Haley_Renee_Burger

Sage Castillo has always been a fighter. Raised by a cruel, neglectful mother, she’s learned to rely on herself—until she’s kicked out, leaving her homeless and angry. Enter Harlow Baker, who’s spent years running from her own demons. Haunted by her past and the friend who betrayed her, Harlow’s life starts to unravel when she’s forced to confront the truth.
When the two girls cross paths, their brokenness intertwines, and they find solace in each other’s arms. But as old wounds resurface and dangerous people from Harlow’s past threaten to tear them apart, Sage and Harlow must fight not only for their love but for the safety of the family they’re creating.
Home is where the heart is—but what happens when the past refuses to stay buried? Love is worth fighting for, but is it enough to face their darkest fears?

Angels Fall Fast

The drive to this tiny diner had been nothing short of a love letter to Sage's childhood. She talked animatedly, hands gesturing as she described the place in vivid detail—how the neon lights buzzed softly, how the jukebox in the corner played old rock songs no one under forty recognized, how the burgers were greasy in a way that felt like a warm hug after a bad day.

Harlow, curled up in the passenger seat, listened with a soft smile. She loved seeing Sage like this—light in her eyes, voice carrying the excitement of nostalgia. She looked almost… carefree.

The diner was exactly as Sage had described. The scent of sizzling bacon and fried food clung to the air, the counter lined with old-school barstools, and the checkered floors slightly worn from decades of customers. It wasn't fancy, but it was alive, buzzing with conversation and the clatter of silverware.

Sage led Harlow to a red vinyl booth near the window. "This seat is the best in the house," she declared, plopping down with a grin.

Harlow slid in across from her, propping her chin on her hand. "Oh yeah? Why's that?"

"Because from here, you can see everything." Sage gestured around them. "The old couple that comes in every Sunday for their 'cheat meal,' the high schoolers who think no one notices them sneaking fries off each other's plates, the lonely guy at the counter who's probably been sitting in that same seat for years." She leaned in, voice softer now. "I used to sit right here and make up stories about all of them. Pretend I was somewhere else, someone else."

Harlow's heart squeezed. "And now?"

Sage smiled. "Now, I don't need to pretend."

The waitress arrived to take their orders—Sage ordering a classic cheeseburger with extra pickles and fries, Harlow going for a stack of blueberry pancakes because, as she put it, "Breakfast food tastes better at night."

Everything felt warm, effortless. Until it wasn't.

The moment Sage's posture shifted, Harlow noticed. The way her fingers, which had been idly drumming against the table, suddenly stilled. The way her shoulders tensed, her easy smile faltering.

"Sage?" Harlow's brows knitted together.

Sage's amber eyes flickered toward the other side of the diner, her face carefully blank. Harlow followed her gaze, landing on a girl sitting alone at a corner booth. Short, nerdy, with unruly red hair and glasses that kept slipping down her nose. She was absorbed in her phone, oblivious to the way Sage's entire demeanor had changed.

Harlow didn't know who she was, but she knew one thing for sure—whoever she was, she wasn't just anyone.

Sage exhaled through her nose, forcing a smile. "It's nothing."

Harlow didn't push, but she reached across the table, slipping her hand over Sage's. Sage's fingers curled around hers in silent gratitude. They ate their food, conversation light, but Harlow could feel the weight of something unspoken between them.

And she wasn't about to let it go.

Chapter Thirteen.