. Complete idiots!

Townie #3: Heard you’re organizing the Fall Festival again. No one puts together a better town event than you.

It’s overwhelming yet heartwarming, but also a stark reminder of what Cory ripped away from me.

Vic stands beside me the entire time, his hand resting protectively at the small of my back. He doesn’t rush me. He doesn’t interrupt. He just lets me have my moment.

And once we finally break free, we make our way to Krista.

She flashes a bright, eager smile as we slide into the booth. “Wow,” she muses, tilting her head. “Guess you’re the celebrity around here, huh?”

I shrug, forcing civility. “I’ve known nearly everyone here my whole life. I’m sure it’s the same for you back home, right?”

She shrugs, and something in her expression softens. “I never really had a home,” she admits, her voice quieter. “We moved around for my dad’s job. Never stayed anywhere long enough to make real friends. Just the online kind... other influencers.”

Vic and I exchange a glance, both caught off guard by the unexpected vulnerability.