Chapter 1
Alice
Now
“Alice, you’re young, right?” Nora asks out of the blue, unlocking the front door of Pine Hollows Community Bank and walking towards my teller station.
“I like to think so.” A laugh escapes me, adjusting my glasses as I settle into my chair. “Why?”
“Well, I need something for my daughter, and she’s around your age.” She unhooks the lock on the door behind the teller line, locking it back behind her. “She’s about to be the big two-one.”
“I’m actually twenty-five.” Leaning back into my office chair—set ridiculously high so customers can see me over the counter. “But I’ll take the compliment.”
“So what do you young people like?” Nora spins her chair, facing me.
“Well, Nora, I just bought my daughter-in-law a custom coffee cup at the Cozy Cup.” Linda, the branch manager, walks out of her office, leaning against her doorframe. “And they do free refills for any cup they sell over there.”
“Honestly, you can’t beat that.” I grasp my paperback, opening where I last placed my bookmark. “I don’t even have one of those cups, and I basically live there.”
A year free now, and the Cozy Cup has become my sanctuary. The one place I can just be Alice.
As soon as my eyes hit the first line, my phone vibrated against the counter. Location update complete. Device synced. The words swam. My hand was shaking. When did that start?
I swiped the notification away, but it had already burrowed under my skin. Just a routine update.
Had to be.
I place my phone face down, staring at my book.
The words don't come into focus.
“Girl, I found some really cute designer clothes at the thrift store.” Madison pulls out her chair at my usual table in the corner, away from everyone else. She's my rock. We've been friends our whole lives, and she's never left. “I almost don’t want to sell them. I even found some red bottoms.”
“Red bottoms?” I blink, raising my eyebrows.
“You know, the heels with the red painted soles.” Madi nods enthusiastically. “They’re worth thousands of dollars.”
“Well, I’m not big on heels.” I wave my hands dismissively. These days, I prefer shoes I can run in. Old habits.
Ms. Diane places our cups in front of us, steam curling up from the surface.
“Thank you, Ms. Diane.” I smile genuinely. She’s become one of my favorite people in Pine Hollows. And not only because she owns a coffee house and makes the best white chocolate mocha.
“No problem. You girls enjoy.”
“So how much longer do you have for your lunch break?” Madison sips her coffee.
I bring the mug to my lips, savoring the warmth and the familiar smell of white chocolate mocha. It’s become my comfort drink, something Lance never knew about because I only discovered it after moving here.
Tapping my phone, I check the time.
“I have about thirty minutes left.” I press the button on the side of my phone, locking the screen. “Not like I have to drive far.” Work is literally walking distance from the Cozy Cup, which is perfect.
She shakes her head. “So did you hear about the music festival coming up?”
“Yeah, I don’t know if I want to go.” I hesitate. “I know I always say we’ll go every year, but—”
“Alicat, you're a free woman now," Madison interrupts. “For a year now. You're allowed to have fun, you know.”
The nickname warms me despite myself.
I like Pine Hollows way better than the city with constant rush hour traffic. And better than Creeksprings, where Lance might be around any corner.
We finish our coffees, gathering our things to head out to our vehicles. The humid Minnesota air hits my face like a wall—immediately sweltering.
“It’s always nice to have lunch with you, girl.” Madison hugs me, walking toward her car parked right behind mine.
Madison's car disappears around the corner.
A black SUV creeps past. Slow. Too slow.
Lance drove a blue truck. This wasn't him.
But that didn't mean he didn't know someone with an SUV.
I couldn't see through the tinted windows.
My hand tightens on my keys until the edges bite into my palm.
I make myself look at the license plate, try to memorize it, but there's nothing there.
The SUV rolls past. Didn't speed up. Probably just paranoia.
I unlock my car, slide inside, and lock the doors immediately. But as I start the engine, I check my rearview mirror. Check it again. The street is empty.
So why does it feel like someone is still watching?