Chapter 1

Olive had three non-negotiable pet peeves: people who chewed with their mouths wide open, the cringey term “moist,” and at the very top of the list—romantic love. To be honest, she’d given love so many chances, time and again, and the occasional involuntary eye twitch she still got was concrete proof of how badly every attempt had left her crushed. “Your breathing’s off,” Katie pointed out through the Bluetooth earpiece. “You ate something loaded with nuts again, right?” It was just another reminder of how disastrous love had turned out for her. Olive was crazy about peanuts, but her body hated them with a deadly allergy. “Nope, I’m totally fine,” she lied into the mic, quietly patting herself on the back for mastering tiny, harmless lies. Years of perfecting this craft let her fool almost everyone, even her lifelong best friend. “Honestly, I’m great. One hundred percent killing it, no exaggeration.” “That’s sarcasm, isn’t it?” Katie Turner-Brooks had a photographic memory, could solve complex math equations entirely in her head, and recite word-for-word conversations from years ago—but sarcasm went straight over her head every single time. “Excuse me, that’s intentional manifestation,” Olive corrected her. “I’m really trying to convince myself I’m doing well.” And halfway through spiraling into a full panic attack, she added silently. “Then you will.” Katie never grasped that things didn’t come so easily for Olive. As a kid, she’d been painfully awkward, desperate to fit in, and not much had shifted as an adult. She exhaled slowly, drinking in the scenery as she cruised along Lake Tahoe’s shoreline, heading toward Sunrise Cove, a tiny mountain town tucked on the north end. She fought the urge to revert back to that lonely, lost teenage girl she’d once been. “I grabbed salami, an energy drink, and a chocolate cream pie at the last gas station, if that explains my frazzled mental state.” “What’s there to stress over? Barely anyone remembers the incident where you ran over the town’s golden boy.” When Olive fell silent, Katie heaved a sigh. “And clearly I still can’t deliver a joke properly. I even read an entire book on comedy technique and everything.” “It had a tiny spark of humor. Emphasis on tiny.” Olive knew full well the whole town hadn’t forgotten her mistake. Noah Turner, the so-called town hero, wore many labels: voted most likely to achieve great things, beloved only son, Katie’s identical twin brother—and Olive’s fake high school boyfriend, let’s not overlook that detail. “Why do you care what random people think?” Katie pressed. “I don’t. I’m just worn out from never having my life fully sorted out.” “Fake it till you make it, girl,” Katie reminded her. “You were the one who told me that line once.” The flood of old memories tightened Olive’s throat, so she refocused all her attention on the landscape outside her windshield. The sky stretched blindingly bright and crystal clear; the lake water blazed an impossibly deep sapphire blue; endless pine forests blanketed the mountains, their peaks dusted with permanent snow caps. Every inch of the view brimmed with vivid, pulsing life—if it weren’t so vibrantly alive, the whole scene could’ve passed for a flawless oil painting. Katie’s voice cut through her quiet awe. “You also once said no matter how many times you break apart, you can always piece yourself back together again.” “Yeah, well, younger me had far more optimism. It’d be nice if you’d try to erase all the dumb things I’ve rambled on about over the years.” “How am I supposed to separate those from your actual meaningful words?” Olive let out a soft laugh. “Wow, that actually counted as a joke for once!” “Who said I was joking?” “Hilarious.” “Whatever.” Katie cleared her throat, shifting tone to something gentler. “I really appreciate you driving out here to help me look after little Joey. The library granted me indefinite leave, but having you around will take so much weight off my shoulders. I’ll get more time at the hospital with Joe, and it means the world to me.” “Of course I came.” Katie rarely asked anybody for assistance, even though she’d given Olive everything her own parents never could: safety, stability, unconditional acceptance. “I’m all yours, whatever you need at all.