Chapter Five | Sam #3
We waited for our cue from the producer—she wanted spacing between the groups—and then stepped into the maze. The cameraman followed at a discreet distance, his portable light rig casting long shadows through the corn stalks.
My breath fogged in clouds. I shoved my hands deeper into my pockets, wishing I'd brought gloves. Above us, stars were beginning to appear, more visible here than I'd ever seen them in Denver.
"Left or right?" Gus asked at the first intersection.
"Left?"
We turned left, following the narrow path between walls of dry corn. The stalks rustled in the breeze, creating an almost musical sound. Somewhere in the distance, I could hear Raven's laughter and Blaze's deeper voice, but they were getting fainter.
The cameraman had fallen behind, apparently having some issue with his equipment. For the moment, we were alone in the maze, just the two of us and the rustling corn.
A shriek echoed through the maze. Not playful—something that sounded genuinely distressed.
"That was Stormi," I said, my body already moving. "We need to—"
We ran through the maze, following the sounds of distress. Left, right, straight, another left—the paths all looked the same in the darkness.
Finally, we burst into a small clearing to find Stormi alone, pressed against the corn stalk wall, mascara streaking down her face.
"What happened?" I demanded, immediately going to her side. "Where's Jett?"
"He said he heard someone calling for help. Went to check." She wiped at her face with shaking hands. "That was ten minutes ago. I got turned around trying to follow and just... I can't do this."
Her breath hitched. She shook her head, staring at the dirt path. "Two days. In two days I have to stand up there in front of everyone and watch—" She stopped herself, pressing her lips together.
"Watch what?"
Stormi's face crumpled. "Watch my sister get everything she wants. Again." Her voice broke. "Put on a smile and pretend I'm happy about it." She swiped at her eyes, smearing mascara further. "I just need to get through this weekend without falling apart completely."
"Of course," I said, meaning it. "Whatever you need."
Gus appeared at my other side. "There's an exit about fifty yards that way." He pointed. "I saw it from the entrance. I can get us out."
"Thank God," Stormi muttered. "Let's go."
We made our way through the remaining maze, Gus navigating without hesitation. We emerged on the far side to find Diana waiting with Tony and his camera, both looking frustrated.
"Where have you been?" she demanded. "We lost your group. And the other pairs went completely off-script." She stopped, noticing Stormi's tear-stained face. "Oh. This is good actually. This is real emotion. Tony, get some B-roll of—"
"No." I stepped between Stormi and the camera. "We're done for tonight."
Diana's expression sharpened. "Excuse me?"
"I said we're done. The activity is over. Everyone's tired. We have a full day tomorrow and the rehearsal in the evening. They need rest."
For a moment, I thought she would argue. Then her mouth curved into something that might have been respect. "Fine. At least we got some good footage already."
We found our way back to the entrance where the vans waited. Blaze was there first, leaning against a van with another drink in hand, swaying slightly. Corn silk dusted his designer jacket, and he squinted at us like he wasn't quite sure where he was.
"Where's my baby?" he slurred. "Raven said she'd meet me here. We got separated in there and..." He trailed off, taking another long swallow.
A few minutes later, Raven emerged from a different exit, alone. Her carefully applied makeup was smudged, her lipstick nearly gone. Her hair had come loose from its styled perfection, and leaves clung to her long white wool coat. She hurried toward Blaze, her voice pitched high and breathless.
"Babe! That was SO scary! I got completely turned around in there! I was calling for help and thank God Jett heard me, or I'd still be lost!"
Blaze pulled her into his arms, oblivious. "There's my girl. You're safe now."
Jett appeared moments later, his shirt half-untucked, his hair disheveled. He scrolled through his phone as he walked toward the group, seemingly unbothered.
"Ready to head back?" Gus asked me quietly.
"More than ready."
"Come with me. I'm parked over there anyway."
I nodded, grateful for the excuse to avoid the chaos of the vans. We walked to his truck in silence, the sound of Raven's voice fading behind us as she started filming another video for her feed.
Inside the truck, Gus started the engine but didn't immediately shift into gear. His hands rested on the steering wheel, and I could see tension in his jaw, the muscle jumping beneath his stubble.
"You were good back there," he said finally.
"She was clearly hurting."
"And you jumped in to help without hesitation." His voice softened, the edge from earlier in the day completely gone. "Even though it could have made things messier with Diana."
"Diana can deal. Some things matter more."
His mouth curved, one hand leaving the steering wheel to find mine. "This is what I mean about you."
"Gus—"
"I know this is complicated and the timing is terrible. But Sam, these past few days—"
"Have been incredible," I finished. "And confusing. And terrifying."
"All of the above?"
"All of the above." I curled my fingers around his. "I don't know what we're doing here."
"Neither do I." He brought my hand to his lips, kissing my knuckles. "But I don't want to stop."
Through the windshield, I could see the vans starting to pull away. Diana stood by the remaining vehicle, talking urgently into her phone, probably already planning how to spin tonight's events to maximize viewership.
"We should go," I said reluctantly. "Before they send a search party."
"Or before Raven decides she needs an emergency midnight crisis meeting."
"Don't even joke about that."
He shifted into gear, but kept hold of my hand as we drove back toward Wintervale. The darkness was complete except for his headlights illuminating the winding mountain road. A deer's eyes flashed green in the beam, then disappeared back into the forest.
By the time we pulled up to the Evergreen Inn, the other vehicles were already there. Through the lit windows, movement showed—the wedding party heading toward their rooms, Diana likely debriefing her crew.
"Tomorrow's going to be even worse," I said, not quite ready to leave the cab.
"Probably." Gus acknowledged with a nod. "But we'll handle it."
There was that word again. We. When had my solo operation become a partnership? When had I started relying on someone else instead of trying to control everything myself? When had I started falling for the stubborn chef who drove me crazy?
“Get some rest,” he continued, releasing my hand reluctantly. "You'll need your strength for whatever tomorrow brings."
"Always so optimistic."
"I'm a realist." But his eyes held nothing but tenderness.
I climbed out of the truck, then leaned back through the open door. "Gus?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm glad you're here."
His face brightened, the tension finally leaving his jaw. "Me too, Sam."
I watched him drive around to the back where he'd park for the night. As I climbed the porch steps, Raven's voice carried from somewhere inside, dramatically recounting their maze adventure to anyone who would listen.
My room suddenly felt like a sanctuary. I closed the door behind me, leaning against it and finally allowing myself to acknowledge what I'd been trying to ignore all evening.
I was falling for Gus Ramsey. The timing was terrible. I'd be leaving in three days. Every logical reason said this was a mistake.
But the way he'd looked at me tonight, the way his hand had found mine in the darkness—he was falling too.
Outside my window, the lights of Wintervale twinkled in the valley below. I caught my reflection in the dark glass—hair coming loose from its pins, a small smile playing at my lips despite the chaos of the day.
Tomorrow would bring more madness, but tonight, in the quiet of my room, I let myself feel the comfort still lingering from his hand in mine.
Let myself imagine what it might be like to stay here in this beautiful small town, to build something real with Gus, to stop running from feelings because things weren’t perfect.
Tomorrow could wait.