The Way We Wind

The Way We Wind Halli Starling Halli Starling Books Copyright Copyright © 2023 by Halli All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. Contents Dedication Author's Note Character Art 1. Chapter 1 2. Chapter 2 3. Chapter 3 4. Chapter 4 5. Chapter 5 6. Chapter 6 7. Chapter 7 8. Chapter 8 9. Chapter 9 10. Chapter 10 11. Chapter 11 12. Chapter 12 13. Chapter 13 14. Chapter 14 15. Chapter 15 Also By Halli Starling About The Author Dedication D edication Thanks to my early readers: Cayla, Anna, Clanky, Katie Gray, and Jeannie Marschall. The incredible character art of Bren & Elodie, and Clark & Jasper, was done by Cayla (@veranox on Twitter). Cayla's been a friend for some years now, and she makes incredible art pieces that capture the feel of a moment and the embodiment of characters, as if she ripped them from my mind and breathed life into them via her pen. Author's Note Readers sometimes ask if certain things in my books are real – like the tabletop game “Dungeon Delve” in my novella When He Beckons. (Sadly, it is not real, as much as I would like it to be.) In this novella, “ghost trails” are an amalgamation of stories about spectral hauntings and ley lines brimming with power. I am not a believer in the paranormal or supernatural, but I can absolutely see and understand where the fascination comes from. Believing that our loved ones linger near us after their deaths is a powerful, often comforting, image. While “ghost trails” are a figment of my authorial imagination, as is the town of Haven, Michigan, the abandoned copper mining towns in the Upper Peninsula of the state are not. When an 1841 geologist’s report described the massive copper deposits under the ground on which the Chippewa tribe lived, spectators rushed to the area. You can imagine what happened to the native peoples of that place, and many other places in what is now known as Keweenaw County. Dozens of copper mines were quickly slapped together, and around the mines shanty towns practically erupted from the ground. When the copper veins dried up, the towns had no other business to support those living there, and the towns were soon abandoned. Some of those towns still stand today, while others have been ground down to rubble of a handful of buildings, or even only a few graves. So while this area – and its history – are real, the story Clark tells Jasper is also a figment of my imagination. I blame too many history books and podcasts, as I don’t feel the tragic story seems too far-fetched. If you’re curious about the ghost towns of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, I did an episode of The Human Exception Podcast on this very topic (episode 72). I want to also note Bren’s difficulties with her anxiety and depression, as their impact may be outsized compared to their triggers, namely the viral video which causes her to spiral. Anxiety and depression look and feel different on different people. For instance, the mere thought I might be late to an appointment makes my heart race and my hands clammy. For others, public speaking may cause a similar, or more intense reaction. There Character Art Elodie & Bren Jasper & Clark Art by Cayla ( @veranox on Twitter ) Chapter one BREN Bren looked up from her phone with a frown. “Ugh.” “Ugh, what?” She cleared her throat, then affected a slightly higher pitch before reading the opening line of the message she’d just received. “You know, your name in Gaelic means raven.” There was a bark of laughter from the kitchen before Clark appeared around the open doorway, two steaming mugs in hand. “Did they ask if your hair is really that dark?” her brother asked as Brenna stifled a snort, which turned into a cough. “Real smooth, Bren.” “Just get over here,” she said between coughs, swinging her legs off the couch so Clark had a place to sit. She scrolled through the ridiculously long message on her dating app. “No mention of my black as night hair, or whatever the last girl’s line was.” Bren tossed the phone beside her, secretly hoping it would get lost between the gray cushions and pinstriped yellow and orange pillows Clark had made a few years back. “I’m about to shut down my account. It’s worthless.” Clark took a sip of his tea, winced, and sat the mug down before leaning back. Bren immediately handed him a pillow, which he held against his stomach as he stared off in thought. “You could always try that speed dating thing again down at Flannery’s.” “I could. But if you recall, it didn’t go well last time.” Or the time before that, or the first time. It wasn’t like Jackson Park wasn’t open about its queerness - every year the city held a massive Pride parade, and it was always on those travel blog lists of “Best LGBTQ towns in the US”. In a city this size, you could easily move around like all the other nameless citizens and never once worry about bumping into someone you knew. At least, that was the case for most people. You could congregate at the gay bars, go to Pride, go dancing, and all the while meet new people. Maybe take one home. But Bren was a little stuck for “local” options, all because of that damn commercial. Clark’s voice broke into her thoughts. “If you’re blaming everything on the commercial…” Bren scoffed. “If? Oh sure,