The Seventy-Five-Mile Trip

Nolani Thomas has given nearly everything to Crème & Chill and the people who rely on her in Self Ridge, leaving almost no space to rest until those who love her finally push her to leave town for a few days.

Seventy-five miles away in Self Springs, Landon Brooks is running on the same empty tank: a university football coach with multiple degrees, a habit of mentoring boys on the little-league field, and aging parents he still helps care for.

His family has the same prescription she does, and both of them end up in Willow Run wanting only room to breathe.

They are not looking for anyone when they meet, yet two full lives from two different cities catch on an unexpected connection.

The highway home is still waiting when the break is over.

What they found was never part of the plan, and now they have to decide whether it belongs only to Willow Run.