Misty

We finished our second year without too much craziness for once. However, Nash seemed tenser than usual. When I questioned him, he reassured me everything was fine. Yeah, okay. I know this guy. He's been up my ass all year. Don't hand me that shit everything is okay.

But I let it go. Why poke the bear?

We packed our stuff and loaded it into cars since our parents came to help us drag our shit home. I folded a flap in the last box when Dad entered my bedroom.

"Is that it?" He asked, pointing at the box.

I patted the box. "Yep."

My dad lifted the box to carry it down.

"You know what, Dad?"

My dad stopped and turned to me. "What, sis?"

"I can't wait to get home and start working in the bakery with Nash." I smiled.

My dad chuckled. "I bet. Your mom and I are just happy to have you home this summer. We missed you, Misty."

I missed you, too." I kissed my dad's cheek before leaving the bedroom.

Dad loaded the final box in the car. As he approached the driver's side, I climbed into the front passenger seat. We backed out of the driveway and drove home. I spent the drive home telling my dad about this past school year. He laughed at different parts of my story. I would have ridden with Nash, but I had missed my dad. Plus, it reminded me of our trips to West Virginia.

*******
Valentino

Nix rode with me since Uncle Pat rode with Dad. It gave us time to talk with the others around.

"Nash, you need to tell Maggie about this unsettled feeling," Nix said.

"And what if I'm wrong?" I glanced at Nix.

"What if you're right?"

"Nix, we don't even know what's coming." I shook my head. "How can I tell Mags that something's not right?"

Nix opened his mouth before closing it. We could keep dissecting what we discussed on spring break, but we didn't have all the pieces. We were missing a vital one.

Since I was always with Mags, I could protect her. I had to focus on that and worry about the other shit later.

********
Valentine

"Val, did something seem off with Tino today?" Pat asked me from the front passenger seat.

"Yeah." I sighed.

"Preston has been acting skittish, too."

"Did you ask Preston about it?"

"Yeah. He said he was fine."

"We know that's a damn lie."

"If we question them, they will deny it."

"Romeo mentioned Preston freaked out when they were at the beach house. Something about a storm heading to Oakridge."

Pat pulled out his phone and checked the weather app. "The only storm heading to Oakridge is one in a few days. The weather forecaster said it will be the worst storm in Oakridge history."

"Yeah. Dad, Owen, Odin, and I have been preparing for it. The storm will set us back a few days on the new build."

"Dad always prepares for a storm."

I nodded in agreement. Aside from a storm we received in a few days, I didn't know what Pat meant. Once I get Tino settled, I'll ask him about what happened in Myrtle Beach.

*******
Misty

Dad pulled into the driveway. The front door flung open, and Mom ran out of the house down the porch steps toward the car. When I opened my car door, she engulfed me in a hug.

"I'm so glad you're home," my mom squeezed me.

I returned her hug. "I'm glad to be home."

My mom released me from her death grip and pulled back to look at me. "At least you're okay."

"Of course." I smiled. "Nash made sure of it."

My mom nodded and hugged me again before we helped Dad bring in my stuff. For once, we survived this year without a major incident. Hopefully, next year will be the same.

*******
Valentino

We arrived home. Ma jumped on me when we got out of the car. My dad had to peel her from me so I could lug my shit inside.

"Tino, are you okay?" Ma asked.

"Yeah. Why?" I grabbed a box from the cargo area.

"You seem tense." She brushed the hair from my forehead.

"It's been a long drive."

"Are you sure?"

I nodded. "Yeah. Let me get settled, and I'll fill you in."

Ma nodded in agreement and helped us carry in boxes. I didn't want to worry my folks about whether I was wrong. They already worry enough when I'm at school. I'm sure it's nothing.

*****
Misty

After getting settled in, I updated my mom on what had happened this past year. She knew about some things because my dad told her. Luckily, we survived unscathed this year.

It didn't help that Oakridge was experiencing a massive storm. The weather alert suggested we gather supplies for power outages and reinforce windows since we were experiencing high winds and a thunderstorm.

Nash and I hung out in his living room before reporting to the bakery to start work. My dad said it was Val's turn to entertain us. That was fine if Val was home, but he wasn't. He was at the construction site trying to keep the storm from demolishing a house.

Since Kadia wasn't a fan of storms, Nash and I stayed with her until Val got home.

"Can we make a quick run to the bakery?" I asked Nash.

"I don't think that's a good idea, Mags. I don't want to leave my ma here without my dad," Nash said.

"From the weather forecast, the storm won't hit until 8 pm."

"I still don't think it's a good idea to leave since our weather is unpredictable." Nash shook his head.

"Okay. How about I run and grab treats for us so we have something to snack on when the storm hits?"

"Are you sure?"

"It's five-thirty. I have plenty of time to run to the bakery and return before the storm hits."

Nash pinched his brows and pressed his lips into a thin line.

"I'll be quick." I kissed him before leaving the house and climbing into my car. I started it, backed out of the driveway, and drove to the driveway.

The bakery was twenty minutes from our houses, which gave me plenty of time to get what I wanted and return. As I drove, the sky turned dark. I peeked through the windshield at the ominous sky as rain pelted the glass. I flicked on the wipers as it started pouring. Stupid weather. What happened to eight p.m.?

I slowed down when I reached a red light and waited. My phone started ringing. I pressed the Bluetooth button on the steering wheel. "Hello?"

"Mags, where are you? The storm has started."

"I'm five minutes from the bakery. I can hunker down there until it stops raining."

"Just turn around and come home. I'll take you to the bakery when the storm stops."

A car honked behind me, alerting me I was holding up traffic since the light turned green.

"Nash, you're distracting me, making me hold up traffic."

"Mags."

I pressed the gas pedal, heading to the bakery, when I caught lights out of my peripheral. I turned my head and saw headlights heading toward me. "Nash!"

Everything happened quickly as the truck slammed into my door, making me spin out and slam into other cars. My head slammed into the car window as the airbag exploded before darkness engulfed me.

********
Rafael

We were working to get the customers out of the bakery when I heard a loud crash and horns blaring. I walked toward the door, saw the car pile up, and dialed 911.

The dispatcher answered. "911. What's your emergency?"

"There's been a massive accident before the Gray and Harper Brothers' Bakery."

"We're sending help. Is anyone hurt?"

I pushed open the door as rain pelted me and jogged toward the accident. "There's a few people in the car..." my voice died when I noticed one of the drivers. I ran to the car and tried the handle. "Misty! Oh, God!" I ripped off my shirt, wrapped it around my arm, and slammed my elbow into the window until it shattered. I reached into the car and tried to wake her. "Misty, come on."

"Sir?" The voice asked from my phone on the ground.

I spun around. "Someone, help me!"

People ran from directions toward the cars. A car screeched to a stop as doors opened and closed.

"Mags!" Tino ran toward Misty's car and tried to wake Misty. "Mags! Oh, God! Wake up! Please!"

I put my hands behind my head to control myself as I listened to Tino scream in anguish.

A storm hit Oakridge in more ways than one tonight, and it would change everything.

This is the end of A Crazy Thing Called Love. We laughed. We had ups and downs. We had one hell of an ending to a book.

You will need to wait to discover what happens in the next book, Love Story. It will cover the aftermath and the next two years of college.

That book will arrive on February 1.