And especially, all the times she had slept in my bed during our brief relationship. Brief, but more impactful than any of the few other relationships I’d had .
And how much I’d missed it when she was gone .
I turned into the long private road that led to the cabin and parked. It was one step up from a dirt road. I held my finger to my lips as the girls carefully opened the doors and got out. Becky stirred a bit, but she didn’t wake up .
Not even when the girls closed the doors softly behind them .
I sat there, almost afraid to breath. But I could look at her now. I could look as much as I wanted .
It was another ten or fifteen minutes before her eyelids fluttered open. In that time, I’d nearly convinced myself that she was with me by choice .
That she still wanted me .
And for a split second, she sure seemed to. Her pretty eyes softened when she saw me, lighting up with something magical. She smiled and stretched .
Then she froze, her eyes shooting back to me in shock .
“Whiskey ?”
My voice was raw when I answered her .
“Hey, Becks .”
“How long have we been parked here ?”
“Not long. You seemed like you needed the rest .”
“You… sat here with me ?”
I exhaled, wondering if I should make a move. I took her hand, lacing my thick fingers through her dainty little ones .
“Somebody has to keep an eye on you .”
We stared into each other’s eyes for what felt like forever. Her eyes were searching, raw with emotion. So were mine, I imagined .
And then she pulled away, shaking her head. I watched her get out of the car and straighten her pretty dress .
“You should have woken me .”
She shut the door and walked up the steps to the party, taking a huge chunk of my heart with her as she went .
* * *
I manned the grill, as I’d promised to. I’d even brought some of my own special sauce and pre-marinated meat and veggies in a small cooler. Becky was obviously avoiding me, sitting as far away as possible and not making eye contact .
That didn’t help with my peace of mind, because I could still see her .
She looked sad, even when she smiled or held one of the kids on her lap. They flocked to her. She was just a natural with them .
One funny thing happened though. The photographer for the shoot never showed up. But no one seemed upset about it, not even Sally .
It was just starting to get dark when I heard the engines out front. Becky was staring out at the sunset. It was so beautiful, with bright orange and purple reflecting off the lake. No one had gone swimming except for the kids. Dev had driven them all over in his SUV while Jack and Donahue rode .
Even Callaway had showed up, though Donnie hadn’t seemed so happy about it. I caught them having a furtive argument but they’d stopped once they realized they had an audience .
But I thought the party was just getting started .
I ran out front, staring in shock as everyone peeled out of the driveway, taking both cars and all the bikes. A small gasp behind me made me turn to look .
Becky was staring at the empty driveway in horror. She turned to me and our eyes locked .
We’d been left behind .
We were stuck here. Just the two of us. There was no way out of here. The roads were far too dangerous to walk on. And it would take all night to get anywhere close to town .
No cabs came out to the boonies .
Maybe this was a good thing, though. Maybe this could be good. We could talk. Maybe even more .
It was awfully romantic out here in the middle of nowhere .
I had a moment of wondering if it had been deliberate. If my friends had taken the matter into their own hands. But would all of Becky’s friends really do that to her? The guys might, but the girls all knew that she loathed me .
They probably even knew why .
I stared at Becky. She looked nervous. I realized that this was my chance to prove to her how perfect we could be together .
Maybe I could even find out why she broke up with me to begin with .
That’s when I smiled .
Chapter Eighteen
Becky
O h no .
No no no no no .
I stared at Whiskey’s back, realizing we were alone together .
Not just alone either .
We were trapped .
Stranded in the middle of nowhere .
I pulled out my phone, waving it in the air for a signal. Spotty at best. I did a quick search on the map for a car service .