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“I want a candy bar.”

That wasn’t at all surprising. “Any preference?”

“Dealer’s choice. Surprise me.”

I shut the door behind me, sucking in a breath as the cold air assaulted me. The temperature had dropped fast. I hurried inside, the chime of the bell ringing overhead. A wave of pine and cinnamon welcomed me. The store was in full Halloween mode, orange and black everywhere, with a few lonely Thanksgiving decorations tucked between displays of fake blood and cobwebs.

Hunt merch had taken over half the front aisles. Cade wasn’t kidding. There were shirts, mugs, buttons, and even masks, all mixed in beside Crowsfell University memorabilia. I studied a few of the disguises, but none resembled what the two people I encountered wore. Moving on, I searched for where I needed to go, passing more décor and merch. Hemlock Heights never overshadowed holidays like the big-box stores. There was to be no early Christmas music. No frosted wreaths trying to edge out the skeletons. Everything was done accordingly.

I spotted an overhead sign for what I was looking for, and made a beeline for the back, keeping my head down as I passed a woman squinting at decorative hand soaps and a guy balancing at least ten bags of bulk candy like he was preparing for an apocalypse.

When I reached the feminine hygiene aisle, my steps slowed. My heart ticked up as I stood there, face-to-face with something I’d only ever half-joked about with the girls.

Pregnancy tests.

I didn’t know shit about these things other than the obvious. Whichever outcome you were rooting for, you had to pee on them and pray. Why were some so expensive? I picked twodifferent brands to be safe. Then, after a beat, I grabbed a third one. A classic line test with no digital screen. That seemed simpler somehow. My stomach twisted thinking about Layla and how scared she’d looked. What if she were pregnant? I knew it wasn’t the end of the world, but it sure as hell wasn’t the life plan for a varsity cheerleader barely halfway through college. And definitely not from their stepdad, of all baby daddy candidates.

With the tests gathered in one hand, I cut through to the candy aisle and scanned until I found Ryder’s favorites, Snickers and an oversized KitKat. He always pretended he didn’t like sweets, but the man had a sugar addiction that could rival mine.

At the register, the older woman behind the counter gave me a once-over, then smiled like she knew my entire family lineage. “Aren’t you Anima’s granddaughter?”

Ah. Great.

I smiled tightly. “Yep, that’s me.”

“Mm. I thought so. You look so much like her and your mother.” She rang up the items, failing to discreetly look at my stomach as if the results were already revealed.

Wrong girl, lady.

I muttered a half-hearted “thanks” after I paid the $39.84, scooped up the plastic bag, and then patted myself on the back for not calling her out for her less-than-subtle judgment.

I was definitely going to have to call Sugarmama before this got spun into some juicy small-town version of a new mom PSA.

CHAPTER EIGHT

SANJANA

I stepped back into the cold evening air, noticing how the sky had grown darker, with streetlights buzzing above. I hurried towards Ryder’s truck, my pace quickened. The silence around me was unsettling. I kept an eye on my surroundings—the parking lot, the store windows, and the building’s perimeter. No one was visible, but I felt it, the sensation of unseen eyes. Or I was just doing a great job freaking myself out.

Ryder was still in the driver’s seat, hand on the wheel, head slightly turned, watching me approach. He reached over and popped the door open for me. I scrambled right in.

“You’re scared.” He didn’t say it to tease or prove a point, but because he knew. Ryder could read me blind, deaf, and dead.

I gave a small nod. “A little.”

He reached over, cupping my face, his thumb gently brushing my cheekbone, warm and reassuring. “I’m going to take care of this,” he promised softly.

I grabbed his wrist before he could pull away. “No, nothing happened, I’m fine,” I insisted, trying to sound firm, though my fingers held onto him like a lifeline. “You’re going to behave yourself.”

He flashed a slow, mischievous grin that made my stomach flip. “And what do I get if I’m good, Sass?” he asked, his voice low and teasing. “Actually, I can think of a few rewards.”

“Knock it off,” I reprimanded, heat climbing into my cheeks.

He laughed, pleased with himself.

I let him go, and he took us out of the parking lot. He was silent after that, and I knew his mind was turning over whathappened, calculating and revving up to cause havoc for the second time in a matter of hours. I needed to distract him.

“Where were you going when you saw us?” I asked, genuinely curious.

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