Chapter 16 You Again!

• 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."