Reese flew out of the door, leaving me to stew alone. The next several hours would be hell. I’d have to be nasty, or the truth would show on my face. I didn’t want to hurt either of them, so it was imperative that I stand my ground. This would be my last weekend feeling sorry for myself. I was going to find flaws in her, even if I had to go looking. I’d cling to something that disgusted me about her, and use it as a weapon to steer clear. I’d give myself reasons to lose interest. When I returned to school on Sunday I’d be over Reese. It was the only way.

  Chapter 4

  We’d only been driving for a half an hour. The snow was coming down heavier as Reese sat in the passenger seat trying to get my brother on the phone. I could tell she was frustrated with the whole situation, and what made it worse was the fact that I refused to converse with her while we were in such a confined space together. The cabin was big, but I needed miles between us.

  When Jax still didn’t answer, she tossed her phone in a bag and covered her arms over her chest. “He said he’d be right behind us. What could be taking him so long?” She looked around at the road. “It’s starting to stick to the ground, Jake. Maybe we should turn around and go back?”

  “I’m not turning around, Reese. It took me forever to pack all this shit into the truck. We’re going to make it there and get unloaded before it gets bad. Jax is coming.”

  “How can you know that? Is it some kind of twin intuition?” she asked sarcastically.

  “No, smart ass. I just know he wouldn’t leave you in the mountains all alone.”

  She made a sound and looked away from me. “I’m not alone. I’m with my worst enemy, obviously. The way I see it, things can’t get worse.”

  “Don’t say that. We could slide off the road and get stuck in a ravine, on top of each other.” It took everything in me not to smile imagining her being that close to me.

  “I’d rather die.”

  “Ditto.” My lies were piling up, and to hear her responses were like giant icicles falling into my eyes. They were agonizing.

  For a little while the inside of the truck was quiet. We randomly fought with changing the radio stations, but I only did it because I liked seeing her react. Out of nowhere she must have either gotten bored, or a hair up her ass. “Why do you hate me so much, Jake? What did I ever do to you? Why couldn’t you talk to me last night when I called? I just don’t understand.”

  “Does it matter?”

  “Well, yeah. Your brother and I are pretty serious. Have you considered that one day we might get married?”

  Hearing her say that was the last straw for me. If she married Jax it would ruin everything. I couldn’t be around her for the rest of my life. “That’s never going to happen.” Even though I knew it wasn’t true, I refused to discuss it anymore. All I wanted was for her to shut up.

  “You’re such an asshole. Jax loves me, and we’ve talked about a future.”

  “My brother says a lot of things he doesn’t follow through with,” I replied.

  “Shut up! It’s obvious you’re jealous of what we have. That’s why you’re so mean to me. Even your brother knows it.”

  Hearing that Jax had claimed I was jealous only pissed me off more. “If that’s what helps you sleep at night go on believing it.”

  She made a growling sound and pulled her knees up to her chest. “Forget I even mentioned it. You’re not worth the breath. I’ve tried so hard to be your friend. To think that when I first met you I thought you were the kind one. I was so wrong. It’s obvious why you’re all alone, Jake. You’ve got nothing but a black heart.” I could tell she was annoyed, but no more than I was. It was taking everything in me to not pull over to the side of the road and tell her the truth. Sure, she wouldn’t feel the same way, but at least she’d known the real reason I couldn’t stand being near her.

  For the rest of the drive I concentrated on getting us to my families cabin in one piece. As the snow continued to cover the ground I knew the chances of Jax making it up the mountain were getting slimmer. Once we’d pulled onto the road and parked in front of the cabin, we both exited the truck, and focused on getting everything unloaded before it got any colder. I carried as much as I could to the front porch and searched for the hidden key to unlock the door. Reese followed behind me, looking seemingly excited to be inside of somewhere that would eventually be warm. However, she did seem shocked when I told her the only form of heat was a woodstove. Hearing that she’d have to wait to be cozy made her upset. The boots she’d brought weren’t waterproof, and as soon as she’d climbed out of the truck her feet were soaked. I could see her teeth chattering as we continued unloading more of what we’d brought with us. At the same instance she and I grabbed the same duffle bag. Our hands touched, sending a shock through my body. She gave me a funny look, but said nothing as she jerked it away from me and headed into the house. “I think we should try to get along this weekend, for your brother’s sake.”

  “I’d do anything for my brother, Reese. You might think I’m a piece of shit, but I’d never fail him.”

  Since I didn’t want to get into anymore with her, I decided to start bringing wood in from the porch, in order to get a fire going. She must have spotted me through the window, because as I reached the door she was holding it open for me to come in. I smiled. “Thanks.” Being nice to her felt so good, so right, but I knew it wouldn’t last.

  “How long will it take you to light it?” She asked while hugging the coat to her body. “It’s freezing in here.”

  “Well of course it is. There ain’t been anyone here in months.”

  “Does the water work?”

  I looked back at her and raised my brow, amused that she didn’t have a clue. “The well system is turned off. Once I get this fire going I’ll go out and turn on the power. It’s going to take about an hour before the tank gets hot. If I were you I’d hang out in here. Take off those piece-of-shit boots and sit them to the side.”

  She tilted her leg and looked down at her boots. “They have fur inside. They’re supposed to be warm.”

  I shook my head. “Survivalist don’t care about fashion. Anything that looks like those ain’t worth a shit out here.”

  Reese put her hands on her hips. “You’re so negative, Jake. I’m starting to wonder if you even know how to smile.”

  I kept my focus on the tiny flames forming inside of the stove. I blew on it, watching the brightness increase. Soon the wood was engulfed, and I knew in no time the cabin would warm up. “Stay here and get warm while I go turn on the power. It’s going to be dark soon.” I stood and went to head outside and felt her grabbing my arm.

  “Jake, do you think Jax is okay?”

  I closed my eyes and thought about my brother, not the guy who was dating the girl I wanted. “If something was wrong I’d know it.”

  “What’s that mean?” She asked after I took a few steps.

  “I reckon it’s a twin thing. I can’t explain it. I just get this feeling.”

  “Okay, thanks.” She looked down at her hands.

  “Yeah, whatever. I’m sure he’ll be here soon.” I almost ran out the door, desperately trying to get outside before she could talk to me anymore. Reese couldn’t know that every second alone with her was making me crazy. I’d spent so much time avoiding her at all costs, only to be stuck in a small cabin, out in the middle of nowhere.

  I had to get in touch with my brother, and find out what was keeping him.

  First I tried his phone, getting the voicemail three times. Then I called my dad.

  “Hey, son.”

  “Dad, have you seen Jax?”

  “Last I heard you were off to the cabin. Did you run into trouble?”

  I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying my best not to let a headache come over me. “No. The ride here was fine. Jax had to stay back and make up a test. He was supposed to be an hour behind us, but we haven’t heard anything from him.”

  “Us? I thought you said you were going there to clear your head.”

  “Yeah, well Jax had other plans. It’s me and Reese here now. He wanted her to drive with me in case I needed help getting the power on and stuff.”

  “Jake, please make good choices.”

  “Dad, it’s fine. I wouldn’t do that. If you hear from Jax, tell him to call me. I don’t want to be stuck here all night with his girlfriend.” I said it loud enough that Reese could hear me. When she headed to the bathroom, I felt content knowing we weren’t close. I needed her to steer clear of me. Being in this situation was a terrible idea.

  After nearly thirty minutes I heard her crying. I knocked on the door softly. “The water should be warm now.”

  She didn’t reply, although I heard the faucet turning on and knew she’d heard me.

  Cell service was scarce, so I made it a point to go outside to get better reception. My brother’s voicemail picked up again. “Jax, it’s me. Where the fuck are you, man? The power’s on and we’re here safe. Call your girlfriend and let her know you’re alright.”

  I knocked twice before entering, knowing damn well what I was about to get a peek of. After the long drive in the same vehicle I knew I should keep my distance, but couldn’t help myself.

  She stood up shirtless, completely flabbergasted that I was staring at everything she had to offer. “What are you doing in here, Jake?”

  “Enjoying the view, obviously.”

  A towel came flying in my direction. “Get out of here, before I tell your brother you were spying on me.”

  “Tell him whatever you want, if he even shows up. The snow is getting heavier. If the roads shut down you’re going to be stuck here with me all night, alone.”

  “I’ll lock myself in my room. There’s no way I’m hanging out with you for another minute.”

  I laughed, knowing that being snarky was only going to make her frustrated. I liked when her face reddened and she became angry. “Do what you have to do. Don’t call me when you’re scared. I wouldn’t get near you with a ten foot pole.”

  She wrapped another towel firmly around her torso and busted past me. “I hate you so much. I should have never agreed to ride here with you in the first place.”

  “I feel the same way,” I lied. “All you do is bring my brother down.”

  “Screw you. I love your brother.”

  I lunged forward, breaking the distance between us. “Just stay the fuck out of my way and we won’t have any problems.” I couldn’t be in the same room as her any longer. It was impossible to look her in the eyes and hear her saying she was in love with my brother. I clenched my jaw and marched out of the bathroom before I could say anything else hurtful. If only she knew how this was killing me. If she could only feel my heart breaking each and every time she was around then maybe she’d know what it was like. She couldn’t understand that every moment I spent next to her made me yearn to reach out and make a move. It was torture in the worst way.

  I went outside, pissed off as usual, to try and reach my brother. We’d been at the cabin for a while, but still hadn’t heard from him. As soon as I reached the porch my phone must have gotten service. It began to ring in my hand. Quickly I answered. “What’s up fuckstick? It took you long enough to call back. Are you almost here?”

  “Dude, I wrecked the jeep. I’m calling you from the hospital.” He sounded terrible. For a moment Reese didn’t exist. My thoughts were with my brother. “I might not be able to play next week. I fucked up my knee. Mom’s here now talking to the doctors.”

  “I’ll pack up everything and come home. I’m sure Reese is going to freak out.”

  “No don’t. You can’t tell her I’m hurt. She’ll be upset, and the roads suck ass. I can’t even imagine what they’re like where you are. The forecast says it’s not going to let up until tomorrow afternoon.”

  A knot formed in my throat as I stood there realizing I was going to be stuck in the mountains with Reese. How was I supposed to manage for the next day or maybe two? “Dude, I ain’t staying here with her. You’ve got to be bullshitting me.”

  I heard shuffling and then my mom’s voice. “Jacob Mitchell, don’t you dare try to drive home. I’m not having two boys in this ER. Do you understand me?”

  “Mom, I-.”

  “Promise me, Jake.”

  I closed my eyes, feeling like this was a terrible nightmare. “Yeah, I promise.”

  “Good. Here’s your brother back. Take care of you and Reese, and make sure you stay warm. It’s going to get below zero tonight where you are. If I would have known you were going up there I wouldn’t have allowed it.”

  “I love you too, mom.” I knew she was being protective. It wasn’t like I’d do something stupid. If I couldn’t drive in this weather, I wasn’t going to attempt it.

  Jax got back on the line. “So here’s the situation. You’re stuck in the mountains with my girlfriend, and I’m seeing it as a good thing.”

  “What?” I asked shocked. “Are you concussed?”

  “No, dickhead. My head’s fine. Think about it. You and Reese can’t find a happy medium. This will force you to get along. She’s great, Jake. Give her a chance. I know you don’t want to be there with her, but can you try to make the best of it?”

  I shook my head, knowing he couldn’t see me. “You fucking owe me for this, that’s for sure.”

  “Just be nice. I’ll call her in a bit when we get out of here.”

  “She’s locked herself in the bedroom, so you don’t have to worry about me telling her anything. There’s a good chance she won’t come out all night.”

  “Jesus Christ, what did you say to her already?”

  “Nothing,” I lied.

  “God, this is a disaster.” I knew he was frustrated, though I didn’t know what to say. This was the last place on earth I should have been, yet a part of me was glad he wasn’t coming. Even if I couldn’t have her, this was one night where they wouldn’t be together. I had to make the best of it, even though it required me to apologize.

  “I’ll be on my best behavior. I’ll respect her, and make sure she’s alright.”

  “I appreciate it. I’ll talk to you later. See ya, bro.”

  When we hung up I stood on the porch looking out at the snow-covered landscape. Even as the sun was beginning to set the falling snow kept the forest well-lit. When I heard the porch door creaking open, I knew she was standing behind me. I turned with caution, remembering our last encounter. “Was that Jax?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Jake, please stop with the sarcasm. When is he getting here? The roads are covered by now. It’s getting dangerous.”

  I couldn’t look her in the eyes and lie. It was impossible to attempt. I’d reached my limit of betrayal when it came to hurting her. “He’s not coming.” I looked down and prepared for her freak out.

  Sure enough her arms started flailing around. “You’re kidding, right? He wouldn’t leave me here with you. He wouldn’t do that to me.”

  I took ahold of her arms to prevent her from hitting me. “He was in accident, alright? He’s fine, but his Jeep is too fucked up to drive. He just called me from the hospital.”

  She put her hands over her face. “Oh my god. Is he hurt?” She started to cry and empathy was all I could feel. I kept my hand on her arm as I spoke. “He hurt his leg or something. They’re getting it checked out. Mom is with him.”

  “So he’s really not coming?” I think she needed to hear it one more time to be able to believe it. I couldn’t blame her. I too was living the same bad dream.

  “I’m afraid not. He wouldn’t make it up the mountain if he tried. He said the weather isn’t going to let up until tomorrow afternoon. We’re stuck here.”

  “Together. You and I are stuck here together?” I could sense annoyance in her voice. She wasn’t thrilled. “Great.”

  I let my hand fall to my side. “We’ll be okay.”

  “My boyfriend is in the hospital and I’m stuck here with the Devil himself. How is that okay?”

  When she rushed back inside of the house I remained outside. I created this tension between us to make it easier, but all I felt was regret. All I wanted to do was worship the ground she walked on. She didn’t have a clue.

  Chapter 5

  Later on, when my stomach began rumbling, I opened a couple cans of soup and heated them up. Once they were piping hot, I took them into the living room and sat them down on the coffee table. Making my way up to the bedroom where she was staying was difficult. I wasn’t certain how I was going to turn off being an asshole without her questioning it.

  I knocked twice. “Reese, I made you some soup.”

  “I’m not hungry. Go away.”

  “I’m going to keep knocking until you come out and eat. I promised Jax I’d take care of you.”

  For a few moments it was very quiet. Then I heard the latch turning on the door. Reese cracked it open and stood on the opposite side looking up at me. “I’d rather you not pretend to like me. I’ll tell Jax you were kind if that’s what it takes to keep you away from me.”

  She shut the door in my face, leaving me broken and frustrated.

  Instead of eating my soup, I took both bowls and tossed them into the sink. She wasn’t going to come down and eat, and I’d lost my appetite.

  To relieve stress, I bundled up and went outside to cut more firewood. The rule was that you replaced what you burned, and since we’d be using a lot I figured I’d get a start to rebuilding the stock. With a bottle of whiskey and an axe, I made my way over to a fallen tree. I sat down, appreciating the quiet. Nothing moved around me. There were no wandering animals, or chirps of birds. It was completely silent.

  The warmth of the liquor forced me to keep drinking. I wasn’t doing it to get drunk. I was downing the hot whiskey in order to pass out, so I didn’t have to deal with a night of being alone with Reese.