Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
The familiar wooden structure greets me ahead as I make my way down the never-ending road leading up to it.
It’s been too many years since I’ve been here, and a few memories come flashing back in my mind.
Mom’s homemade apple pie, sitting by the fire and reading Christmas stories, chopping down our own tree in the woods nearby—so many happy moments.
This cabin has been in my family for generations, but as my sister and I got older, we started coming less and less.
I don’t think anyone has been here in years.
I bring the car to a stop, turning the engine off and gathering my belongings.
The snow has eased up, now only falling in light flurries.
I only grab what I need to get through the door.
I’ll come back out for the rest. Throwing my jacket back on, I step out of the car and close the door before heading up the worn-down stairs.
This place is in need of a little TLC after all these years, but Mom sends a caretaker out here every few months to ensure there are no squatters and that everything is working properly, should anyone want to come up here.
Sticking the key in the lock and turning it, the door creaks open.
It’s pitch black, and the air is stale, but I quickly find a light switch and flip it on.
The cabin is immediately lit by the warm yellow glow of fluorescent lighting.
The air has a musty smell to it, and I crinkle my nose, trying to breathe through it.
The furniture is covered in sheets, draped across it to protect the fabric from bugs.
I flip the sink on to confirm there is running water.
The pipes rumble a little, then several spurts rush out of the spout until it becomes a steady stream.
Excellent. I open the fridge, confirming it is clean and waiting to be stocked.
Everything looks fine down here, so I head to my car and grab the ice chest I packed with the food I’ll be needing during my stay. Well, food and wine. Gotta have wine.
I pull the ice chest from my back seat and drag it through the snow, using two hands while I walk backwards.
Once I hit the steps, I slowly place a foot up each one while pulling the heavy plastic box with me.
I shouldn’t have grabbed such a big ham when it’s just me, but it was on sale at the last minute, and I couldn’t resist. It looks so good.
Once I’ve finally pulled the chest through the front door, I close and lock it, picking up my keys from the table by the door and doing the same to my car.
An overwhelming sense of sadness creeps up on me out of nowhere, and I sit on top of the ice chest, hanging my head in my hands as the tears start pouring down my face.
I know I said I don’t need anyone—and I don’t—but the idea of starting over is daunting.
I’m thirty. I expected to be married already, at least to have found the “right guy” to spend the rest of my life with.
I don’t need anyone, but having someone I want is nice.
I thought I was finally there. Finally at a point of comfort.
Of safety. Of security. I guess I was wrong.
“Damn it, Ella. Pull yourself together,” I whisper to myself, and I wipe my face, get to my feet, and drag the cooler all the way to the fridge.
Once the food is loaded, I get to work on the rest of the house, pulling the sheets off the furniture, lugging my bags upstairs, and unpacking.
The master has an attached bathroom with a garden tub, and a hot bath sounds amazing right now, so I grab a towel and start the water, putting on my favorite Sleep Token album as I step over the edge.
Warmth envelopes me when I lower myself in, and I exhale, trying to rid myself of the stress from the last 24 hours.
I lean my head back, closing my eyes, but a memory floats into my mind.
I can’t wait to show Liam his gift. He’s been begging for a new wallet for some time, so I saved up and bought him a dark mahogany brown leather trifold wallet and had it engraved with L & E 4ever. I just know he’s gonna love it.
I pull into my assigned parking space at our apartment complex, shutting off my engine.
I got off early today, and I wanted to surprise him.
I wasn't supposed to be off for another three hours, so I took the opportunity to pick up his wallet and some dinner on the way home.
Giggling all the way up the stairs, excited for his reaction, I unlock the door and sneak inside.
“Liam, honey, I’m home early!” I yell, but there’s no response. Odd. Because I know I saw his car out front.
“Liam?” I call out again, making my way to our bedroom.
Soft moans echo from the bedroom, and I freeze. My heart rate picks up at the impending dread I feel because not only are those familiar sounds, but I recognize the voices.
Slowly, I take a few more steps, turn the knob on the door, and push it open.
What I feared was happening is suddenly before me.
Kaci, my best friend of fifteen years, is on all fours on top of the bed, and my fiancé is currently thrusting in and out of her.
The moans fill the air, and by the sound of it, he’s close to finishing. Fuck that.
“WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK,” I scream, and both of them scramble, muttering “shit” and “fuck” back and forth.
“Ella, it’s not what it looks like,” Kaci says, covering herself with my comforter while trying to find her clothes.
“Not what it looks like?! Are you serious? Tell me, Kaci, if it's not what it looks like, then what is it?”
“It just happened,” Liam states, frantically putting his pants back on. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were coming home early.”
My jaw drops at his words, as though he’s not sorry for fucking my best friend but rather that I came home early and caught him.
My mind is racing a million miles an hour, and my palms begin to sweat.
My eyes dart back and forth between the two, and the rage begins to fester even more.
I feel fucking stupid, and that pisses me off more than anything. How could I have missed this?
“FUCK YOU,” I scream. “FUCK BOTH OF YOU.” I open the bag still in my hand and pull the wallet from the box.
I take it in my hand and chunk it at him.
“Here, you piece of shit! Here is the Christmas gift I got you. And here,” I add, grabbing the to-go boxes with food.
“Here’s fucking dinner. I hope you both choke on it.
” I take the boxes, throwing them one by one at each of them.
“And you,” I seethe, pointing my finger at my now ex-best friend.
“You’re fucking dead to me. I don’t want to ever speak to you or see your face ever again.
” My heart cracks at the words, despite the reason for them.
I feel like I’m losing a piece of me, like from this point forward, a part of me will always be missing, like there will always be a hole that no one else will ever fill.
Flashes of our friendship play like a movie in my head, and my eyes well with tears as I look at her one last time before I steel my features, not wanting to give her any more of my heart than she’s already taken.
I quickly grab a bag, throwing all the belongings I can into it, before I bolt out the door. Not even taking a single glance back.
I jolt awake, the water now having gone cold.
The memory from that night fades away, and I quickly get out of the bath.
I get dressed and get ready for bed. It’s a little late for the fireplace, so I pop downstairs, searching for a few electrical heaters I can place by the bed.
Thankfully, I also brought my heated blanket with me.
Entering the kitchen, I pause, noticing the cooler is in a different location than where I thought I left it.
That’s odd. Did I move it before heading upstairs?
Or maybe I thought I left it next to the fridge, and it was really in front of the pantry?
I don’t know. It’s late, and I’m tired, and I’m just ready for bed.
I grab the water I came in here for out of the fridge, and head back upstairs, grabbing the electric heater along the way.
There’s already one in my room, and with my blanket, this should do the trick.
Once I’ve plugged both heaters in, I plug my blanket in and my phone, ignoring the dozens of texts I’ve received from both shit stains, and roll over, closing my eyes. I’m already exhausted, and today has been a shit day. It doesn’t take long before sleep takes me.