Thorned Heart (Cash Me Outside 2)

Being on the road with these guys, we’ve all seen our fair share of sexcapades and wild shit. We learned fast to ignore what each other was doing, but hearing Jasper and his random girl for two weeks reminds me of the life I just promised Thorne I’m trying to give up.

Sleep eludes me, and I’m exhausted by the time we land in Montana. Dawn is breaking in the distance, and there’s a team of people waiting for us in what has to be the smallest private airfield in the US.

They take our bags and lead us to the Escalades we’ve rented.

As soon as the doors open, and the icy air hits us, we all gasp.

“Oh holy mother of my nuts are now inside my body,” Andrew hisses. “Maybe I should have gone home to pack some clothes?”

“I’ll buy you some.”

We rush to get into the awaiting cars.

Thorne gets in the driver’s seat of ours, while Andrew and I take the very back row and Cash and Locke are in the middle.

The other four get into the second SUV.

“Where actually is this place?” I ask Cash.

“In a valley near Lone Mountain.”

I frown. “We’re heading to the middle of nowhere Montana. Are you sure this owner dude isn’t going to kill us?”

Cash laughs. “He’s an ex-boy bander from Eleven. The worst he might do is kill us with his horrible boy band dance moves.”

“Ooh, I love Eleven.” Andrew bounces next to me. “Which one is it?”

Cash looks at Andrew, and I know that expression. His brow is furrowed, and his lips are pursed. He’s trying to decide whether to lie or tell the truth. “It doesn’t matter because he told me he won’t be there anyway.”

I sit up straighter. “How did you get tangled up with Eleven? Where was I when that happened?”

Cash turns to me. “Remember when we met them, like, years ago through that Joystar benefit concert?”

I try to remember.

“Actually, come to think of it, I don’t think you stayed long after our set. Anyway, their people gave Thorne all their contact details. It’s how I got Ryder to produce the vocals on our Bleeding Heart album.”

“So, it’s Ryder?” Andrew asks.

“Nope. Anyway, I’m kinda friends with all of them, and I may or may not have blackmailed my way into scoring this cabin for the two weeks. He’s been hiding out here since he disappeared from Hollywood, and no one’s found him yet.”

“Blackmailed?” I ask.

“Yeah, you know, big boy band breakup, blah, blah, drama, blah. The others from Eleven are looking for him. I miiiight have used that to my advantage.”

I smile at my best friend. “I’m getting worried. You make us play Katy Perry at concerts, you’ve befriended a boy band. You’re not trying to turn us into a pop band, are you?”

Cash doesn’t answer for way too long for my liking. “Nah, your ugly mug couldn’t pull off pop.”

“Fuck off, I can pull off everything.” Though I’m sure they’d want me to shave my beard and cut my hair if that was the case.

“Oh, so you’re open to putting some pop on the next album?” Cash asks.

“I take it back. I’m too ugly to be pop.”

The plows must’ve been through in the middle of the night, because as the sun rises over the snowy land, a blanket of white surrounds the singular road driving through the hilly terrain.

As we drive around the winding roads, the picture outside the windows is one of beauty. A snow-capped mountain in the distance with sunlight breaking over the peak. The stillness of dawn and no one else on the road adds to the ambiance.

It’s ... peaceful.

This vacation is exactly what I need.

We reach a large gate, and Thorne opens the driver’s side window and punches in a code.

Andrew shivers at the frigid air filling the car. He has his fur jacket on, but his legs are completely bare.

I pull them into my lap and rub them, trying to warm them up.

“We’re here,” Thorne grumbles from upfront, but we’re not moving. He scowls at me in the mirror. I raise my eyebrows.

Whatever stare-off we’re having, he ends it first and goes back to the road.

The house is what feels like miles from the gated entry, and when I say house, I’m putting it mildly.

I let out a whistle as the wooden structure comes into view.

It’s not a cabin. In no world could this monstrosity be called a cabin.

“Holy shit,” I whisper as we climb out of the car.

“Holy shit is right,” Andrew says. “It’s freezing.” He bypasses looking at the amazing view and heads straight for the front door.

“Not bad, huh?” Cash nudges me. “I’ll go let your toy in before he freezes all the important parts you’ll need to have fun with him.”

I grin like I can’t wait because that’s how I should be feeling. Instead, I can’t stop regretting disappointing Thorne. I don’t know why this is different to any other time I’ve done it, but it is.