The Elthon hillside was a popular tourist spot in our town. It was essentially a large rock encircled by a small valley. Lilies and lavenders grew abundantly, and in summer, the entire area bloomed with color while the sweet scent of flowers filled the air. I'd been here only a handful of times, mostly during my parents' happier days. I also remembered coming here once with Carter—back when things were simpler. At fifteen, I could never have imagined my dad would vanish from my life, or that Carter and I would grow apart. Yet here we were.
"You remember this place, right?" Carter asked, his gaze fixed on the horizon. His expression was calm, but something about his tone unsettled me.
"Of course. Everyone in town knows this place," I replied. "We came here together once, too."
"Yeah," he
