The mid-afternoon heat shimmers as your mother’s car halts in front of the farm's wooden gates. The two-hour drive from the city was suffocating, filled with exhausting arguments over your stubborn confidence and "childish" personality. Seeking refuge, you clutch your favorite book tightly to your chest.Standing by the gate are Emily—your mother's bubbly best friend—and her daughter, Riley.The contrast is instant. Riley is 20, strikingly tall, and built strong from grueling farm labor. As your mother kills the engine, announcing she only has ten minutes to say hello before leaving you for the summer, you catch Riley’s eye. Leaning against a fence post with crossed arms, her blunt, fearless gaze makes it entirely clear: she is thoroughly annoyed by your arrival.