I flipped one of the burgers. The edges looked brown, and I didn’t want the patties get too dry. Burgers were best when cooked but still really juicy. I flipped the next burger.
“Ethan. How can I relax when I don’t know what may happen?” she pleaded.
The third burger got turned, and I pried the metal spatula under the fourth one. “I don’t know for sure what will happen either. But remember—Chris said everything so far is going according to the plan. We have a good shot at fooling everyone.”
She went silent. I wasn’t good with words, so what I already said to her had to do.
She sighed and asked in resigned voice, “I’ll get the buns. Do we have ketchup?”
I was glad she changed the subject.
“In the fridge. There is a small jar of relish too. Bring it as well.”
Lisbeth walked toward the house. I looked at her. She wasn’t a big woman, but she still was deliciously curvy. Her wavy, dark hair was now twisted into a very messy bun on top of her head, so the back of her neck was exposed. It was lean and smooth, with a few little hairs curling down and onto her back. She had slim shoulders and a thin waist. My eyes travelled down to her butt. Her hips were wide and her buttocks were round, like those of a woman who spends many hours each week working them out.
No, I wasn’t stupidly drooling over her. I never had to stupidly drool over any woman. They drooled over me and then they always came to me as soon as I let them. But with Lisbeth things were different. I had to keep my distance and not let her know how much I wanted her. Yes, I did want her. There was no denying it. Nevertheless, I appreciated her nice body, just as an art connoisseur would appreciate a beautiful painting. Lisbeth was worth looking at. And that’s exactly as far as I would let myself go—looking and appreciating.
She returned a moment later with a bag of hamburger buns in one hand and a bottle of ketchup in the other. The jar of relish and the bag of sliced cheese were tucked under her arms. I helped her put everything on the long, wooden table I made with Jack last fall. It was sturdy and heavy, just like the two benches positioned on each long side of it.
“I like this set,” Lisbeth commented, nodding toward the table. “Goes perfectly with the cabin and everything around.”
I smiled.
“Did someone make it?”
“Jack and I had some free time last year, so we put it to a good use.”
“Wow, you made it? It’s... amazing. You must be really skilled with your hands!” she exclaimed.
You have no idea. I grinned inwardly, wondering if she would ever find out about how good those hands can make her feel. And my mouth. And my cock. Damn, I had to stop that! She was driving me insane.
“What do you want to drink?” I asked her instead. “Water, soda, wine? I have beer too.”
“Uhm, I’ll just stick with water tonight.” Lisbeth bit her lower lip. I wished she wouldn’t do that.
“That fridge in the kitchen has a filtered water dispenser. And an ice dispenser too. Help yourself.”
“What should I get you?”
I looked up from arranging the cheese and condiments with hamburger patties on the buns. “Beer, if there is any in the fridge. Let’s hope Colton had some decency of replenishing my stash.”
She smiled and left. A moment later she returned with a large glass of water and a bottle of Belgian Amber.
“That’s what you found in the fridge?” I asked incredulously, pointing to the beer bottle.
Lisbeth nodded, looking at me and then back at the beer in her hand. “Something wrong?”
“This is a crap of a beer. Let me see.” I went past her and inside the cabin. I rummaged in the fridge, but the only kind of beer I found in there was what she already brought me. I opened the pantry, but there was none inside. “I’m gonna kill him,” I muttered under my breath.
“Who?” Lisbeth followed me and now stood in the kitchen, unsure of what to do.
“Colton. That kid has no decent taste when it comes to the adult beverages. He loves this piss-of-a-beer and thinks everyone else should too.”
“Is there a store anywhere close by?” she asked. It was charming how concerned she sounded over this.
“A few in Lincoln City. Not far at all. But don’t worry about it. I will humor myself and drink that shit. It’s okay.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.” I wasn’t used to women fussing over me. But I decided I liked it when Lisbeth did.
She stood, chewing on her lip again, and once more I averted my eyes. I couldn’t stand to watch her mouth like that and not devour it with mine. This was going to be a long few days.
We ate outside, sitting together on the bench that faced the water. Only two boats and one kayak were left on the Lake. The sun started its slow decent, even though it wasn’t late just yet. Lisbeth ate only half of one hamburger and insisted she wasn’t hungry anymore. I brought a bag of chips from the pantry, but she didn’t have any of those either.
I had two burgers, a lot of chips, and three beers already, and I could still eat more. But I decided not to give her an impression that I was a pig who couldn’t stop himself. When did I start feel conscientious around a woman?
We sat in silence, watching the serenity of the water, each of us deep in our own thoughts. A breeze from the Lake stirred the warm air. It felt good and refreshing.
“I’m tired, but I would like to take a rain check on those s’mores,” Lisbeth said quietly. “Do you mind if I go and lay down?”
“Not at all. You know where your bedroom is.”
She nodded. “It’s so pleasant here. I will keep the window open, if that’s okay.”
“It sure is. Just close it before it gets dark.”
Her smile disappeared. Keeping the windows closed and all doors locked was a necessary precaution, but to ease her worries, I said, “I just noticed that the screen in your window has a tear, and you want to keep the mosquitoes out. I’ll patch it up tomorrow.”
“Ah, of course.” Lisbeth laughed nervously, but she sounded relieved. “Makes sense.”
Chapter Fourteen
LISBETH
My eyes started to close, and my whole body felt unusually heavy. I needed to lie down and rest right away. I never felt tired so suddenly, but the stress got the better of me. I was a nervous wreck, no matter how well I tried to conceal it.
I didn’t want Ethan to think I was so freaked out all the time that I would possibly become a huge problem for him. The important thing was to get myself together and keep it together. This was my resolution, and I had to stick with it. Besides, keeping my head clear would be helpful in case the gang found us.
That thought alone scared me to death. I took three long, cleansing breaths, doing it slowly so Ethan wouldn’t notice. He sat next to me, staring at the Lake. It was a beautiful scene, with the sun moving lower toward the horizon. From the corner of my eye, I saw him stretch his arms above his head. I turned to watch. His chest expanded, the shirt stretching tautly over hard slabs of muscle.
The short sleeve of his t-shirt rose up over his bulging bicep. A tiny piece of a tattoo peeked from under the fabric. It must have been on his shoulder and not much past it; maybe over his back too? I wanted so badly to see it, but my eyes felt too heavy and my mouth didn’t want to form any words. So I only told him that I need to lie down and asked if it was okay with him if I went upstairs to my bedroom.
A few moments after I sat on the bed, there was a knock on the door. I turned my head and said, “Come in.”
Ethan brought my backpack from downstairs. “You might need this. And here’s a new bottle of shampoo, a conditioner, and some soap. Let me know if you need anything else. I don’t have much in here, but I can always scramble a thing or two.”
“I think I’m fine. Thank you.” I smiled weakly at him.
Right before he closed the door behind him, I called out, “Ethan!”
He stuck his head back in, raising his eyebrows in a silent
question.
“Thank you for everything,” I said, blushing.
“Don’t mention it.” There was a tiny smile playing on his lips.
God, he was gorgeous—so masculine and confident. Even though I’ve never cared for such imposing-type men, the truth was... Ethan was irresistible. I had no idea how and when I had possibly gone from fuming at his arrogance to this—melting at the sight of him. Maybe I was just too exhausted to think straight.
I reached for my backpack and dug inside, pulling out a clean tank top and a pair of underwear. My pajamas, the only pair I owned, were gone. Destroyed with a several pieces of clothing I left by the washing machine in the warehouse.
I swapped my boots for a pair of simple, rubber flip-flops and carrying the shampoo, conditioner, and the soap, together with the change of clothes, I marched to the bathroom. It was located past Ethan’s bedroom, but I knew he was still outside, watching the Lake. I saw him from my window before I left for the bathroom. That made me feel more comfortable.
I locked the door behind me and undressed, feeling weird as if someone was watching me. It was strange, taking a shower and sleeping in Ethan’s cabin. Regardless of everything else, I barely knew him.
A large, oval mirror over the sink mercilessly showed my reflection. I have lost a lot of weight lately. My ribs were more defined under my skin, and the softness from the front of my hips was gone. It was replaced with the sharp edges of the hip bones.
I didn’t like what I saw, especially the dark circles under my eyes, messy hair, and sunken cheeks. The light from my eyes was gone, and my face looked so much older than I remembered it.
I turned the shower on, and waited for the water to get warmer. It didn’t take long, and I was rewarded with the soothing feel and the gentle sound of the running water.
I sighed and let myself enjoy that sensation. My eyes closed, and I felt as light as a feather. The water caressed my shoulders and my back. I wanted to stay like this for a long time, but the fatigue was getting stronger, and it was becoming harder to ignore it.
The shampoo smelled like pine needles. I liked it a lot. It made my hair feel soft and it rinsed off easily. Next, a bit of the conditioner went onto the ends of my hair. I generously lathered myself with the soap and scrubbed every inch of my skin, removing the grime of this tragic day.
After a while I decided it was time to get off the shower and return to my bedroom. I rinsed myself off, turned off the water, and reached for a white, fluffy towel waiting for me by the sink. Ethan must have left it there on his way downstairs. That was quite thoughtful of him, even though he told me where the linen closet was. Still, I would probably forget to bring a towel and now I would stand here, dripping wet.
I left the shampoo and other things in the shower for Ethan. Or for the next time I returned to get cleaned up. I realized I forgot to get my hairbrush from my backpack. My hair was tangled as I dried it with the towel, and I tried to use my fingers to separate the knots, but to no avail. I gave up and, instead looked around.
Not many items were in this bathroom, with the exception of the washcloths in a round metal basket on the counter and two clean hand towels hanging from the towel rings on the wall. A small blue rug lied on the floor, its color matching the shower curtain. There was a round bar of soap in an antique-looking holder standing between two sinks. I carefully picked it up to examine it closer. It was shaped like one of those birdbaths that could be spotted in some nice gardens.
I put it back down and pulled my tank top and underwear on. Walking back to my bedroom in skimpy clothes was out of the question. But I eyed Chris’s garments that now lied in a heap on the floor. I kneeled down and sniffed the pants. They smelled of smoke. My bath towel seemed like a much better option, even though it was quite damp. I wrapped it around myself, scooped the dirty clothing and my boots off the floor, and opened the bathroom door.
Peeking outside, I prayed Ethan wasn’t anywhere close. The last thing I wanted was for him to see me barely dressed. The hallway was quiet. I stood in the door, waiting for any sound that would testify to his presence. Nothing. I waited some more. Finally, I felt too tired to stay there any longer. I padded back to my bedroom. As soon as I was about to open my door, I heard soft steps on the stairs. Quickly, without making any noise I slid inside and closed the door behind me.
“That was close,” I whispered to myself.
The bed looked so inviting. I dropped everything on the floor and found the hairbrush in my backpack. I closed the window, remembering what Ethan said about the mosquitos, sat on the bed, and ran the brush through my tangled hair. Finally, I gave up on fighting with those stubborn curls and slid under the covers. Sleep came quickly, like a thief in the night.
Sometime later, I woke up, startled. I couldn’t place this room. I didn’t know where I was. My heart pounded in my chest, and I had a difficult time getting enough oxygen into my lungs. It was a panic attack. I squeezed my eyes shut and forced myself to slow down my frantic breathing. “I am not having a panic attack. It was just a bad dream,” I kept repeating loudly.
The door flew open. Ethan barged into the room. “Lisbeth, what’s going on? Are you okay?”
He turned the light on, and I winced, covering my face with the crook of my arm. I was shaking and kept repeating my mantra.
“Where are your pills?” he asked.
I didn’t answer. I couldn’t break the mantra. I had to keep going. This was the way to beat the panic attack. I’d done it before. I was going to do it again. “I am not having a panic attack. It was just a bad dream. I am not having a panic attack. It was just a—”
He gently pressed his finger to my lips and said, “Shhhh, you’re fine. Breathe, Lisbeth. Just breathe. Like that, you see? Good. Shhhh. Breathe.” He smiled and gently stroked my hair. “I will get your meds.” Although he spoke in a soothing voice, there was a raspy edge to it. I liked it. I concentrated on that calming sound of his voice.
“Are they in your backpack?”
I nodded once.
Ethan stood up and came back with the backpack. He dumped everything on the bed, and when he didn’t see the medicine container, he looked in the front pocket. There it was, together with two sticks of a chewing gum, and a pen.
“I’ll bring you some water. Will be right back. Do not get up. Just breathe slowly for me. Can you do that?”
I grabbed his hand. “Don’t go. Talk.”
He looked questioningly at me.
“Talk,” I repeated. “No matter what about.” I closed my eyes. My heart slowed down a notch. It was easier now. Ethan made it easier.
“There was a small village in Afghanistan, close to where we were stationed,” he started in a voice barely above whisper. “They raised some skinny goats there, mostly for milk. That milk was the best I’ve ever had in my life. But really the best milk came from this funny-looking goat owned by an old woman. I would always bring her a little gift—a notepad, a pair of socks, a bar of dark chocolate.” He smiled. His gaze seemed unseeing, watching something that nobody else could see.
I realized I was still clutching onto his hand, so I let go, embarrassed.
Ethan turned his face back to me. For a fleeting moment, he looked surprised, disappointed even. But then it was gone, and he continued, “One day, the woman asked for a tube of toothpaste. She wanted specifically the Sensodyne. I was amazed how she even knew the brand name, until I saw that she had it written down in English. The note read: SENSODYNE. A TOOTHPASTE FOR SENSITIVE TEETH. She must’ve gotten it from another American soldier.”
“Did you bring her that toothpaste?” I asked.
He smiled and nodded. “Yep, sure did. She was very happy, pointing to the goat and speaking in her native language, which I didn’t understand. I got curious though, when she kept pointing to that goat. I managed to let her know that I didn’t understand, so she motioned for me to follow her.” He closed his eyes and shook his head, grinning.
“What?”
&nb
sp; “She wanted to brush the goat’s teeth with Sensodyne. Actually, she did, and I watched the whole thing. It was something to behold.”
“You can’t be serious.” I propped myself up on my elbow and realized that my panic attack completely ended. I felt almost normal again. What a relief.
“I am. She really cleaned the goat’s teeth. She would put the toothpaste on a small rug, wrap it around her finger, and, holding the goat tight by its neck, she would rub the Sensodyne onto the animal’s teeth. Then she would quickly wipe its teeth with another wet cloth.”
“And the goat stood still for that?” I couldn’t believe such a crazy tale.
“Not really, but it didn’t freak out as it should.” He shrugged. “It was a strange animal.”
“Unbelievable.”
“Yep. I wonder if the milk from that goat tasted so much better because its teeth were clean.” He chuckled.
I laughed too. I imagined a grinning goat, its teeth sparkling, like in a Sensodyne commercial. The visual was so funny that I couldn’t stop laughing until the tears prickled my eyes. “This is the most hilarious story I’ve heard in a long time!”
“Oh, I could tell you some crazy stuff you would never believe.”
I wiped my eyes and blinked a few times. Then I remember why Ethan was here. “I’m so sorry. I woke you up and freaked you out too.”
“Nah, it’s okay. I wasn’t sleeping. Glad you’re better though. Ready to go back to sleep?”
“I’ll try.” I turned onto my side, hugging the pillow and looking in front of me. I could see Ethan from the corner of my eye.
“Good,” he said in that deliciously hoarse voice and quickly put everything back into my backpack. “Look, if you... if this happens again, just knock on this wall.” He pointed to the wall behind my headboard. “This separates our bedrooms, and I don’t sleep much. I read into the wee hours, so no worries if you need any help.”
“Okay,” I said quietly. “Thank you, Ethan. I’m such a burden.”
“Nonsense.” He stood up and walked to the door. He turned around and added, “Never think of yourself as a burden. We all need help from time to time. Such is life.
The XOXO New Adult Collection: 16 Full Length New Adult Stories Page 189