▄︻デ══━一 COLTON HAYES💥 The house was still when I stepped inside, only the faint hum of the refrigerator breaking the silence. I glanced at the stairs, half expecting Vanessa to come down, but there was nothing. Maybe she was upstairs resting or lost in one of her books. Either way, I didn’t have time to linger.I set the paper bag of desserts on the kitchen table, shaking my head at myself. I hadn’t exactly planned on getting her something sweet, but the moment I saw the pastries, I figured she might like them. Sure, I could have gone home right after that worthless trip to the sheriff's office but I immediately went to the nearest sweet spot. The thought made me pause.I didn’t do things like this unless I was in a relationship.I wasn’t the type of guy to pick up treats for a woman I wasn't dating unless she asked or unless she was family, especially not one who made my life this complicated. Yet here I was, leaving food for her like some damn offering.With a sigh, I ran a hand t
▄︻デ══━一 COLTON HAYES💥 The horses were settled now. Some were grazing lazily, others lying down in the shade, tails flicking at flies. A few still looked a little off, but it was nothing like before. Since I’d switched out their water, they were slowly getting better—no more sluggish movements, no more dull, glassy eyes. That was a win in my book. I gave one of the mares a gentle pat on the neck, watching as she nuzzled the grass with her nose before taking a lazy bite. The sight made me smile. Moments like this were why I loved this place—quiet, steady, no unnecessary bullshit. Which is why the sound of arguing made my jaw tighten instantly. I turned, recognizing the voice immediately. Samson. For a second, I considered ignoring it. I was already tired of his bullshit for the day. But then I heard the other voice—lower, nervous, unfamiliar. Curtis. I hadn’t spoken much to the guy, but I knew him well enough. Young, hardworking, and my father's favorite for a reason. He’d been
★。\|/。★VANESSA DAVIS★。/|\。★I sat on my bed, my laptop in place as I read through the post I'd written just moments ago. /Metropolitan MuseHey, Muse Squad!I’ve seen falling stars before—small streaks of light cutting across the sky, gone before you can even make a wish. But last night? Last night was different.Dusty Creek continues to surprise me. I expected quiet nights, crickets singing in the distance, maybe the occasional hoot of an owl. I didn’t expect to witness an entire sky full of falling stars, each one burning bright before vanishing into the darkness.At first, I thought my mind was playing tricks on me. I stood outside, watching as the sky came alive, and for a moment, I felt like I was somewhere else—like I was part of something bigger. Have you ever seen something so breathtaking that it makes you pause? Like the world is trying to remind you that magic still exists?That was last night.Falling stars, a sky painted in silver and fire, and a strange feeling in my
★。\|/。★ VANESSA DAVIS ★。/|\。★ The storm had caught me off guard, soaking me in the few seconds I’d been outside. I didn't even realize it rained here. Which is kind of stupid on my part because it should have been very obvious that weather conditions can change over time. I'd just gotten used to the heat- okay I wasn't used to the heat. But I'd gotten a good sense that it was always gonna be hot. Today proved me wrong. Now, back in my bedroom, safe and warm, I shivered slightly as I peeled off my wet clothes, grabbing the first dry thing I could find—a large shirt that fell mid-thigh and a comfortable pair of underwear. I made sure my phone and bag were safe. I grabbed my cell and picked up a towel. I ran the towel through my damp hair before padding barefoot into the living room. Outside, the rain poured relentlessly, drumming against the windows, the wind howling like something out of a horror movie. I sighed, rubbing my arms to chase away the chill. Darcy would have to
★。\|/。★VANESSA DAVIS★。/|\。★Colton was dangerously close to falling asleep in the tub.His head rested against the edge, his shoulders slack, body sinking further into the water with every slow breath. His chest rose and fell in a deep, steady rhythm, the warm steam curling around us.I wasn’t sure how long we had been in here, but I knew if I let him doze off, he’d wake up stiff and sore—or worse, slip under the water entirely.I dipped the cloth into the water and wrung it out, letting the droplets trickle down my wrist before pressing it against his shoulder. The heat of his skin against the warm fabric sent a shiver through me, but I ignored it, focusing on cleaning him.“Hey,” I said softly, dragging the cloth down the length of his arm. “You need to stay awake.”Colton made a low, unintelligible noise, barely lifting his head.I rolled my eyes. “You’re not making a great case for yourself, cowboy.”Another lazy hum.I sighed and pressed the cloth against his chest, wiping away
★。\|/。★ VANESSA DAVIS ★。/|\。★As I left Colton's room and thought about the last place I'd seen a first aid kit. Ah! Downstairs. Ah! The guest bathroom. My bare feet against the tiles were cold, and my clothes were slightly wet from having to help Colton in the shower. My nipples were hard, and poking against the simple fabric. The guest bathroom was colder than the rest of the house, the tiles cool beneath my bare feet as I tip toed in front of the cabinet. I opened the doors, my fingers skimming over bottles and boxes, scanning labels as quickly as I could. Headache relief. Sore throat lozenges. Fever reducer. I grabbed the last one, turning it over in my hands. Expiration date looked fine. Hopefully, it was still good enough to help. Still, I hesitated. I wasn’t a doctor—I didn’t want to give Colton the wrong thing, especially when he was already running hot. My dad would know. Pulling out my phone, I tapped on his contact and hit dial. It didn’t even ring twice before h
★。\|/。★VANESSA DAVIS★。/|\。★Balancing the tray carefully, making sure I didn't spill anything.. The broth smelled rich, the steam curling into the air, and I was grateful that my dad had walked me through making something decent.When I reached the knob to Colton's room, I nudged the door open with my hip, stepping inside. The storm outside made the room dim, the only light coming from the bedside lamp I had turned on earlier. The rain drummed softly against the window, the occasional rumble of thunder in the distance.Colton was still out cold. Well, not exactly. He seems like he's unconscious, but I can tell a part of him is still fighting off that sleep. What a dumbass. I say that sweetly though. I think a guy like him needs a stubborn girl to tell him what to do. He was lying on his back, his breathing deep and steady, his face slack with exhaustion. His damp hair clung slightly to his forehead, and even in sleep, I could see the tension in his shoulders—like his body had forg
▄︻デ══━一 COLTON HAYES💥 There's pain, lightness, there are things I can't describe about myself in this moment. Because I was sinking. Not into sleep—sleep was something I welcomed. This was different. A deep, aching exhaustion that ran through my bones, making my limbs feel heavy and useless. My skin burned with fever, my head a foggy mess, and yet, my thoughts wouldn’t stop running.How the hell did I get to this point?I’d worked hard before. Harder than this, even. I’d gone days without proper rest, waking before the sun and collapsing into bed long after it had set. It wasn’t new. It wasn’t anything I hadn’t done before.So why did it feel like my body was giving up on me now?I let out a slow, shuddering breath, my throat dry and tight. My muscles still ached from the day’s work, and I could feel the heat radiating off my own skin. My head pounded, my stomach twisted, but it was the exhaustion that weighed me down the most.I knew when it started.The moment I saw the storm ro
★。\|/。★VANESSA DAVIS★。/|\。★I don’t know how long I sat there.The car’s engine was still off, the inside heavy with silence except for the soft tap of water droplets sliding off the roof. My fingers were clenched on the steering wheel, my heart still hammering a wild, panicked beat. The edges of my vision were blurry, and it took me a minute to realize I was crying.I didn’t even feel it—until I heard the soft knock on the window beside me.I flinched.Whipping my head to the side, my breath snagged again—but it wasn’t Tate or Nora. Wasn’t anyone I needed to run from.It was Kyrie. Right, she'd knocked before. I must have looked at her and zoned out. Not a healthy thing to do. She stood there with a curious frown on her young face, one hand still pressed to the window. Her other hand tugged at the sleeves of her oversized hoodie, the hem of it damp from the wet morning. I hadn’t even noticed her come out of the house. Of course she lived there. Of course she’d notice me sitting li
★。\|/。★VANESSA DAVIS★。/|\。★I hadn’t even knocked yet.I stood there, on the front steps of my mother’s house, hand raised and frozen mid-air, staring at the cracked white paint on her door. I could see the familiar wind chime hanging off the awning, a gentle tinkling as the storm's last breath whispered through. But I couldn’t do it—not yet. My chest felt too tight. There were too many thoughts pressing in at once, and if I opened my mouth to speak, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to form a single coherent word.I just needed a second. Maybe two.Then I heard it.Voices. Heated. Urgent. Close.My brow furrowed, and I tilted my head slightly. The noise wasn’t coming from inside my mother’s house. No—it was drifting over from one of the homes further down the street. A woman’s voice rang out, tight with anxiety. Then a man’s—calm, calculated, almost cold.I turned toward the sound, my instincts going full tilt. Something in the tone of that man’s voice raised every single red flag I had.S
★。\|/。★VANESSA DAVIS★。/|\。★I drove into town as slowly as I could, hands tight around the wheel. The muddy road that led from Colton’s farm was half-washed away in places, tire-deep and slick. My windshield wipers squeaked against dried raindrops as they smeared instead of cleared.Every bump sent my heart racing. Not from the fear of crashing—but from the storm inside me.By the time I reached town, my chest was aching. Not physically. Just… heavy. I found a place to park behind the old bakery that never opened on Tuesdays and shut the engine off. My fingers stayed wrapped around the wheel.I didn’t move.I couldn’t.My breath caught in my throat before I even realized what was happening. The quiet—the sheer quiet of being away from the house, from the farm, from him—slammed into me like a wave. My vision blurred, and the windows around me felt like they were shrinking.The tears came without warning.I clutched at my chest, gasping, trying to make the feeling go away—but I couldn
▄︻デ══━一 COLTON HAYES💥 The scent of coffee still lingered in the air, but Vanessa was already gone.I heard the door shut behind her, the car pulling out of the driveway, and I didn’t let myself watch her go for long. I looked at her through the window, but it was like i couldn’t really see her. I went back to the kitchen and got to work, distracting my hands with breakfast. Eggs. Bacon. Toast. Anything that would make the house smell like comfort, like something solid. Something I could control.The silence pressed down on me like a weight I couldn’t shrug off. Every sound—the clink of the pan, the soft sizzle of oil—seemed too loud, too sharp in the stillness. This house had been full of noise just yesterday. Voices, arguments, grief, betrayal. Now it just felt... hollow.My hands moved on autopilot, flipping bacon, scrambling eggs, buttering toast. I didn’t want to think. I didn’t want to feel. Because if I did, I’d go to that dark place where Laia was gone, where Darcy was cold i
★。\|/。★VANESSA DAVIS★。/|\。★The storm had passed by morning, leaving behind a silence that felt almost unnatural. The house was still, the wind no longer howling outside. It was as though the earth itself was holding its breath, waiting for the next turn in the story. I hadn’t slept much—how could I? After everything, the weight of last night pressing down on me, I couldn’t quite shut my mind off. I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, listening to the soft breathing of Colton beside me.When I finally gave up on sleep, I slid out of bed as quietly as I could, not wanting to disturb him. The house was empty and quiet, with only the distant sounds of rainwater dripping off the roof. I made my way to the bathroom, brushing my teeth in front of the mirror, my reflection tired and worn. My thoughts were a tangled mess of grief, guilt, and confusion. But none of it was mine. I wasn’t the one who had lost Laia. I liked her. I wish I had gotten to know her more. I wish I’d said something a
★。\|/。★VANESSA DAVIS★。/|\。★I should have said something. Anything.But I didn’t.Instead, I kissed him like a coward—soft, slow, and silent. I gave him tenderness when he offered me something raw and real, something I wasn’t ready to touch. Because the truth is, I wanted to say yes.God, I wanted to say yes.Yes, I’ll stay.Yes, I want this.Yes, I want you.But that yes felt like betrayal. Of who I was. Of everything I told myself I’d never do. Because girls like me didn’t uproot their lives for a man, especially not for a man in a town like Dusty Creek. I wasn’t built for this place. I didn’t belong in second living rooms or in tight-knit packs where secrets wrapped themselves in family drama and storm winds.This was Laia’s story. She chose love and ended up with heartbreak and death. And I wasn’t about to follow in those same footsteps, no matter how safe Colton’s arms felt. But was it right to judge Colton based on the mistakes of others?No, right?So I lay beside him in the
▄︻デ══━一 COLTON HAYES💥Her skin was soft against mine, damp and warm. Her arms wrapped around my torso like she wasn’t afraid to hold a man broken in too many places. The steam clouded the bathroom, wrapping us in our own quiet world—like maybe if we stayed in here long enough, the pain wouldn’t be able to find us.Vanessa held me while the water washed over us, my body weak and trembling from everything it had endured today—physically and emotionally. But somehow, with her here, I didn’t feel like I was sinking anymore. I felt tethered.Her lips pressed softly to my temple, lingering. She didn’t say anything. She didn’t need to. Her presence alone steadied the storm inside me more than any words ever could.I leaned back just enough to look into her eyes. There was something in her expression—something kind and complicated. A sadness I understood too well.My thumb brushed her cheek, her wet hair sticking to her skin. “I like to pretend I’m some emotionally grown man who can say what
▄︻デ══━一 COLTON HAYES💥 The house was too quiet.Even with the storm raging outside, it still felt like everything inside had gone still—like time had frozen in grief. No one was speaking. No one was eating. Dad was seated in the corner chair with his head in his hands, Curtis silently pacing near the window, eyes locked on the rain. Ross was curled up on the stairs with Catia who had returned back after Curtis took her up, holding her as she slept in exhaustion. Ashley hadn’t spoken since Laia was carried in, and Samson… no one even knew where he went.Laia was gone.And with her, something in all of us had gone too.I was soaked through, my clothes clinging to my body, my hands still trembling from how tightly I’d held her. I couldn’t feel the chill of the house, not really. Not with the way my chest ached, my head pounded, and every breath felt like I was inhaling splinters.I sat there beside her body on the couch, unmoving. I hadn’t spoken since they pulled me away from her body.
▄︻デ══━一 COLTON HAYES💥There’s nothing more heartbreaking than losing a close friend.I didn’t let myself process Darcy’s murder. Not really. I locked that part of myself up because I thought I had to. I was sick so it made it quite easy for me to ignore most of it. Then I found out Reeves was dead too—killed alongside Darcy like they were nothing but pawns in someone else's sick game. And something in my head just… stopped working right. Like grief jammed the gears, all I could do was focus on the next step, the next threat.The next phase was to hear her plans out. This singular was proving to be the worst possible day. When the door was thrown open, I was appalled. I thought for a second, with my heart jammed into my throat that Vanessa was going to leave in this horrendous storm and get herself hurt so I yanked her back and into me. Then when I turned her around to berate her for being reckless her expression filled me with fear.“I saw her,” she whispered. “Laia. She’s on the ca