Only Her

“Good night,” they told him.

Chapter 18

The cabin was deep in the woods. No one would ever find her. Skylar was sure of it. She was sure that is why Tag had chosen this particular place. She wasn’t sure how far she was from home.

He had headed north. She knew that much. He had gotten off the main highway about twenty miles north and headed east. It felt like Tag had driven a hundred miles on the old, two lane roads; going on forever. There were so many turns and winding back streets she would never remember them all.

Then he turned off a main thoroughfare and drove up a hill. “Where are we Tag?”

?

??I told you I rented a cabin.”

He stopped in front of the single story cabin and parked the truck. Reaching in the back, he grabbed his rifle. “Do you need that?”

He hesitated but he took it with him anyway. Skylar sighed tiredly. She followed him, bare footed, watching the ground to be sure she didn’t step on something. Tag followed her up the steps to the wide front porch. She waited for him to open the door. Reaching around her Tag unlocked the door and stepped back so she could go in first.

It was basic inside. A sofa with red and blue plaid material sat in front of the window. A stone fireplace to the left of it. A heavy, wooden dining set with four chairs to the right centered beneath a wrought iron cross with a light hanging from each point. He flipped a switch and the room was illuminated in a soft glow.

Skylar saw a small galley kitchen behind the dining area. A loft overhead where she assumed was the bedroom.

“Chloe’s birthday is next week,” she told him. “She was coming home today. We haven’t seen her in months. I was planning a party for her tomorrow.”

“Well I’m sorry that my life couldn’t fall apart at a more convenient time for you, Skylar. Mother just removed me today from the board of directors at the bank.”

She sat on the sofa and pulled her feet up to her chest. “I didn’t mean it that way Tag.”

He went to the kitchen and searched through the fridge; returning with an opened beer can. He sat in one of the tables beneath the hanging cross. The light brighter there than where she was sitting. He propped his rifle between his legs and took a good long slug of his beer. His phone had been vibrating since they left Haley Cove. He glanced at it again before he silenced it.

“Who keeps calling you Tag?” Skylar asked.

“My mother.”

“Maybe you should let her know you’re all right,” Sky suggested.

His eyes traveled up to her face. A sadness that she had never known existed in him before was evident in there now. “I don’t think she cares.”

“I bet she does. I’m a mom. I know how these things work.”

“I don’t give a damn,” he shouted. “She should have thought of that. You should have thought of that.” He leaned back in his chair.

Skylar turned and glanced out the window. The moonlight bounced off the top of his truck. Where did he leave the keys? In the truck? She looked around and didn’t see them.

“Talk to me Tag,” she begged him still looking out the window.

“What do you want to talk about Sky?” She glanced over her shoulder at him. He was downing the beer at the table. He rose and got another. “After I thought about it I still feel like I love you Skylar but maybe we were better at fucking than communicating.”

“Maybe,” she agreed. “Did you want to hurt me when you shot off those rounds while I was on Majestic?”

He tossed the empty can in the trash and grabbed another beer. His rifle was sitting by the table. Skylar contemplated grabbing it and turning the tables on Tag. He took his beer and sat down; popping the top on the can. He took another long drink.

“No, I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just wanted to scare you.”

“Why did you do it?” She asked. Sky kept her voice soft not wanting to piss him off.

“I was pissed. You chose Luka.”

“I didn’t choose anyone, Tag. We aren’t dating.”