A gray, chilly Friday in October enveloped the cabin as Lua, Alinda, and Kelly gathered on the porch. The air was thick with the scent of wet leaves and the promise of rain. The girls had spent yet another night at the cabin and woke up decided to set aside their worries about work and school for the entire weekend, focusing instead on just relaxing and planning the Halloween party scheduled for the following weekend.
Lua’s footsteps resonated on the wooden floor as she approached and enveloped Alinda’s petite frame in a thick quilt. “So, Ali, how are things at Whispers? Are you still enjoying it?” she inquired.
Alinda’s face lit up with excitement. “So much! Mrs. Lynx has been teaching me about herbs, crystals, everything. It’s like a whole new universe has opened up to me.”
“That’s wonderful,” Lua said, smiling. “She’s a great teacher.” She handed each of the girls a cup of boiling hot coffee.
Alinda’s eyes sparkled as she thought about it. “I mean, do you know the Moonlight Elixir? It’s this incredible potion that Mrs. Lynx makes herself. She brews it under the light of the full moon, and it’s said to enhance intuition and dreams and to evoke true love. The elixir is infused with silver leaf and a blend of herbs that are meant to help connect you with the lunar energies. I’ve been using it every night, and I swear, my dreams have never been so vivid.”
Lua raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “That sounds amazing. I might have to try it out myself.”
“You should! It’s one of our bestsellers,” Alinda replied enthusiastically. “There’s something so magical about it. It’s like you can feel the energy shift as soon as you drink it.”
Kelly, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up. “Maybe you can bring some to the party? It could be fun” She looked down at her cup of coffee. “I sure as hell could use some vivid dreams to help me escape this reality.”
Alinda smiled brightly. “I was already planning on it! And hey, do you guys already know what you’ll dress up as?” Before anyone could say anything, she continued, “I’m between Demi Moore’s Elisabeth Sparkle on The Substance and Margaret Qualley’s Elisabeth Sparkle on The Substance.
Kelly rolled her eyes. “Gosh, does it always have to be pop culture related, Alinda?”
“Maybe I could be you, then. Is there anything less pop culture then Kelly Martin? Plus, all I need to do is wear brown from head to toe and I’m ready!”
“Haha!” Kelly replied as the three women giggled at the banter.
“We also have this, of course,” Kelly then said, playing with the crystal ball on the table in front of her, its surface shimmering under the flickering candlelight. It had been Alinda’s first purchase at Whispers using her employee discount, a whimsical choice that felt both magical and special. As the warm glow enveloped them, Kelly turned the crystal slowly, watching the way the light danced within, creating tiny reflections that seemed to come alive.
“Well, of course.” Ali swiftly took the ball from Kelly’s hands as if protecting it. “We shouldn’t just put it up as decoration, though. Let’s set up a reading table for the guests. I think they’ll love it!” She suggested.
“Interesting. I like it. Who wants to play the fortune teller? Kelly asked, as both women immediately turned their faces to Lua.
“Don’t look at me. They already want to burn me as it is! Lua promptly refused, with a chuckle.
“I guess it could be me then.” Kelly stepped up, grabbing the ball back from Ali’s hands. “Let’s see who’s ready to hear some truths,” she said.
Deep down, however, Kelly felt guilty. She had not been completely honest with them about her family. Although she thought it wasn’t a big deal, it troubled her to leave out important parts of her life. It was already hard for her to open up, and this made it even harder to connect with others.
Her phone buzzed on the table next to her. It was the other little secret she’d been keeping from her friends, another part of her life she wished she had shared from the beginning. She glanced down to see a message from Peter Gallanti: “I’m sorry.”
Her heart sank.
Above his text, Kelly’s earlier message lingered—a plea for him to meet again. They had spent one night together the previous summer when Peter had been on a break with Abigail. Kelly had fallen hard, but the next day, Peter got back together with Abigail, leaving Kelly heartbroken. Now, she stared at the screen, her heart heavy with regret.
Suddenly, the unmistakable roar of Brett’s Mustang EcoBoost interrupted her train of thought. He parked the shiny red car in front of the cabin and hopped out, exuding his usual cool guy energy.
“Amazon delivery for… (pretending to take a receipt from his pocket) Alinda Gutierrez? Here’s a bunch of old party stuff,” he quipped, tossing three large plastic bags filled with party supplies onto Ali’s lap. “And here’s three bottles of wine!” he added, placing them on the table in the center of the porch. Brett’s charming entrance drew laughter from the girls, who immediately jumped up to inspect the supplies they had asked him to bring from a thrift shop. In their excitement, they barely noticed that Brett hadn’t come alone.
“Oh, this is Ryder, by the way. That’s Lua, Kelly, and—hey Ali, you remember Scotty!” Brett introduced his companion while opening one of the wine bottles.
“Ryder! You’re back from New York! Good to see you!” Ali exclaimed, recognizing him immediately. “Was the city too calm for you, Detective? Did you come back looking for a place with higher criminal activity?”
Ryder laughed. “Haha! Nice to see you too, Al. Honestly, I needed a break. Just thought maybe I’d come back to peaceful Lake Laura for a while, at least until I decide my next step—whether to continue in law enforcement or not.”
Ryder, known to everyone in town as Scotty, fit seamlessly into the group. To Brett’s delight, his childhood friend had returned to Lake Laura just when Brett had been feeling adrift and isolated. Now, Scotty was back in his life, even striking up a connection with the girls. Being four years older, Ryder had always been a positive influence on Brett, almost like the older brother he never had, someone Brett had always looked up to.
The instant connection between his old pal and his new group of friends also made Brett feel a little more at ease about coming back to the cabin after another night of drinking that he ended up in bed with Kelly. Every time they slept together his feelings for her grew stronger, something he did not feel comfortable with at all.
“I didn’t even see you leaving this morning.” She said as he sat down close to her.
“I left last night right after you fell asleep”. Brett replied without looking at her. He could feel her hand playing with his hair softly.
Kelly noticed something in his tone that could mean he wasn’t completely happy with their arrangement –or lack there of. She opened her mouth to speak but decided to let it go. There was already too much for her to stress about as it was.
The group continued talking and sipping wine well into the late afternoon, and the center of attention was Ryder. He was smart, charming, and seemed genuinely interested in every detail about the cabin and Lua’s authentic lifestyle. Lua, in turn, found herself captivated by the newcomer, wondering if the chemistry she sensed between them was mutual.
“You should come to the Halloween party, Ryder. I could really use another adult to help keep an eye on these kids. You know, make sure things don’t get too crazy,” Lua teased, her lips curving into a playful smile.
Ryder grinned back, catching the joke with ease. “Oh, I’d be more than happy to help with that. Trust me, I’d be damn good at it too!” he said, a confident gleam in his eyes. “Unfortunately, I can’t make it this time. I’m driving to New York next week to pick up the rest of my stuff.”
“That’s too bad,” Lua responded, her voice carrying a hint of genuine disappointment.
Ryder leaned in just slightly, his tone dropping into something flirtatious and irresistibly smooth. “Yeah, but you should definitely keep me in mind for future events. Or for anything, really.”
His gaze lingered on her, full of playful intensity. Lua felt her cheeks warm as she met his eyes, offering a shy, almost coy smile in response.
Across the room, Kelly and Ali exchanged knowing glances, quietly amused by the undeniable chemistry crackling between Lua and Ryder.
After a few too many glasses of wine, Brett stood up, announcing that he needed to head to the university for a meeting related to his work at the newspaper. Alinda and Ryder quickly agreed to join him, as they also had plans at GallU that evening.
“You go to GallU too?” Lua asked Ryder.
“No, but my mom works there. She’s the Dean’s assistant,” he replied. Then, turning to Brett, he said with a smirk, “And you, mister, hand over those keys. I’m the only sober one here. I’ll drive.” With a playful push, Ryder took the keys from Brett and pretended to shove him into the passenger seat.
“Never be friends with a cop!” Brett shouted before the door slammed shut.
Lua glanced over at Kelly and noticed the way her eyes smiled adoringly at Brett. She doesn’t even realize it, Lua thought.
Back at GallU, Tori and Gael met Alinda at the cafeteria. The couple couldn’t join them at the cabin the night before, so they made plans to have coffee together and catch up at the uni. Ali told them about her new job at Whispers and how excited she was about CURA and the LINAFEST.
There was so much going on on in Ali’s life at the moment, they couldn’t believe so much had changed in just a few weeks. Then she explained the details of the upcoming Halloween party, her excitement contagious.
“So, what’s new with you two?” Ali asked, taking a bite of her vegan tart.
“Not much,” Tori began, exchanging a quick glance with Gael. “Still doing a lot of event planning for my dad—city stuff. Boring, really,” she sighed, then added, “Gael’s looking for a part-time job, though. If you know of anything, let us know.”
“Of course! What kind of work are you looking for?” Ali asked, dabbing her mouth with a napkin.
“Anything related to business,” Gael replied. “Ideally, something not too boring. I can’t sit in an office all day—I’d go crazy. And if it’s close to campus, even better.”
“Got it!” Ali said, her usual upbeat energy shining through. “I’ll definitely let you know if I hear of anything!”
After they finished talking, Alinda got up to leave, while the couple stayed behind, discussing couple costume ideas. Their laughter filled the cafeteria, a bright contrast to the gray skies outside.
—
As Ali walked alone to her dorm, she started thinking about how lucky her friends were. Tori and Gael had the kind of relationship that everyone secretly wanted, even if they wouldn’t admit it. They were perfect in their connection, despite coming from completely different worlds. Who would’ve thought they’d get along so well?
Well, she would.
Victoria Armstrong, or Tori as she was commonly known, was one of the daughters of the current mayor of Lake Laura. Sweet, delicate, and always poised, Tori was the kind of girl who seemed like everyone’s friend. She had an air of fragility about her, like a flower that needed careful tending. Growing up in a strict household had molded her into this reserved, almost ethereal young woman. Some blamed her upbringing for her reticence, but others disagreed, especially since her sister Abigail was the polar opposite—a strong, determined woman who pursued what she wanted with an unyielding drive, no matter who she had to trample along the way.
The Armstrong family was a powerhouse in Lake Laura. Rich, traditional, and deeply embedded in the town’s history, their influence stretched far and wide. Tori’s father, Mayor Emmanuel Armstrong, was a controversial figure, often whispered about in connection with corruption, though such talk was never something Tori and her friends would entertain, much less discuss openly.
When the academic year began, Tori was the only student who had approached Alinda, and they quickly became friends, even if Alinda never felt she truly got to know Tori. There was always something guarded about her, as if there was more she had to offer the world, but she kept it locked away inside.
Alinda, with her keen sense of people, had noticed this about Tori and believed that Gael might be the key to unlocking her hidden potential. When she suggested to Brett that she introduce Tori to Gael, he thought she was out of her mind. “They’re completely different,” he had said. But Alinda believed otherwise. She thought Gael’s outgoing nature and straightforwardness could be exactly what Tori needed to bring her out of her shell. Besides, Alinda knew Gael had a bit of a hero complex—he loved the idea of rescuing a damsel in distress.
Brett and Gael had been friends since they were five, growing up next door to each other in one of Lake Laura’s poorer neighborhoods. Together with Scotty, they were an inseparable trio.
While Brett had become a difficult teenager, often finding himself in trouble, Gael was a success story in the making. Hardworking, honest, and athletic, Gael was the type of guy everyone wanted to be around, and Alinda believed he could be the one to help Tori blossom.
So, one night at a Halloween party, Alinda took charge and introduced Gael to Tori. It was like magic. The connection between them was instantaneous, palpable, and undeniable. From that moment on, they knew this would be the most significant relationship of their lives, something that would shape who they were forever.
But not everyone was thrilled with their relationship. Tori’s family, particularly her father, had reservations about Gael. Mayor Armstrong was used to a certain level of power and control, and he didn’t like the idea of his daughter being with someone who didn’t fit into the family’s carefully curated image. He refused to help Gael find a job when Tori asked. Not that Gael would’ve wanted his help, anyway, but the refusal said a lot about how much weight he put in the importance of this relationship in his daughter’s life.
Unfortunately for Gael, things were not going as great as he’d wished. The company he’d been working on for a couple of years had just gone under, leaving him feeling lost and uncertain about his future.
To make matters worse, there were rumors circulating that GallU would cut off some of the scholarships due to significant cost cuts they’d have to implement next year. This news hit hard, as he had heavily relied on that financial aid to continue in business school and pursue his dreams. He found himself in a tough spot, but only brought the couple even closer together, instead of driving them apart.
Thoughts on this chapter?