Torn between worlds

he following afternoon. The morning had been a blur of thoughts, suffocating thoughts about her father's call an

her otherwise chaotic mind. It was an odd sort of peace. As she slid into a booth by the window, she leaned back, allowing herself a rare moment of stillness.

from the gnawing tension that gripped her chest. Her father's words echoed in her head: Get married or lose everything. Every part o

ugh the usual diner clamor. It was unmistakable. The sound of her car engine misfi

k into her purse. Of course, her car had to break down at a time like this. She had been p

't avoid dealing with the car any longer, and the thought of waiting for a tow truck was too much t

te

g across his shoulder, his hair tousled from the day's work, and a little dirt smudged across his face. He walked toward her with a

r her breath, half-expecting him to

ht?" His voice had a light, almost teasing tone.

ience snap. "I can't believe this is happening a

suring. "Let me take a look. I'm sure it's just someth

r car wasn't going anywhere without help, and she wasn't about to call a tow truck and deal wi

seen worse." He moved toward the hood of the car with practice

with cars, and the constant mechanical issues were becoming a running joke between her and the garage. She

nto the diner, a coffee cup in hand. His eyes immediately darted ov

gain so soon," Jake said, his tone ligh

eems like I'm cursed," she replied, not able to shake the

d with a shrug. "You're just lucky to have good mechanics." He winked

houghts straying back to the looming shadow of her father's ultimatum. His words pressed down on her like an anchor, an

set. It's fixed for now. You shouldn't have any more issues-at

oice. She was too lost in her thoughts to care about the car. She

ldn't hear all of it, she caught a few words: father, influence, and town. A cold shiver ran down her spine, and her stomach clenched. Sh

rang again, cutting through the tension in the air. Sh

fa

reached for the phone. Every time he called, it felt like a remin

trying to steady her breathing. She could feel Peter and Jake's eyes on her, but she didn

r that?" Jake asked, hi

e shook her head, her voice ba

at, everything s