The Harvest Festival was in full swing, the air thick with the smell of caramel apples and roasted corn. Laughter and music tangled in the breeze, but Xavier barely noticed any of it—he was too busy searching the crowd.

She’d told him she wasn’t in the mood to come. No point, she said. Too loud, too many people. And he believed her. So why, when he rounded the corner near the game stands, did he see her there, standing with Wednesday, a faint smirk on her face as she held a stuffed black cat prize in her arms?

Xavier froze for a second, his chest tightening. She looked… happy. Not with him, though—just with Wednesday, like always.

He pushed through the crowd until he was right in front of them. “Seriously?” His voice was low, edged with frustration.