"The Womanizer," I read out loud. "30 mins worth of pleasure. This could come in useful," I said, giggling before throwing it down on the table and moving to the next box. I opened it and a bottle of lavender-scented massage oil fell into my hands. The next box contained a bottle of warming lubricant, and the last box contained ten condoms. Too bad I wouldn't be needing these this weekend, I thought, piling everything back into the basket. Addie had a bit of a dirty side to her, I chuckled to myself. Bet she forgot that she had requested these be here.
* * *
I wandered back into the living room, turned on the gas fireplace that was across from the couch, and flipped on the TV for some background noise. The little kitchenette had everything I would need for the weekend, I thought as I opened the cupboards, seeing they were fully stocked with dishes. I poked my head into the last room and spotted a huge Jacuzzi tub, something I definitely planned on climbing into before the weekend was over. My apartment only had a shower, so it was rare I got to soak in a tub of hot water. I slipped my shoes off and sank my socked feet into the plush carpet and opened a window just a crack to air the place out.
* * *
Pulling a wine glass from the cupboard, I went in search of the bottles of wine I had shoved into my bag of clothes. Grabbing all three, I placed two of them into the cold fridge and opened one, pouring myself a glass. I had just spread the spare blanket that rested on the back of the couch on the floor and slid the coffee table out of the way. Then I placed my burger and fries into the microwave and set it to reheat.
* * *
I went into the bedroom and quickly changed out of my clothes and into a T-shirt and panties. I had nothing to do tonight now but relax, I thought as I pulled my food from the microwave, took it into the living room, and plunked down onto the floor.
* * *
After I ate, I dialed Addie's number. I wanted her to know I had arrived safely and thank her for the wonderful massage. Her phone rang several times. I was just about to hang up when she answered.
* * *
"Hey."
* * *
"Hey. Everything okay?" she questioned. I should have known she would be worried, since I didn't call her when I first arrived as promised.
* * *
"Yep, I just wanted to let you know I made it, and I am safe."
* * *
"Oh great. How was Shawn?"
* * *
"My God, you were so right. He has AMAZING hands. When did they build that gorgeous hotel?" I lay down on the floor and stared up at the ceiling.
* * *
"About eight months ago. Beautiful isn't it. I am so glad you are all relaxed."
* * *
"I am. I completely forgot what it felt like to be completely relaxed. My body feels like Jell-O." I giggled.
* * *
"It's amazing isn't it."
* * *
"It so is. I even stopped in at the Country Winds Pub. I was so surprised it was still there."
* * *
"Yep, still there and as good as ever."
* * *
"Oh, and it was very thoughtful of you to leave me the welcome basket in the bedroom. It really is too bad that I don't have anyone to share it with."
* * *
I heard Addie gasp and did my best not to laugh out loud.
* * *
"Oh my God, I am so embarrassed. I forgot all about it," Addie cried into the phone. "Don't mention anything to Phil. It was supposed to be a surprise."
* * *
All I could do was laugh. At first, it had been embarrassing finding it, but now that I'd had wine and could hear Addie's reaction, it was just funny.
* * *
"Adding a little kink into the bedroom, were you, Addie?" I blushed at my own comment.
* * *
Addie let out a laugh. "How much wine have you had?"
* * *
"Just a bottle or so. I'm fine."
* * *
"All right, well, you enjoy your night. I’m glad you got there safely."
* * *
"You enjoy your night too. Although I am the one with the basket of goodies." I hiccupped. "Oh, and don't do anything I wouldn't do with Phil." As soon as the words left my lips, I knew that wasn't how I meant them to come out. "I mean, not what I would do with Phil. Just anything I wouldn't do with him." I giggled and was surprised when I hiccupped again, which caused me to laugh even more.
* * *
"Oh my, you enjoy your wine, Kristy." Addie let out a laugh. "You might want to stop soon."
* * *
"I will. Oh where can I get some groceries? I will need food."
* * *
"There is a little grocer about a five-minute drive from the entrance to the hotel. Go tomorrow," Addie said.
* * *
"I plan on it. I'm not going anywhere tonight. I have no pants on. They probably have one of those signs: no pants no service." I giggled.
* * *
"Oh my God, girl, get a grip on yourself." Addie laughed. "You need to get away more often."
* * *
"Addie."
* * *
"Yes."
* * *
"You know what I need?"
* * *
"Dare I ask?"
* * *
"What I need is a big strapping man to take care of all my troubles. That is what I need. A man who isn't afraid to pound me into the mattress. A man who won't sink his tongue into another woman when I am five floors below him," I said as I ran my finger around the rim of the wine glass that sat on the table in front of me, tears coming to my eyes. "You know, someone who makes me feel like a woman and treats me the way I am supposed to be treated."
* * *
"I swear, if you break out in song right now, I'm hanging up."
* * *
I heard Phil in the background calling to Addie. "Guess I'll let you go. Have fun."
* * *
"I'll talk to you Monday." We said our good-byes and hung up.
* * *
I poured myself another glass of wine, emptying the bottle into my glass. I wiped away the stray tears and reached behind me, grabbing the pillows off the couch, situating them perfectly behind me and curling one under my head. I got up and locked the door, shutting the window I had opened, and grabbed the other spare blanket from the bed. I lay down on the floor and covered myself up and began watching TV.
4
Austin
I stopped at the light just on the outskirts of our neighborhood. The second the light turned green, and I pulled through the intersection and turned into the parking lot of the local coffee shop. If I was going to make this drive tonight, I was going to need a jolt of caffeine to wake me up.
It only took a couple of minutes before a large, hot coffee sat in the cup holder and I was pulling back out onto the snow-covered street. I wondered what had caused Addie to hand over the cottage for the weekend. She and Phil had been planning this trip for months now and had to book the time-share almost a year in advance. She had begged him to wait until winter as she'd always wanted to spend time up in the mountains with snow on the ground. I really hoped I hadn't somehow upset her and that she was telling me the truth when she had said that he was on call for the weekend. I hoped that I hadn't overstayed my welcome. Eighteen months was a long time to live with your brother. Truthfully, I had been there longer than I had even originally planned, but how was I supposed to know how long it would take me to get over everything that had happened?
I was driving through town heading towards the highway when the car in front of me jammed on their brakes. I swore under my breath and broke hard, my tires sliding. I did everything I could to avoid hitting the backend of their car. As we started up again, a funny feeling came over me. I was at the intersection of Jackson and Mackenzie. The dreaded intersection that I had managed to avoid for the entire year and a half, until today. Today, I had somehow managed to be here twice.
Whi
le I sat waiting for the light to change, my mind floated to that dreaded night that had been permanently ingrained into my memory.
I was at the station, packing up my bag, getting ready for the end of my four-day stint. I was excited to be heading home, looking forward to spending time with my wife, when a call came over the radio. I glanced at the clock. It was ten. Another couple of hours and we would be in the clear. Instead, the bell rang out. I dropped everything, and we all got suited up and piled into the truck.
"There's been an accident at the intersection of Jackson and Mackenzie. Sounds to be head-on, one car flipped, one person pinned in their car. Unknown injuries. Probable drunk driver," Greg said as we loaded into the big rig.
With sirens blaring, the truck raced across the city. Minutes later, we were there, and the guys unloaded one by one. Since I had been one of the first on the truck at the station, I was one of the last guys off the truck. I had just put my foot on the pavement when I heard our captain yell something about “get him back in the truck.” I turned around just as Greg made his way over to me, and my heart literally stopped at the scene in front of me.
"Austin, come on, man, get back in the truck," Greg said, fighting to try and force me to turn around. "You don't need to see this."
"Laura...No, no, no, no," was all I could get out before I lunged onto the scene, pushing Greg out of the way. I ran in the direction of the blue Mazda that was wrapped around a pole.
Greg tried again to stop me, grabbing at my coat, two of the other guys grabbing me by the arms, but I pushed through them all. "Let him go," I heard the captain say from behind me.
I ran to the car. There in the front seat with her head resting against the steering wheel was my wife, Laura. The airbag hadn't deployed. The second I put my hand on her, she opened her eyes. I could tell she didn't know where she was. Her gaze was one I'll never forget. She looked at me, murmuring, "I'm sorry."
A horn blaring from behind pulled me out of my memory and I glanced up, noticing the light had turned green. Not knowing how long I had been sitting there, I swallowed hard and accelerated through the intersection, pulling onto the highway. I took a sip of my hot coffee, turned up the radio, and focused on the road ahead, but soon that memory overtook me again.
I wanted her out of that car. I had to get her out of that car. I pulled on the door, but it wouldn't budge. Instead, I knelt at the side of her mangled car, reached in, and brushed away her blood-soaked hair from her face, trying to keep her calm, while the guys did their best to figure out how they were going to get her out. All she kept mumbling to me was, “I'm sorry.” I had no idea what she meant by that, and at the moment I didn't care. I just sat there doing my best not to lose my shit while I tried to comfort her.
Seven days later, I buried my wife. I remembered it clear as day. I had wanted to go home after the funeral, but Addie said I needed to be at the celebration of life. I was with Addie, Phil, and Kristy, and a bunch of guys from the firehouse when Laura's best friend Kelley had walked in. She made her rounds before approaching me, her eyes filling with tears as she hugged me, sharing her condolences.
"I'm so sorry about Laura," she'd said.
I could still hear Laura's words in my mind, “I'm sorry,” for whatever reason. I'd be haunted forever by those words, and I hadn't even known what they meant.
"Thank you," I said, my sister coming to my side to hand me a glass of water.
"I told her not to go, you know. I told her you were the best thing that had ever happened to her, but she did it anyways," Kelley said.
I frowned. "What do you mean? You told her not to go where?" I questioned as I stared at Kelley. I felt Addie's hand on my arm, but I shrugged out of it. Laura and I had been having relationship issues for the past couple of years. Things hadn't been good, but we had been working on it. We'd gotten in to see one of the best marriage counselors in our area, and he had said that with work we could fix us. We had promised one another that we would work on us.
"She went to Scott's the night before," Kelley said almost like it didn't matter, or perhaps like she thought I knew.
I glanced across the room at where Laura's ex sat, while Kelley continued rambling on. He had recently moved back into town, and they had connected one day at a coffee shop. She claimed that they were friends. I never really thought anything of it. I watched him while he sat there laughing it up with some friends. He must have felt me watching him because he glanced over at me, giving me a look of pity.
Suddenly, a darkness that scared even me came over me. Addie and Kristy both stepped in between Kelley and me, sending her away. I didn't need to hear it from someone else. I now knew what the words “I'm sorry” had meant. She'd been having an affair with the man who sat three tables away from me. I knew our marriage was on the rocks, but for her to actually go through with it…
Another car horn blared from behind and I glanced up, almost missing the cut-off for Serenity Lake. Perhaps this weekend will do me good, I thought to myself as I pushed the memory of that day out of my mind.
I passed by the newly built hotel and continued on down the road when I saw the Country Winds Pub. My stomach let out a loud growl, so I pulled in and parked the car. The second I climbed out of the truck, I could already smell the clean mountain air. It was peaceful, the sounds of the city left far behind.
I pulled the door open and entered the quiet pub. A few people sat at tables, but the bar was empty. I glanced at my watch. It was only nine, and honestly, anything with alcohol sounded good right about now. I walked on over to the bar and took a seat, looking at the menu.
"Evening. Can I get you something to drink?"
I glanced at the nametag on his shirt: Jesse. "Sure, Jesse. I'll take a beer," I said.
"Did you want to try our own. It’s our Serene Pale Ale."
"Sure, why not."
While Jesse poured me a beer and took my order, I quickly sent off a message to Addie letting her know I had arrived and was just grabbing a bite to eat before heading to the cabin. While I sat there drinking down the cold beverage, I watched as a group of women came walking in and sat down at a table in the corner. They were loud and giggling and I smiled to myself when their drinks were delivered. They broke out in a toast to one of the girls.
"You staying at the lake, sir?" Jesse asked as he set another full glass down on the bar in front of me, taking away my already empty glass. The first one went down way too fast, I thought to myself.
"Yeah, up here for the weekend. A little R&R."
"Well, you picked the right place. Where are you staying? Main hotel?"
"No, my sister and I own a time-share not too far down the road, right on the lake."
"Those are beautiful cabins. Is your wife or girlfriend already there?"
"Nope, it's just me," I bit out, not really wanting to carry on that part of the conversation. "My sister couldn't make it with her boyfriend this weekend, so she offered it to me."
"That was nice. Well, it's a fair walk, but the hiking trail starts at the end of the road and goes right around the lake. I highly suggest taking a walk through the trail. Snow is a little deep right now, but you can rent snowshoes at the hotel or at the ski hills."
"Sounds good."
"There are some hot girls here this week staying in some of the cabins," he said, nodding to the group of women in the corner.
I nodded, glanced over at the women, and raised my glass to the bartender to order one more beer. Jesse flipped the TV on behind the bar for me, brought me my food and another beer, and set the bill on the counter in front of me. I had just finished my last bite and threw some cash down when another group of about twenty or so walked in.
The tiny pub got louder, and my quiet little haven was soon blaring music so loud I could barely think. I drank down the last little bit of the beer I'd been nursing and waved a thanks to Jesse and headed out to my truck.
It was snowing much harder now as I made my way up the road to the cottage. I had to slow
down to find the end of the driveway. I pulled my car in only to notice another vehicle was already parked there. I frowned. Perhaps I had the wrong cottage. I checked again, feeling rather irritated that somehow the cottage had already been rented out to someone else. Perhaps Addie had the wrong weekend, I thought. I was just about to pick up my cell phone when I caught sight of the Tweety Bird decal on the back windshield of the car that was parked in front of me. That was Kristy's car. I'd know it anywhere because I had been the one who put the decal on. It had been a gift from Addie for Kristy's twenty-third birthday, and as soon as she opened it and saw it, she had pleaded with me to put it on.
"What the hell is Kristy doing here?" I mumbled to myself as I opened the truck, grabbing my duffel bag, cooler, and box of food. There was no way that she would come up here without Addie's permission. Which made me wonder what my sister was up to.
I made my way up to the front door of the cabin. I could see a light on inside, and I cautiously opened the door. I was immediately hit with a wave of heat. It had to be almost ninety degrees in the room. I pushed the door open and stepped inside, letting the cool air into the cabin.
All I Want for Christmas: A Contemporary Romance Holiday Collection Page 33