Tectonic (Paperback)

Paperback. Two years ago, Carter White proposed to Christian Reyes after graduation in front of both their families. Christian said no, took the ring, and claimed there was someone else. Carter left Flagstaff for Boston, built a life around law school, and started dating Alton, a kind, attentive man he knows he should love but does not.When Carter returns to Flagstaff for his sister Chelsea's wedding, he brings Alton with him and tries to act like the past is buried. It is not. Christian is still tied to Carter's family, still tied to the town, and still carrying the truth behind the lie that ended them. Carter tells himself he can survive one wedding weekend, one awkward reunion, and one morning hike on Mount Elden before the ceremony.But Sunset Crater has been showing signs of unrest for weeks. Ash has begun collecting on windshields. Local warnings are being treated as background noise. Carter, Christian, Alton, and others end up on the mountain when a volcanic earthquake hits, damaging the trail, cutting off routes down, and turning a tense personal reunion into a fight for survival.As the eruption escalates, the mountain becomes unstable. Rockfall, ash, fire, and collapsing terrain force the group into impossible choices. Carter has to depend on Christian, the man he believes betrayed him, while Alton realizes Carter's heart has never fully been his. The disaster strips away every polite version of the truth. Christian finally reveals that there was never someone else. He lied because he believed leaving Carter was the only way to protect him from being trapped by Christian's family obligations and future.The revelation comes too late to keep everyone safe. As the eruption and its aftermath tear through the mountain, two people die, and Carter is forced to face the damage caused by silence, fear, and love turned into sacrifice. By the time rescue comes, Carter's life has been permanently rearranged. He survives the mountain, but he cannot return to the version of himself who left Flagstaff believing Christian had simply chosen someone else. This item is printed on demand. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. …