Rhythm of Love

Part 15

Jake's POV: The Car Ride and First Day

The tires hummed on the asphalt as the winding road stretched out before us, cutting through the dense, misty trees that seemed to go on forever. I stole a glance at Astrid beside me, her legs tucked beneath her in the passenger seat, one hand resting on the window. Her eyes were closed, but I knew she wasn't asleep. We'd both been deep in our thoughts for most of the drive up to Gatlinburg, the silence between us more contemplative than awkward.

I knew exactly what she was thinking. I'd been thinking it too. The weekend ahead of us was supposed to be a fun, carefree getaway—something we'd all been looking forward to for weeks. But Priscilla and Danny's unresolved tension was going to make it anything but relaxing. There was something about this trip that felt like we were walking into a storm, and I wasn't sure how any of us were going to come out the other side unscathed.

Astrid shifted slightly in her seat, opening her eyes. She caught me looking and gave me a small, sleepy smile. "What?" she asked softly, her voice breaking the quiet.

I shook my head, returning her smile even though it felt heavy. "Nothing. Just thinking."

Her gaze drifted out to the trees blurring past us. "About the weekend?"

I didn't answer right away, tightening my grip on the steering wheel. "Yeah," I admitted eventually. "I don't know what's going to happen, but it feels like something's going to break."

She sighed, leaning back into her seat. "You think Priscilla and Danny will make it through this?"

I let out a humorless laugh, glancing over at her. "Honestly? I have no idea. I just hope they don't tear each other apart before we leave."

Astrid didn't respond, but I could see the worry etched on her face. We both cared about them, and seeing them like this—seeing all of us stuck in this weird limbo—was exhausting. It wasn't just about Priscilla and Danny. Dave's absence, JJ's clueless hovering, and Danny's quiet brooding—it all felt like a perfect storm waiting to happen.

The rest of the drive passed in a contemplative silence, with only the occasional hum of the radio breaking the stillness. I tried to focus on the road, but my mind kept drifting to Danny. He hadn't been himself for a while—not since New York. He'd been distant, short-tempered, and whatever was brewing between him and Priscilla had only made it worse.

We pulled up to the cabin just before noon. The sunlight filtered through the thick canopy of trees surrounding the property, casting long shadows across the gravel driveway. It was the kind of place that should've felt peaceful, idyllic even. The rustic wood-paneled cabin nestled in the Smoky Mountains, the panoramic views of the mist-covered peaks—it was straight out of a postcard. But the second I stepped out of the car, all I could feel was an uneasy undercurrent.

This wasn't going to be the peaceful weekend we'd all imagined.

Danny and JJ were already there, along with the rest of the group. I saw JJ's familiar blonde ponytail first, her laughter echoing from the porch as she clung to Danny's arm. Astrid tensed beside me, and I didn't even have to ask her what was wrong. We both felt it—that weird charge in the air whenever Danny and Priscilla were in the same space. It was palpable, like static before a lightning storm.

We grabbed our bags from the trunk, and as we walked up the path to the cabin, Danny caught my eye. His expression was tight, his shoulders tense. JJ was chatting animatedly beside him, oblivious to the dark cloud looming over her boyfriend.

"Hey, man," I greeted him with a nod, slinging my duffel over my shoulder. "You good?"

Danny forced a smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Yeah. All good."