Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 43540 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 218(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43540 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 218(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
There’s a knock on the door. “You sure you’re okay?”
“Actually, no! I’m not! I’m standing in a cabin that is supposed to be MY vacation cabin. Instead, my asshole ex, who I wished to never see again, opens the door and now I don’t know how to rewind time and never agree to this stupid vacation in the first place because this is stupid and how do I make this floor swallow me up?” If things couldn’t get any worse, I start to cry. And not a cute cry. A good ole ugly cry.
“Open the door, Cal.”
“No,” I say through my broken sobs.
“Open the fucking door.” I grab the handle and fling it open, ready to punch him between the eyes when he sticks his hand out and stops me. My eyes fall to the object in his hand.
“Wh—why are you handing me that?”
“Because I know how you get when you’re upset and what you want when you are.” I stare at the full glass of red wine. My savior. My antidote. “You gonna take it, or should I—”
“Give me that.” I snatch it from his hands and allow the smooth, oaky flavor to do its magic, warming my belly and soothing my overactive heart.
“Get changed. Then we can talk.” He walks away, saying nothing more. I shut the door and struggle out of my wet clothes. I shamelessly sniff Easton’s shirt as I bring it over my head. Moaning at his signature scent, I slide it over my chest. His shirts were always so soft. Even my nipples perk at the feel of it. I step into his sweatpants, and when I look in the mirror again, I’m reminded of a girl from a long time ago. One who would wake up in one of Easton’s oversized shirts wearing the biggest smile.
Pushing down the nostalgia, I shake off the memory and clean my face. When I feel somewhat more presentable, I walk to the living room. Easton is seated by the fire with a glass of bourbon.
“When do you think the phones will be back up?”
“Not sure. Depends on how long the blizzard lasts. Then how long it takes the city to clean the road for the power company.”
“That doesn’t sound like it’ll be a quick fix.”
“Probably ’cause it isn’t.”
I could cry all over again. I cover my face. “Fuck!”
“Why you here, Cal?”
I lower my hands and say, “I can ask you the same thing. Last I checked, you were in my cabin.”
His laughter is anything but humorous. “Say again?”
“I know it’s been a couple years. Did you go deaf during that time?”
“I can hear just fine, babe—”
“Don’t call me that,” I hiss.
He shoots from his chair and invades my personal space. “Seeing that you’re in my cabin, I can call you whatever I want.”
“In what alternate universe do you think I would willingly show up at your cabin?”
“This one, since you’re in it.”
My rage returns. Putting my kill plan on hold for Tory and Ashley, I aim it at Easton. “Wow, still full of yourself, I see. And why would you think I would ever want to see you again?”
“To apologize for starters.”’
Easton has always been a live-on-the-edge kinda guy. But this is going overboard. Because he is asking me to murder him. “You—you think I need to apologize?”
“For starters. Then you can tell me why you’re here—”
“I’m here because I rented this place! It’s mine! So you can get out of my cabin, you arrogant asshole!”
I don’t have time to react. Easton’s arm hooks around my waist, and I’m pulled into him. His scent assaults my nostrils. At the same time, his breath skates across my cheek, and his voice whispers against my earlobe. “Look around, sweetheart. This is my cabin. Now, stop with the excuses and tell me why you’re here.”
He stares down at me, his normally bright eyes darken in intensity. They drop to my lips, and I suck in a breath. I need to push him off me. Punch him. Claw his face off. But I can’t seem to break our stare. He watches my mouth as I suck in my bottom lip, wetting it. Suddenly, the feel of him, his hands touching me, is overwhelming. He dips his head, and I know he’s going to kiss me. He could never be around me and not claim my mouth. He leans closer still. I know I’ll regret this later, but my eyelids flutter, my lips part, and I wait for his kiss. But it never comes. Just as quickly, he releases me. I stumble, my eyes shooting open as he sits in his chair by the fire and slams his drink. “Whatever. Wouldn’t be the girl I remember if you weren’t hiding.”
“Oh, fuck you.”
“Not mine to fuck anymore, Cal.” He leans forward, grabs the bottle, and pours a fresh drink.