Chapter 21

As I turned away from Enzo and Elena, I could feel their heavy and concerned eyes on me. Each step I took toward the door seemed to echo. I made my way to the car, my mind a tangled web of thoughts.

The ride back to the bed and breakfast was a tense silence, broken only by the hum of the engine and the occasional shifting of gears. Enzo drove, his jaw set rigid and his eyes fixed on the road ahead. Elena sat in the back, next to me, her worried gaze flicking between Enzo and me as if she was trying to work out how to fix our relationship that had never started.

When we finally reached the bed and breakfast, I didn't wait for anyone. I pushed open the door and practically ran inside. Once inside, I leaned against the wall, my breathing heavy and erratic. The old wooden floor creaked beneath me, the familiar scent of lavender and old books doing little to calm my racing heart.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "Okay, Winter, get it together," I muttered under my breath. I p