Chapter 11

I spent the rest of the day consumed by thoughts of Dante. He seemed perfect in every way, yet the harsh reality loomed—he was Jasmine's brother. The fear of jeopardizing my friendship with her and the unspoken bond between siblings kept us apart. It felt as though avoiding each other was the only solution, but that seemed impossible. I longed for more than just friendship; I wanted to be everything to him. As midnight approached, there was still no sign of my dad. A simple text about his late return was the only communication. Worries gnawed at me, hoping he was safe. What kind of mechanic shop stayed open this late anyway? I was exhausted, but I refused to go to bed until I knew he was home safe. Restlessness consumed me, and in an attempt to distract myself, I succumbed to the alluring call of the wooded area behind our house. It might have been a reckless idea, but the mysterious woods had beckoned to me since the day we moved here. Surely, it couldn't be that dangerous. With house