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Chapter 19: Lost and Found

Ethan – Present

Ethan Hayes had two rules for surviving this camping trip.

Stay as far away from Riley Carter as humanly possible.

Do not, under any circumstances, get stuck alone with Riley Carter.

So, obviously, the universe threw both those rules out the window.

Because now?

Now, he was lost in the woods.

With her.

Because of course he was.

Thirty Minutes Earlier – The Disaster Begins

It was Noah's fault.

Or at least, that's what Ethan was telling himself.

"Dude," Noah had said, way too confidently. "Shortcut."

Ethan had immediately known it was a bad idea.

But Jason had agreed (stupid), and Riley had backed him up (stupider), and suddenly, instead of following the marked trail like normal human beings, the four of them were walking through an unmarked path.

Then?

The storm hit.

And then?

Jason and Noah vanished.

Which left Ethan and Riley very much alone.

Because of course it did.

Riley – Present

"I cannot believe this," Riley muttered, shoving a branch out of her way.

Ethan, walking a few feet ahead, didn't look back. "Then don't."

Riley glared at the back of his head. "Oh, I'm sorry, am I ruining your fun? You enjoy getting lost in the woods during a thunderstorm?"

Ethan sighed. "Not particularly."

The wind picked up. The trees swayed.

Somewhere in the distance, thunder rumbled.

Riley shivered.

She hated storms.

She always had.

Ethan knew that.

Or at least, he used to.

But now?

Now, he just kept walking like she wasn't even there.

And Riley?

Riley was tired of pretending this wasn't killing her.

Ethan – Present

They had been walking for twenty minutes.

And Ethan was running out of patience.

The wind was getting stronger. The path was getting harder to see.

And then?

Then, Riley tripped.

Ethan reacted before he could stop himself.

Turned. Caught her.

Again.

His hands on her waist. Her fingers gripping his hoodie.

It was too familiar.

Too much.

For a second, neither of them moved.

Then, softly—

"I hate this," Riley whispered.

Ethan's chest tightened. "Hate what?"

She looked up.

And the way she was looking at him?

Like he was breaking her?

Like this wasn't how it was supposed to be?

Like she wanted to fix something she had already destroyed?

Ethan let go.

Like she was nothing.

Like it didn't matter.

Even when it did.

Especially when it did.

Riley – Present

The wind howled.

The thunder crashed.

And Ethan walked away.

Because of course he did.

Because that's what he did now.

And Riley?

Riley wasn't sure how much longer she could take it.