Chapter 13 #2
My entire body went hot and cold at the same time, so fast I thought I might hit the floor.
My stomach flipped so violently that it felt like the ground was shifting underneath me.
I couldn’t hear the music anymore or chatter around me.
Just the thump of my own heartbeat drowning out the room.
He said something to her and she leaned in, smiling soft, fingers brushing his turtleneck like she had done it before.
Then she stepped closer, following him when he moved.
A ring caught the light before I could look away.
My chest tightened so fast I almost choked. I had to leave.
I set my wine down without even looking to see if it still sitting up and walked out with my heart pounding out of rhythm.
Cold air hit me the second I stepped outside, but it didn’t do shit.
The panic still burned through my veins, my legs moving fast, my heels crunching into the snow like they were trying to keep up with my breath.
By the time I reached my cabin, my hands were shaking so bad I dropped the key twice.
The third time it finally slid in, and I pushed the door open, stumbling in like I needed to escape a fire.
Warmth wrapped around me, but I couldn’t get enough air in my lungs.
I leaned back against the door and whispered, “He moved on.” My voice cracked. “Of course he did. And here you go… still stuck.”
A laugh slipped out of me that was nothing close to humor.
I covered my mouth because I didn’t trust the next sound that wanted to come out.
I sat on the edge of the bed, gripping the sheets, trying to steady myself, but everything kept flashing through my mind: his face, his mouth, his body, her hand on him, that ring glinting like a slap.
My phone buzzed.
Bree: You alive?
Bree: Don’t tell me you fainted.
Bree: Girl answer this phone before I call them white folks at the front desk.
I hit FaceTime and waited for her face to pop up on the screen.
“Lord, what happened?” Bree said, bonnet crooked and face full of concern. “You look like somebody snatched your soul.”
“He was there,” I whispered. “At the mixer.”
Her eyes widened. “And?”
“And he wasn’t alone.”
Her whole face shifted. “And he wasn’t alone.”
I broke down and poured it all out of me in one long, shaking stream. She listened… she cursed, then sighed softly when I mention the woman that wore a ring.
“What you gon’ do?” she asked gently.
“I’m leaving,” I whispered. “I came to find him. I found him. He got somebody. That’s my answer.”
“And Nikole?” she asked quietly. “He deserves to know.”
My swallowed the lump in my through. “Eventually… but not like this. I’m not about to wreck another woman’s life just because mine fell apart first.”
“Baby,” she said softly. “You always trying to be the bigger person.”
“I got a daughter watching me,” I replied. “Even when she doesn’t understand it yet.”
Bree nodded. “I’m here. Whatever you decide.”
After we hung up, I paced the cabin with my bag half-zipped on the bed, tossing whatever I saw into it without thinking.
I didn’t care if I packed right. I didn’t care if I left half my shit behind.
I needed to go. I picked up the room phone and pressed zero for the front desk.
It rung three times before the clerk finally answered.
“Winter Haven Guest Services, how can I help—”
“I need to check out,” I blurted. My voice cracked. “Tonight. As soon as possible.”
“Oh… tonight? Ms. Sterling, is everything alright?”
No. No, it wasn’t.
“Yes, I’m fine,” I lied, breath uneven. “I just need to leave. Immediately.”
There was a small pause. I could hear here typing away. I hated how long it sounded.
“We can arrange that,” she said gently. “It looks like you’re scheduled through the twenty-ninth. I can adjust your reservation for an early departure. Would you like us to arrange transportation down the mountain for you?”
“Yes, please. As soon as you can.”
“Of course. I’ll radio one of our drivers. They can be outside your cabin within twenty minutes.”
“Thank you,” I whispered.
She confirmed a few details, but I barely heard her.
The moment I hung up, the silence in the room felt sharp enough to cut.
I grabbed my coat, shoved my charger and toiletries into my bag, zipped it up, and forced myself to breathe.
I couldn’t stay here, not after that. Not after thinking this trip might give me closure or clarity or something soft to land on.
Seeing him with that woman, seeing that ring, felt like somebody had yanked my heart right out of my chest. I didn’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t that.
It wasn’t him having a whole fiancée or wife or whatever she was.
I slung my bag over my shoulder and pulled the cabin door open.
The cold air rushed into my face, grounded be a little bit.
I stepped outside, walked down the wooden steps, and didn’t look back.
I just needed to get off this mountain, tonight…
now before I did something stupid and let myself feel more than I already did.