Chapter 38
The quiet hum of Dean’s car filled the space between them as Lena stared out the window, her thoughts drifting along with the passing scenery. The golden afternoon sun cast long shadows across the sidewalk, and the breeze that slipped in through the slightly cracked window carried the scent of crisp leaves and distant chimney smoke. Fall had fully settled over the town.
It was her first time riding in Dean’s car, and while that might seem like a small thing, it didn’t feel small. Everything about being with him felt a little unfamiliar, a little electric—like stepping into a world she hadn’t known she was allowed to be part of.
When they pulled up in front of her house, the familiar white porch with its slightly chipped paint came into view. Her mom’s flowerpots were still ar
