CHASE

The shower's hot spray beats down on me, but it does little to ease the tension knotted deep in my chest. It's been building ever since last night, since the moment Penny leaned into me by the fire. Her hair brushing against my shoulder, her breath soft as she drifted off-I just couldn't let myself fully relax. Not with everything I'm feeling. Not with everything I've kept from her.

I rub my hands over my face, trying to scrub away the guilt, but it clings to me, unrelenting. It's like I've been walking a tightrope since the moment I showed up at this cabin. At first, I told myself I was just checking up on her, making sure she was alright after what Kyle did. But I knew exactly where she was, and I've been hiding that fact from her ever since I arrived.

I rotate the tap, shutting off the water, and stare at my reflection in the foggy mirror. I can't even meet my own gaze. I've got to tell her the truth. I can't keep pretending this was all a random coincidence. It wasn't. And if she finds out on her own, I'll look like a liar-or worse, some controlling asshole who's been watching her every move.

Wrapping the towel around my waist, I step out of the bathroom into the warmth of the cabin. It's quiet except for the faint crackle of the fire. Penny's probably curled up on the couch with her book, getting lost in a world where romance comes easy and without complications. I've always admired how she can tune everything out when she's focused. The soft flick of pages turning confirms my suspicions.

I pause by the door, taking a deep breath. Maybe now's the time to tell her. I could ease into it-start with why I came, explain why I didn't mention Julia earlier. If I just talk to her now, before things get messier, maybe I can salvage this.

Ruffling the damp towel through my hair, I toss it over the back of a chair and pull on a pair of jeans. The fire still crackles in the living room, but the book now rests on the coffee table, and Penny's no longer on the couch. A sudden uneasiness spreads through me.

"Pen?" I call out, stepping into the room-but I stop short when I see her standing near the window, her back stiff. She's holding my phone.

My heart drops.

I didn't think she'd hear it. I didn't think she'd go looking for it.

In an instant, a wave of dread washes over me as I catch sight of the screen's glow in her hand. Her fingers grip it tightly, her whole body rigid. Tension fills the room.

I take a small step forward, forcing myself to stay calm. "Penny?"

She turns slowly, and I can't read her expression. But her eyes-those eyes-they're filled with something I haven't seen before. Suspicion. Hurt. This isn't the Penny I almost kissed yesterday.

"Why is Julia calling you?" she asks sharply. "Six times."

Shit.

My heart pounds harder as I stare at her. This is the moment I've been dreading. I should've told her sooner. But now, here we are, face to face with the truth I've been avoiding.

"Penny, it's not what you think," I start, but even I know how weak that sounds. She holds up the phone, eyes narrowing.

"What am I supposed to think, Chase? Why is Julia telling you that Kyle's on his way here? How does she even know you're here?" Her voice is tight with fury, but her eyes-they're wet, filled with betrayal.

I rake my hand through my hair, scrambling for something-anything-that doesn't make me sound like a complete idiot. Or worse, a liar. But what can I say that doesn't make me look like an asshole? The truth is too messy, too tangled with good intentions and bad decisions.

"I wasn't trying to hide anything," I say, but even as the words leave my mouth, I know it's a lie. "I just didn't want you to feel like I was hovering."

"H-hovering?" she stammers, incredulous. "Chase, you pretended you didn't even know I was here. That's not hovering. That's a straight-up lie." Her words hit me like a punch to the gut.

She steps closer, pointing a finger at my chest. "You knew I was here the whole time, didn't you?"

I swallow hard, guilt heavy in my throat. "I didn't want you to feel like I was being overbearing. I wanted you to feel like... like you had your own space."

Her eyes widen, the full weight of betrayal crashing down on her. "My own space? You've been lying to me, Chase. I trusted you." She turns, shaking her head, her hands rubbing furiously at her eyes.

I've really blown it. I should've told her the truth from the start, but now it's backfired in the worst possible way. I feel like an idiot, standing there, watching her pull away from me emotionally.

I step forward, trying to reach her, trying to say something-anything-that can fix this. But before I can speak, the sound of crunching snow from outside cuts through the silence. My heart leaps into my throat.

The low hum of an engine, the unmistakable crackle of tires on snow.

Penny's head snaps up, her eyes wide with panic. We both turn toward the window just as a black SUV with snow gear rolls slowly into view, its headlights cutting through the swirling flakes. My stomach drops.

Kyle.

Beside me, Penny stands frozen. The panic coming off her is almost tangible, filling the air between us. Her hand falls to her side, the phone slipping from her fingers onto the floor, forgotten.

She steps back, her breath coming faster, her chest rising and falling with each rapid intake. "No," she whispers, her voice shaking. "He's really here."

My fists clench at my sides. I don't know whether to be angry or afraid. I've never wanted to punch Kyle more than I do in this moment. Everything between Penny and me is about to implode, and all because he couldn't leave well enough alone.

"We have to figure this out," I say, my voice tight, as I take a step toward her. "But right now, we need to stay calm."

Penny turns to me, her face pale as a ghost. "You don't understand," she says, shaking her head. "Kyle... he's coming to win me back."

And for the first time since I got here, I'm terrified. Not just for her, but for us.