Page 52 of A Nest of Maple & Mist

“Finally! We’ve been waiting for you. We have snacks and blankets and coffee.”

“Sold.”

Hazel and Fern argued about which was the superior chocolate. White or milk. The fact that Fern preferred white chocolate surprised me. Like Hazel, I found it way too sweet. And I usually adored overly sweet things. But white chocolate on its own was too much.

Even for me.

With more force than I expected from Lily, she pushed me onto the sprawling blanket. I huffed, tossing her a glare, and she just smirked, shrugging.

The lush, cream-colored fabric slid under my fingers. My disgruntled attitude vanished almost instantly as Hazel thrust a massive caramel coffee into my hand.

I took a tentative sip, aware of all their eyes on me.

“What?” I said, my lips pausing at the rim.

“Spill,” Fern purred, looking almost diabolical.

My eyes narrowed, my grip around the transparent to-go cup tightening.

“Spill what?”

“You smell different,” Hazel said.

“Syrupy almost,” Lily added.

“And I saw Shane stalking you outside the bookshop the other day,” Fern said.

“Damn. Can I keep anything to myself in this town?”

I wasn’t upset. Not really. I had planned to talk to them. But it would have been nice to be the one to bring it up.

“Sorry.” Lily plopped beside me, cradling a pillow to her stomach as her curls bounced. “Everyone knows everything around here.”

“Unfortunately.”

I rubbed the wrinkle between my brows, knowing how gossip spread in Maple Falls.

Hazel munched on a cider donut, powdered sugar coating her fingers. My hand drifted to the crystal dove hidden away in my pocket. I traced the smooth surface.

Thankfully, Lily broke the stilted silence, asking Hazel about the special chocolates she had planned for Halloween at her shop. Despite the background conversation, I still sensed Fern’s unrelenting gaze pinned on me.

Tears stung my eyes. I brushed them away. Fern shuffled closer, wrapping an arm around me.

“Mia. What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know.”

Mates. Mates. Mates.

It chanted in my head.

The urge to word vomit almost took over. I rubbed my wrists together, annoyed that it did nothing to soothe the irritation. While I stayed locked in my room the last two days, the boys doted on me, unbothered by my new recluse status.

I leaned into Fern, letting her hug ground me.

“I’m overwhelmed. Confused. Somehow, I feel like I became the jerk, not Shane.”

“No fucking way. He broke up with you in a text and just disappeared. I get you guys were teenagers, but that doesn’t make you the one in the wrong because you’re still hurt,” Hazel said.