Chapter Nine
TESSA
By the time Valentine’s Day actually arrived, I almost forgot there was a creep lurking in the shadows. The bookstore had been a whirlwind of customers searching for last-minute gifts: boxes of heart-shaped chocolates I kept at the register, stacks of new-release romances, and novelty mugs with swoony quotes. Between juggling sales and fending off curious questions about my “new boyfriend,” I barely had time to dwell on my nerves.
Ryder kept me updated via text about his tours, occasionally dropping by with a grin that made my insides flutter. I knew Levi was still wary, but I was grateful for his cautious acceptance of our blossoming relationship.
The Valentines from my secret admirer had gone silent for a few days, which should have been a relief. Yet each time I unlocked the store or opened the back door, I half expected to see another pink envelope. It became a morbid routine—eyes scanning the floor, the cracks between the doors. Nothing new appeared.
The reprieve gave me hope. Maybe whoever was fixated on me had lost interest, especially since I’d grown more openly devoted to Ryder. Still, a tiny voice warned me not to drop my guard.
Mid-afternoon on Valentine’s Day, my phone buzzed while I was reorganizing a romance display. Expecting a note from Caroline—who was busy chaperoning a school dance—I swiped the screen. Instead, my heart lurched.
The number was unknown, the text short:
You belong to me. Tonight, everyone will see.
My breath caught, and a tremor ran through me. I stared at the words, trying to pin down the sense of dread swirling in my gut. Was this the same person behind the pink envelopes? Had they escalated to direct messages?
For a moment, I considered calling Levi or texting Ryder. But the store was crowded with last-minute shoppers, and I didn’t want to cause a scene. My chest felt tight as I forced myself to breathe. Stay calm , I told myself. If they were threatening to reveal something “tonight,” maybe I needed to be in a public place—somewhere like Skyline, or with Ryder by my side—so no one could corner me alone.
Determined not to let fear rule me, I tucked my phone away. I’d share this new text with Ryder as soon as possible. Meanwhile, I’d keep my eyes open. If this person wanted to make an appearance, I wasn’t going to hide behind locked doors.
A few customers later, the shop emptied enough that I seized the chance to text Ryder about the new message. His immediate response was pure concern:
Stay put. I’ll come by in an hour—finishing with a tour group.
An hour felt too long, but I typed back:
Okay. I’m safe here with customers. Don’t worry.
My fingers trembled slightly as I set the phone down. The clock ticked by in slow increments. Customers chatted and paid, sometimes offering me a “Happy Valentine’s Day” on their way out. I forced polite smiles, counting down the minutes until Ryder arrived.
At last, the bell jangled, and he stepped in, cheeks flushed from the cold. My relief was so strong I nearly sagged against the counter. He hurried over, ignoring the curious glances from a handful of browsers.
“You okay?” he whispered, voice taut.
“Yeah,” I lied, swallowing hard. “Just a bit jumpy.”
He nodded, then offered me a subtle, supportive squeeze of my hand. “Close up and come with me. We’ll head to Skyline together. Levi’s got that Valentine’s event tonight—a small party or something. Safer in a crowd.”
The idea of navigating a “Valentine’s party” with this new threat lurking made me jittery. But if the text claimed “tonight,” maybe being around Levi and the rest of Hope Peak was the best option.
“Give me ten minutes to finish and lock up,” I managed, trying to keep my voice steady.
Ryder stayed close, leaning near the local history shelf so he could watch the door. I politely hustled the last few customers out, apologizing that I had to close early. Once they were gone, I locked up, my heart hammering with every click of the bolts.
When we stepped outside, dusk had begun to settle, painting the snow a pale lavender. My breath plumed in the cold air. Every shadow made me jump, but Ryder’s presence at my side stopped me from panicking.
“We’ll take my truck,” he said. “No point in driving separately.”
I nodded, letting him guide me across the snowy sidewalk. Inside the warmth of the cab, he shot me a look that silently asked if I was all right. I just exhaled, shaking my head. “No new messages, at least,” I muttered, checking my phone again.
“Good.” He reached over to start the engine, pulling out onto the street. “I’ve dealt with my share of weird folks on the trails, but this is different.”
My stomach twisted. “I hate feeling like a pawn in someone’s twisted game.”
He didn’t have a response for that. Instead, he drove us the short distance to Skyline. Lights glowed from within, and even from the lot, I could hear the upbeat music and chatter of a crowd. Nerves coiled in my gut—was the sender of that text already inside, waiting to cause a scene?
Ryder parked and climbed out, quickly circling to open my door. The gesture was so at odds with the turmoil in my head that I mustered a shaky smile. He looped an arm around my waist, and I leaned into his solid warmth, letting the faint smell of pine and woodsmoke settle my heart.
“Ready?” he asked quietly.
“As I’ll ever be,” I said.
We stepped into Skyline’s lively din. Balloons and garlands were everywhere. A local band played in the corner, strumming cheerful chords that offset the tension inside me. Levi spotted us and waved us over to the bar, his expression tense but relieved we’d shown up together.
“Everything okay?” he muttered once we were in earshot.
Ryder nodded grimly. “Mostly. Tessa got a text. We’re sticking together.”
Levi’s jaw tightened. “You let me know if anything happens. I’ll be right here.”
With that, he turned to serve a flock of customers ordering Valentine-themed cocktails.
A swirl of movement at the entrance caught my eye. Caroline hurried in, shrugging off her coat, likely fresh from the middle-school dance. She spotted us and beelined over, carrying that wide-eyed concern teachers perfected when dealing with chaos.
“You all right?” she asked, hugging me tight. “Heard some weird rumors—figured I’d see if you needed backup.”
I tried for a grateful smile. “I’m okay for now. Just…rattled.”
She studied my face, then glanced at Ryder. “Let me know if anything happens. I’ll be around. Don’t let me cramp your couple’s vibe.” She flashed a quick grin but worry lingered in her eyes.
“Thanks,” I managed. “Stay close.”
Caroline nodded and drifted off to chat with a group of teachers near the dartboard, but she kept casting glances our way as if ready to intervene if trouble stirred.
Ryder guided me toward a booth. “Here,” he said, voice pitched low. “We’ll have a good view of the door.”
Sitting down, I braced myself for whatever this “tonight” threat might entail. The minutes crawled by, the bar growing louder with laughter and the clink of glasses. Music thrummed against my ears.
Eventually, Levi emerged with two beers, setting them on the table. “On the house,” he said curtly, then leaned closer. “Ryder told me about the text. You see anything suspicious, you let me know.”
“We will,” I promised. My nerves hummed.
For the next hour, nothing out of the ordinary happened. We talked in hushed tones, trying to appear relaxed in front of the Valentine’s revelers. Ryder occasionally squeezed my hand or shifted so our legs brushed—a reminder that we were in this together. Despite the tension, a surge of affection warmed my chest.
Then, around nine o’clock, the band finished a set, and the bar fell into a soft lull. My phone buzzed again, lighting up the table with an unknown number. My stomach twisted. Ryder tensed as I lifted it with shaking fingers.
I’m here. Everyone will see the truth about you tonight.
My pulse hammered. “They’re here,” I whispered, holding the screen so Ryder could read it.
His gaze flared with anger. “Stay calm. Let’s see if anyone approaches.”
A cold sweat trickled down the back of my neck. Levi caught sight of our alarmed expressions and signaled a silent question from behind the bar. I gave a slight nod, which must have told him something was up. He stowed a dishcloth and started weaving through the crowd our way.
That’s when a piercing whistle cut through the bar.
Conversation screeched to a halt. My heart lurched as I craned my neck, trying to see who had made the sound. The gathered crowd parted near the stage, revealing a familiar figure in tight jeans and a faux-fur jacket, phone clutched in one manicured hand.
Angelique.
She stood beneath a leftover spotlight from the band’s set, her blonde hair shining like some twisted halo. Her gaze swept the room until it landed on Ryder and me. My stomach knotted at the cold satisfaction burning in her eyes.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, Hope Peak,” she called, voice ringing out. “I’ve got a little show-and-tell tonight.”
A hush rippled through the patrons. A few people whispered Angelique’s name. Levi, who’d been weaving around tables to reach us, froze mid-stride, anger flashing across his face. Ryder tensed, shifting closer to me as if ready to block any threat.
Angelique lifted her phone, as though she was filming the moment. “I bet you all remember how dear Ryder and I were once the talk of the town. Now he’s apparently moved on with sweet, innocent Tessa Voss.” Her lip curled in a mocking smile. “Only, it’s not so innocent, is it?”
My pulse pounded in my ears. Ryder’s hand found mine under the table, and I clung to it like a lifeline.
“What the hell are you doing?” Levi snarled, pushing forward. “This is some kind of stunt?”
Angelique ignored him, focusing her camera on me. “Raise your hand, Tessa,” she said sweetly, “if you want to admit how you and Ryder came up with your brilliant idea: fake dating to keep me away.”
A chorus of surprised murmurs rippled across the bar. My cheeks flamed, and I felt Ryder’s arm go rigid around my shoulders.
“Angelique, that’s enough,” Ryder barked, voice low and dangerous. “Put the phone down.”
She let out a peal of laughter, a sound with no real humor. “You can’t stop me from sharing the truth. I know all about your little agreement. I have the footage to prove it, too.” She waved her phone as though it was a smoking gun before turning it back to me.
“I overheard you whispering with Caroline behind the bookstore—talking about your ‘fake dating plan.’ You thought you were so clever, but I was right there, filming! You and Ryder were never really together… you just wanted to scare me off so I wouldn’t ‘rope Ryder into another influencer scheme’—isn’t that what you called it, Tessa?”
My blood ran cold. We’d been so careful, but obviously not careful enough. The entire bar was deathly silent, eyes pinging between me and Angelique.
Drawing a shaky breath, I stood, forcing my spine straight. “It’s true that we started off…pretending,” I said, voice uneven. Gasps rose around me, but I soldiered on. “But only for a short time. Everything changed once we realized we had genuine feelings.”
A muscle in Levi’s jaw twitched, but he didn’t speak. He already knew most of this, but hearing it declared in front of the entire bar clearly rankled him. Caroline, lingering at a nearby table, looked ready to rush in and defend me if Angelique grew more unhinged.
Angelique sneered, pivoting to film Ryder’s reaction. “Oh, how convenient. You just fell in love after lying to everyone? Spare me.”
Ryder stepped forward. “Angelique,” he growled, voice taut, “if you want to accuse me of lying, fine. But leave Tessa out of this. She’s not the one who turned heartbreak into a damn public spectacle.”
Her eyes flashed. “You humiliated me first! I gave you everything—my time, my platform—and you walked away. Then I find out you’re faking a relationship with * her * just to keep me away? You know what that feels like?” She jabbed a manicured finger at me. “All this time, Tessa’s been playing the sweet local girl, and guess who’s behind the mysterious Valentines? I wanted to watch her squirm, to see if she’d figure out I was pulling the strings. To see her panic over some imaginary stranger while you two pretended to be so in love.”
A sickening chill ran down my spine. My gut twisted with the confirmation—Angelique was the one leaving those notes. She’d escalated to harassing texts and threats out of sheer spite and jealousy. Half the bar sucked in a breath; Levi uttered a furious curse.
“You wrote those letters,” I echoed, my voice hollow. “You stalked me, left envelopes at my door, and threatened me—just because Ryder asked me to pretend to be his girlfriend?”
Angelique’s gaze flickered, a moment of uncertainty cracking her veneer of confidence. “You have no idea how it felt, knowing you two were whispering behind my back, using some ‘fake dating’ scheme to push me out. I wanted you to doubt each other—wanted you to suffer.”
My hands shook with a blend of anger and relief. At least the culprit was no longer a mystery. “That’s…” My throat closed. “That’s twisted,” I finally managed. “I treated you kindly all our lives, and you terrorized me for this ?”
Angelique’s nostrils flared. “Don’t pretend you’re innocent. You got what you wanted—Ryder’s attention, the town’s sympathy. Well, now everyone knows how it began. You’re welcome.”
Ryder pulled me against him protectively. “Go ahead, Angelique. Post your little videos. Tell the world we started fake. None of it changes the fact that what Tessa and I share is real now.”
Murmurs rippled. Levi stepped up beside me, fists clenched at his sides. “Lady, you’re done here,” he growled. “I won’t have you harassing my sister in my bar. Leave..Now. And if you keep pushing, we’ll call the sheriff.” He flicked a look at me, quiet concern in his eyes. “This is your call, Tessa.”
My stomach churned. Part of me wanted to see her face legal consequences for the fear she’d inflicted. Another part, battered from all the drama, just wanted her gone. “I don’t want her near me,” I whispered. “Ever again.”
Angelique plastered a glossy, sarcastic pout on her face. “Aw, is Tessa gonna get a restraining order? File charges?” She lifted her phone higher, as if still filming. “Won’t your fans love that…”
She never finished. Levi snatched the phone from her hand in a single, smooth motion, ignoring her sputtered protest. “We’re done,” he snapped. “Either leave under your own power or wait for the cops.”
Caroline and a few regulars stood behind him, arms folded. The entire bar seethed with condemnation. For the first time, Angelique’s bravado faltered. Her eyes darted around, perhaps realizing she was outnumbered. Finally, she let out a high, brittle laugh.
“Fine,” she spat. “But don’t think you’ve seen the last of me. I’ll post my side—my truth —and we’ll see who’s sorry. Enjoy your real romance, Tessa.” With that, she turned on her heel and stormed out, the door banging shut behind her in a swirl of cold air.
A stunned hush fell. I sagged against Ryder, my breath shuddering. The weight of the entire fiasco—the Valentines, the creeping fear—crashed down. He stroked my back gently, whispering that it was over.
Levi exhaled, still holding Angelique’s phone. “I’ll hand this to the sheriff,” he muttered. “If she’s as unhinged as she seems, at least we have evidence of her confession on camera.”
“I don’t want to see her locked up,” I said softly, voice trembling, “unless she pushes it further. I just…don’t want this to continue. She needs help.”
Levi nodded, expression still grim. “We’ll handle it. I promise.” He handed the phone off to one of the bar staff to keep safe until the cops arrived. Then he turned back to me, guilt clouding his eyes. “Tessa… I’m sorry I doubted you earlier. Sorry I made it harder by not believing you could handle your life—and handle Ryder.”
My heart squeezed. Everything that Angelique had flung in our faces—the fakeness, the deception—only proved how real our relationship had become. “You were just worried,” I murmured. “But you see now that I’m okay, right? That we’re okay?”
Levi’s gaze flicked to Ryder. “Yeah,” he said, voice rough. “I see it.” A few beats passed before he cleared his throat. “If you’re happy, then I’m happy.”
Warmth bloomed in my chest. I reached for him, pulling him into a hug. He held on tight, muttering something about being proud of me, which only made the tears I’d held back threaten to spill.
The rest of the bar slowly returned to an uneasy chatter. Caroline hurried over, her expression torn between relief and fury. “You all right?” she demanded, hands hovering near my shoulders as if ready to shield me from further drama.
“I think so,” I answered, voice shaky. “It’s a lot. But… it’s done.”
Ryder’s arm remained firmly around my waist. “Yeah,” he agreed softly, brushing his lips across my temple. “It’s over.”
And for the first time all evening, I believed it. Angelique had revealed herself as the writer of those Valentines out of her feelings of jealousy and betrayal. Now the entire town knew, and though I’d never wanted such a spectacle, I felt a profound sense of relief. No more pink envelopes. No more anonymous threats.
Levi escorted us to a back booth, away from prying eyes, and brought us water. I sipped, my nerves still jangling, while Ryder kept a protective arm around me. Caroline stationed herself nearby, glaring at any onlookers who dared approach. Eventually, local law enforcement arrived, took our statements, and confirmed they’d follow up with Angelique—especially given the recorded confession on her phone.
By the time the crowd dispersed, my limbs felt heavy with exhaustion. Yet through the haze of adrenaline, a steady warmth from Ryder anchored me. He guided me outside, where the night air stung my cheeks.
“Let’s get you home,” he murmured, pressing a light kiss to my forehead. “We’ve had enough excitement for one Valentine’s Day.”
I nodded, leaning into him. The swirl of relief and lingering shock made my knees weak. “I’d like that,” I whispered. “And… thank you. For being here every step of the way.”
His eyes shone. “Always.”
We climbed into his truck, headlights cutting through flurries of softly falling snow. As he pulled away from Skyline, I gazed at the darkened streets of Hope Peak. Though the night had been hijacked by Angelique’s twisted revenge, I felt an unexpected sense of closure. I’d chosen to stand by Ryder, no matter how our relationship began. And now we could move forward—honestly, without fear.
He laced his fingers with mine as we drove. “You doing okay?” he asked for the hundredth time that night, eyes flicking over.
My heart twisted at his concern. “Better than okay,” I admitted, squeezing his hand. “Because we’re still together, no matter what she tried to pull.”
A gentle smile curved his mouth. “No matter what,” he agreed. “Nothing’s fake about us anymore.”
The warmth of that promise carried me through the cold night, straight into the next chapter of our lives—Angelique or no Angelique, I planned on holding tight to the love we’d discovered behind the lies.