1001 Dark Nights Short Story Anthology 2020

by Fiona Archer

  When we came in from the beach, I almost told her in the hallway, but I wimped out. After a stern talk with myself in the bathroom mirror, I made up my mind to tell her how I feel over dinner. With our friends as witnesses, she has to believe I mean every word I’ve rehearsed a few hundred times. Carter raps his knuckles on my door a couple of times to signal they’re ready.

  After one last pep talk, I open the door…and watch my plans circle the drain.

  “Where’s Ensley?” It’s a rhetorical question. She’s with Rick, I already know.

  “She took Rick up on his offer.” Carter shrugs nonchalantly and continues walking toward the stairs.

  He’s all cavalier while my world is knocked off its axis.

  When we step into the lobby, crowds of people are milling about, the low roar of their voices echoing off the walls. Outside, the wind blows harder than it did less than an hour ago. The rain pelting against the glass sounds like tiny pebbles hitting it. The three of us head toward the restaurant’s hostess stand and wait to be seated. While we chat, my mind returns to Ensley and Rick. Are they eating down here too? Will I have to watch them together? Or did they opt to dine in his room, reserving the option for a special after-dinner dessert?

  On the way to our table, I glance around the room but don’t see Ensley anywhere. The realization she’s with another man slams into my gut with the force of a sledgehammer. But I did this, so I have no one else to blame.

  “Jake, you look sick. Are you okay?” Chloe seems genuinely concerned, so she hasn’t connected the dots yet.

  “Yeah, I’m fine.” I lie my ass off.

  Over dinner, the summer storm becomes increasingly worse. Black clouds make the night seem darker, and the howling wind adds an extra measure of unease to the air. When a deck chair hurls into the side of the building, almost everyone in the dining room jumps and gasps.

  “I think we’re in for a wild ride tonight, kids.” I incline my head toward the windows where the wind is whipping, and the rain is now horizontal. “We should probably check the local news.”

  “Yeah, that’s a good idea, Jake.” Carter motions for the check, then we hurry out as fast as possible.

  The lobby is eerily quiet as everyone listens to the anchorman on the local television station.

  “This hurricane caught us by surprise. Everyone should take shelter immediately. All flights are grounded. If you’re at the airport, contact your hotel to ask if they have space for you. If you can’t find a room within the next two hours, don’t leave the airport.”

  The weatherman explains it started as a tropical storm that seemed to have fizzled out over the colder waters of the Atlantic. It regrouped and picked up steam when it hit the warm waters of the Caribbean, quickly turning into a dangerous hurricane that’ll grow stronger the closer it gets to the island. When the outer bands reach land, he predicts it’ll be at least a Category 3.

  “We have to find Ensley.” She’s my first priority. Once I know she’s safe, then I can focus on what we should do next. “Where did they go?”

  “She’s in the room, in her pajamas enjoying room service. Carter was messing with you.” Chloe at least has the decency to look ashamed.

  “Remind me to kick your ass later, Carter.” I’m simultaneously relieved and pissed.

  We run back to the room, all of us filing into the two-bedroom condo together. Ensley is reading while enjoying a glass of wine. She looks up, wide-eyed and confused when she sees me rushing toward her.

  “What’s happening?” She places the book on the couch beside her.

  “Ens, we’re about to experience our first hurricane. You should put your clothes on—wear your sneakers, not sandals.” I help her up, her hand in mine, and pull her into the bedroom.

  “Jake, what the hell are you doing?”

  “Baby, I have so much to say, but not right now. We don’t have much time, so let me help you, okay?” I go through her clothes, pulling out a shirt, denim capris, socks, and shoes. “These will give you the most protection.”

  “All right.” She tries to hide her fear, but I see it in her eyes.

  “We’ll be okay.” I try to reassure her, but I’ve never experienced this before. I can only go on what little knowledge I have about these massive storms. All I know is I can’t let anything happen to her.

  I leave the room, giving her privacy to change, and turn on the television in the living area. The same news is on every local channel, so we settle in to listen to the latest. They repeat much of what we’ve already heard, but the updates from the National Hurricane Center are grim. Our island is in the direct path, and there’s nowhere to run.

  Ensley emerges from the bedroom and chooses the seat beside me. That small act means so much. “What can we do to help? I’ll go crazy if I sit here and do nothing.”

  “Good idea, baby. The hotels are about to be overrun with people. I can offer my room and sleep here on the couch.”

  “Let’s move your stuff, then talk to the front desk clerk.” Ensley is on the move toward the door before I’ve had time to stand. But she doesn’t have to ask me twice.

  She takes the keycard from my hand and unlocks the door. Then she stops in her tracks when she sees my suitcase still packed and only a few articles of clothing removed. “Did you plan to live out of your suitcase this week?”

  I chuckle. “No, I planned to live in my swim shorts.”

  After a few minutes, my belongings are packed and stowed in the larger condo. Ensley and I take the stairs two at a time until we reach the lobby. While I considered it full earlier, now it’s packed to the brim with people looking for safe lodging in the storm. The front desk clerks yell over the noise, trying to help each family, though their hands are tied.

  “Ensley, there’s no vacancy here. How will they decide who to give my room to out of all these people?” My gaze drifts around the room, then lands on Ensley when she doesn’t respond.

  Her eyes are locked on a target, and I know without asking that she’s already made a choice. When I look in the same general direction, all I can do is nod. A young couple holds their newborn twins tightly to their chests. Unchecked tears stream down the mom’s face as she rubs her baby’s back.

  “I’ll give them the keycards.”

  “I’ll find out if we can get cribs for the room. Don’t wait for me—take them to the room. I’ll catch up.”

  Though I’m hesitant to separate, this family does need to get away from the mob before it turns angry. I approach the couple and ask them to follow me. A cautious glance passes between them, but they do as I ask.

  We step into the stairwell, and I extend two room keys. “Take my room. My friends are staying here, and I’m crashing on their couch. We’re also asking for a couple of cribs, but no promises there.”

  Sobs break free from the mother, and she pulls me into a grateful embrace with the baby between us. “Thank you so much. Our flights are canceled. We have nowhere to go. I’m so afraid for our babies. You’re a lifesaver.”

  “Glad we can help.” I tell them the room number, and we part, with them heading upstairs while I go to find Ensley.

  The lobby is a madhouse. I’ve scoured the room, but she’s not here. I work my way to the front desk and verify she did ask for the cribs, but they don’t know where she went afterward. I run my fingers through my hair in frustration. Debris flies past the all-glass wall facing the beach. A hurricane is bearing down on us, and Ensley pulls a disappearing act. A quick call upstairs confirms she’s not with Carter and Chloe. Knowing Ensley, that only leaves one option.

  Someone else is in trouble, and she had to help them.

  That trait was one of the original reasons I fell in love with her. Over time, I took her empathy toward others for granted, then began to resent it. Faulting her for taking the time to help others only made me a selfish asshole. I realized that fact when she spotted the couple with twins.

  Everyone is staying away from the windows, with good reason, making
that the only place left to stand with any elbow room. I put my arm up on the glass and rest my forehead on it, concern settling in my gut like a lead balloon. Movement on the docks catches my attention, and I strain my eyes to get a good look. A conversation from behind me filters into my ears, and the puzzle is instantly solved.

  “Did you hear? A family is riding out the storm in their boat since all the rooms are full. That’s the last place I’d be in a hurricane.”

  Without hesitating, I push the door open and run into the gale-force winds. I sprint toward the section of the marina where I saw long blond hair blowing wildly.

  “Ensley!” I yell her name repeatedly, though she probably can’t hear me over the howling gusts.

  Then I see her climbing out of a smaller yacht with a toddler on her hip. Once she’s on the pier, she turns to help an elderly couple with her free hand. A large piece of tin roofing flies through the air directly at her. She drops to the ground and uses her body to shield the child. The boat rocks violently, slamming into the wood on both sides of the slip. Even as far away as I am, I hear the wood snapping in two.

  My worst fears play out in front of my eyes, but I’m still too far away to stop it. With a loud pop, one side of the dock fractures, falling into the water while the other side barely hangs on by its nails. Ensley tosses the child onto the stable part of the boardwalk before she tumbles into the turbulent water between the boat and the submerged wood. Only the bowline is still secured, almost assuring the weight of the ship will crush her with the next big wave.

  My legs move faster than I ever thought they could. When I reach the splintered slip, the yacht lists toward her faster than she can climb out. I plant my feet on the broken dock, place my hands on the hull, and push with all my might.

  “Get out of there, Ensley! Hurry!” The next wave may take us both out.

  She uses the wood slats as a makeshift ladder then scurries to the other side to secure the ropes. I rush to her side, shoot a glare in her direction, and take over helping the couple exit the rocking boat.

  “Have you lost your mind?”

  “What? I couldn’t leave them out here to die.” She looks at me as if I’m the crazy one in this scenario.

  Maybe I am. I followed her into an imminent hurricane, after all.

  Trusting she knows what she’s doing, I follow her lead as she takes them inside the hotel. When we reach our room, Carter and Chloe meet us at the door. Neither seems surprised at Ensley, soaking wet and bringing in strays. They accept it’s part of who she is, and they love her even more for it.

  Chloe disappears in the kitchen for a few minutes, then returns with drinks and snacks for everyone, especially the little girl with the big blue eyes. After tears of relief and saying “thank you” repeatedly, they settle in the corner of the couch as one unit. They wrap their arms around each other, and their granddaughter is securely tucked in the middle. Ensley turns on a movie to distract the child from the carnage outside before retreating to her bedroom.

  Though the timing isn’t ideal, this feels like a now-or-never deal. After a few minutes, I follow and sit next to her at the foot of the bed.

  “Are we going to die?” She doesn’t sound overly dramatic. I’m surprised at her even tone.

  “No. I refuse to allow that.”

  She tilts her head toward me, her cheek almost touching her shoulder, and gives me a small smile. “Well, that clears it up.”

  I turn toward her and take her hands in mine. Man up, Jake.

  “Ens, I have to say this. I’ve learned something about myself in the last few weeks. I’m an asshole and a moron, and I’ve done nothing to deserve you, but there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.

  “Living without you only proved I’m an even bigger fool than I realized. I’ve known we belong together from the moment we met. I took you for granted. No matter what the future brings, I’ll be by your side. If you’ll have me again, that is.”

  “Is this end-of-the-world remorse?”

  “No. It’s I’m-the-idiot-who-let-Ensley-get-away remorse.”

  Chapter Three

  Ensley

  I can’t answer Jake right away. The pain of our breakup is still fresh, and the reason behind it knocked the breath out of me.

  I. Wasn’t. Enough.

  He had to know if there was something better waiting for him.

  A few weeks ago, I would’ve jumped at the chance to reconcile. But the more time he put between us, the more I questioned our entire relationship. He claims to have realized his faults and wants to make amends. We’re in a deadly situation and facing mortality skews reality. When my grandfather died, distant relatives promised we’d be a better family. They had good intentions but lacked conviction when life returned to normal.

  Will that happen with Jake?

  To avoid dissecting that question, I keep busy with menial tasks.

  “Not that we’ll get much sleep tonight, but what are the sleeping arrangements?” Jake follows me into the kitchen, where we’re alone.

  “Our guests can have the sleeper sofa. You and I are adults. We can share a bed in a hurricane without it being awkward.”

  “Fine with me. I’m going to lie down before the worst hits. You should too.”

  “You’re probably right. It’s been a long day.”

  On the way to the bedroom, I notice a paper the hotel staff slipped under the door. It instructs us to stay inside even if it looks calm, away from windows, and be ready to flee. The slow-moving storm could take all night to pass us. If our building stays intact, we’ll deal with the outside carnage tomorrow.

  We leave the TV on to listen to the weather updates, praying the storm will turn and miss us. Even as frightened as I am, sleep overtakes me the second I close my eyes. When I wake, the power is out, and a hard, warm body presses against mine. His arm drapes protectively over my side, holding me close.

  Lying in the dark, listening to the violence swirling outside, I finally admit my heart still belongs to Jake. I turn toward him and find he’s already awake.

  “Did you mean what you said? I wasn’t enough for you two months ago, but now I am. How do I know we won’t be in the same place in a few months?”

  “You were always enough. I didn’t think I was good enough. I’m yours, come hell and high water. I’ll be true through the good and bad times. You’re all I want and need, exactly as you are. I love you, Ensley.” He kisses the tip of my nose, content with our current contact.

  But I’m not.

  Despite the warnings or the sounds of wreckage outside, we move in unison to undress. Desperate to touch and hungry to reconnect, we find ourselves when we’re lost in each other. The storm swirling outside is no comparison to the one inside us that sends us over the edge of ecstasy many times. I shudder and shake under his touch, sinking my teeth in his skin to remain quiet.

  He watches me with rapt attention as the intense pleasure rolls through my body before claiming his own. He stills for a moment, then resumes with slow movements. His thumbs stroke my cheeks, and he stares deep into my eyes, never breaking contact.

  “I love you. Always. Marry me.”

  Tears spring to my eyes, and I nod, accepting his proposal for a new life together.

  After we clean up and get dressed again, we quietly emerge from the bedroom. Everyone is in the kitchen, munching on whatever doesn’t have to be cooked.

  “Any word?” I ask the room.

  “The worst part has passed. All that’s left are the rainbands and possible flooding. Maybe we can go out and watch the sunrise.” Chloe pulls her hair into a messy bun on the way out.

  When we step outside, the narrative is clear.

  The storm caused some damage, and people were hurt. But we’re alive and thankful for what we have. Some didn’t know what they had until they nearly lost it, but everything worked out for the best in the end. The building sustained cosmetic damage, but the foundation is solid.

  “I’ll be marooned on an island wi
th you anytime.” Jake wraps his arms around me from behind and plants a kiss on my cheek.

  This may be the best vacation I’ve ever had.

  Copyright 2020 A.D. Justice

  About A.D. Justice

  Thank you for reading MAROONED. I hope you enjoyed getting to know these characters as much as I enjoyed writing them.

  Ready for more? Warning: Part One is free on all platforms. Meet the anti-hero mafia capo, Damon Marchetti. Click for more information: https://geni.us/warningone

  * * * *

  A.D. Justice is the USA Today bestselling author of numerous books, including the Steele Security Series.

  When she's not writing, she's spending time with her own alpha male character in their North Georgia mountain home. She is also an avid reader of romance novels, a master at procrastination, a chocolate sommelier, a twister of words, and speaks fluent sarcasm. An avid animal lover, A.D. Justice has two horses, three cats, and two very spoiled dogs.

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  A Wolfe’s Desire

  by

  Asa Maria Bradley

  Chapter 1

  Magnus Flink adjusted the collar of his tuxedo shirt and wished he could undo the top button, but that would make his bowtie lopsided. As much as he hated formal dress, the tux was more than just clothing in this environment. It was protection.

  The members of Denver’s high society, currently mingling in the lobby of the Museum of Art, pretended to be the closest of friends, but any fashion faux pas counted as a chink in one’s armor. Magnus never showed weakness.