PROLOGUE
SUN
The warm wind hits my face, miles flying by beneath the wheels, and the sun flashes off Dogger’s helmet. I feel weightless, free, and so damn happy. That wild, reckless joy bubbles up inside me, like it always does when I hop on his bike, when I catch the scent of his leather jacket.
The thrill fills every cell in my body, every inch of my skin humming with light, like I’m radiating pure bliss. Every part of me wants to lift off, to soar with the wind.
Dogger and I are like a perfectly tuned machine. We move in sync. We get each other in every way. We love speed. We love freedom. We love chasing the horizon, heading for places we’ve never been.
Sometimes, when I ride with him, I just laugh out loud. I giggle like an idiot because I’m so stupidly happy and all that energy has to go somewhere. It feels like I’m blasting into the sky, a rocket, flying through the clouds. A wild falcon, lifting off higher and higher, and Dogger’s always right there beside me.
Today we’re climbing Crooked Hill in Rockfall, pushing the engine to its limit. We hit the top, look out over the world, and scream at the sky, letting it all out. Then we kiss, make out, and laugh like nothing else exists. The world stops turning just for us.
Every day with Dogger is an adventure. He always comes up with something new and exciting. Sometimes we’re out until dark, and I sneak back in through the garden, past my parents, without them noticing.
But today isn’t over. We’re heading toward Springfield, planning to swing by the Thompsons’ club for a barbecue. A few of Dogger’s buddies usually hang out there on weekends. But right in the middle of my little bliss bubble… something starts feeling off.
Instead of taking the state road, Dogger turns by the warehouse. He’s heading toward my house.
I tap his shoulder. He doesn’t respond. A minute later, we pull up at our usual drop-off spot, far enough from my parents’ place that they won’t hear the engine. That’s when irritation starts to simmer in my chest.
As soon as the engine cuts, I swing off the bike and yank off my helmet.
"What’s going on, Dogger? We were supposed to hit the state road. Springfield, remember?"
Dogger takes off his helmet too and turns to gaze at me.
"This is your stop, kiddo. Plans changed."
"What? What about the Thompsons’ BBQ? I thought we were going," I say, totally thrown.
He leans forward, then gets off the bike. His face looks… different. Sad, maybe. Or angry? Or just determined. Something’s shifted, and I don’t know why.
"What is it?" I lower my voice, because I can tell he’s about to say something serious. There’s a twitch at the corner of his mouth, his tell. I know Dogger’s face better than anyone’s.
"This is where we say goodbye."
It doesn’t register.
"What the hell are you talking about? The BBQ, remember?"
He goes quiet, those deep dark eyes locked on mine. He looks like he’s fighting with himself. Then he pulls out his phone as if to check the time, but I know he’s reading a text. I grit my teeth.
"What the fuck is going on, Dogger? Just spit it out."
His eyes lift from the screen, and whatever he saw seems to harden his resolve. His jaw tightens, and then, like a punch to the chest, he says it.
"This is it, Sun. You and me. We’re done. It was great. Thanks for everything. But this is where our paths split."
I stare at him like he’s a ghost. His lips move, but those words don’t even make sense. He wouldn’t say that. Not after two years together, two years of love, passion, being everything to each other. We were each other’s worlds. Is it some kind of joke?
"What the hell are you saying, Dogger? We’re great together. Everything’s been fine!"
His sun-kissed face looks distant, like he’s already gone.
"Yes. Still, this is where we part ways," he repeats, weirdly calm.
"If you don’t tell me what’s going on, I’ll find out myself. You can’t hide this. Is there someone else? Tell me, you fucker!"
