Two
Amari
He thinks I don’t notice, but he’s watching me. He’s always watching me. And until six months ago, I didn’t mind. I relished his attention. I craved it. I put myself insituations where he would be the one to rescue me. He was the one person in my life I could depend on. Until I couldn’t. He was like everyone else I trusted—he disappointed me.
But Caden did nothing halfway—he disappointed me with a flourish.
Asshole.
My dad sent him to watch over me. No amount of begging or pleading with my father would dissuade him. I was a college student with a security detail.They crept around in the shadows and tried to blend in. He thought I didn’t notice. I noticed.
In the mountains with Caden in proximity pissed me off, but I ignored him. As long as he didn’t bother me, I wouldn’t bother him, and he could freeze his ass off in that shed for all I cared.
The weather was tame for this time of year.A few flurries dusted the ground, but the town plowed the roadsdaily.
The cabin was my favorite place on earth. It was the last place I spent with my mother before she died. It heldhappy memories that didn’t include Caden.
Once I hung up the phone, Icleaned up my breakfast dishes, and got dressed.
The temperature outside hovered between twenty and third degrees. I wore wool leggings and a long cashmere sweat to stave off the cold. A thick pair of sock and boots finished my ensemble.
The keyless starter on my Jeep sat on the table. I pressed the button and wrapped up in my scarf, gloves, hat, and coat while the car warmed.
I stepped out onto the porch and surveyed my surroundings. Movement to my right made me pause. I couldn’t pinpoint where it came from. Achill ran up my spine. I pulled my coat closed around me.
I skipped down the steps and slid into the warmed SUV. As I sat behind the wheel, my gaze drifted towardsthe shed. It wasn’t visible from the cabin.
I pictured Caden in the little room; using a small fire pit and the awful tea he drank to warm himself. I almost felt sorry for him. Almost.
I put the car in park and eased my way out of the driveway and towards the main road.
The car skidded on a small turn, but I maneuvered through it and smiled.
A memory of learning to drive in the snow flashed in my mind. I didn’t cling to it for too long. His betrayal taintedmy happy memories. He ruined us before we got started.
I’ll never forgive him for it.
My phone rang on my drive back to the house from town. The cabin sat in Pemberton Valley in the shadows of Whistler Mountain. It was a cute little one-street town, but with tourists coming to Whistler for the holidays, the town buzzed to life.
I looked at the caller ID and groaned. It was one of my dad’s assistants, Anna.
“Yes.”
“Ms. McCoy.” Her high-pitched voice grated my last nerve. “Your father asked me to call you and see if you would reconsider coming home for Christmas. He will send you the jet.”
“He could come up here,” I offered, knowing he wouldn’t.
She sighed. She knew it too.
“Amari, please.” Begging wasn’t new for her. No one liked to disappoint my father. “It would make him so happy.”
“I’m sure it would, but there’s only one problem.” I waited for her to ask.
The phone remained silent for thirty seconds.
“What’s the problem?” She relented.
“I don’t live my life to make my father happy.” I slowed the truckand turned off the main road onto the narrow street that led to the cabin.
