The fire roars back to life with some encouragement, and I have to content myself with a towel drying my hair by its warmth before I get changed into a fresh set of jeans and a thick sweater.
New socks too, and on with the snow boots by the door. A woolen cap covers my head, but I can feel the irritation of not quite dry enough hair underneath.
I need to find Carter though, this is getting ridiculous.
By the time I head out its dark, with the lights from the lodge twinkling through a fresh fall of snow that’s being whipped up by a freezing wind.
It’s a short walk over to the lodge, and although I know I won’t freeze, I can’t help but feel like I should’ve worn my jacket too.
Shivering by the time I get inside, I notice the familiar face at reception and move over to ask her if she knows where Crater is.
“You’ll need a reservation if you want dinner,” she snaps, ignoring my question and bustling past me towards the dining area.
“I only wanted to ask if you’ve seen Mr. Everett,” I ask her sternly, watching her stop in her tracks, turning to face me with a strange smile playing on her lips.
“Why, yes. Mr. Everett was here a short while ago, meeting with a lady friend in the bar, I believe.”
“Who?” I hear myself spit, launching toward her and feeling my fists clench.
I can see the effect my reaction has on this old hag. She’s tickled pink and stifles a laugh as she pretends to try and think, ignoring a bell from the dining room.
This is obviously far more entertaining for her.
“Where’s Mr. Everett?” I growl again, feeling my jaw grind and my eyes narrow.
“I really don’t know sweetie,” she says in a sing-song tone, casting her eyes toward the bar before shuffling away and laughing to herself.
I don’t want to go in there, I know that’s just what she wants. But I need Carter. I need to know what’s going on.
I don’t drink, and I’ve never seen Carter with anything more than mineral water or coffee in his hands, so I don’t know why he’d be in the bar
But before I even open the door I can make out Carter’s huge frame reflected in the glass behind the bar.
He’s got his back to me, but I can see his eyes in the reflection and they aren’t happy.
I feel my heart leap into my chest when I see who he’s with though.
Without even having to see her reflection I know who it is.
Wendy.
The plastic Barbie from my dad’s phone.
What the hell?
She left already, dad said so himself…
Her eyes meet mine before Carter’s do. And they have that same evil glint the crusty old woman from reception had.
Like they’re all possessed or something, all up to something nobody else is in on.
Carter’s eyes follow hers and in a moment he’s turned on his stool to face me, getting up to come over straight away.
Wendy’s hook of an arm is in his and as much as he tries to shrug her off him, I can tell where her interests lie.
Carter’s eyes are firmly on mine, and I watch him mouth my name quietly as he strides across the room.
But another part of me feels like I’m back in college again.
The set-ups.
The fake dates that all ended with jocks pouring warm beer down my back or locking me in bathroom stalls until I screamed.
Crowds of drunken frat boys and their Barbie look-alike girls crowding around to point and laugh.
How they laughed.
It’s the same mad look I see in Barbie’s eye’s now, that same sneering grin as she tries harder and harder to latch herself onto Carter as he calls after me.
I know the feeling too well. My memory of those days will never leave me. The thought of Carter and… her? Even just sitting at the bar together?
I dunno. Something in me just snaps and I turn on my heel.
Shaking my head and feeling my tears freeze onto my face as soon as I’m outside, I do my best to run but just stumble away into the darkness.
Into the snow, away from the lodge and away from the cabins.
Away from the laughter, I thought was so far behind me once I’d found Carter.
Once he told me he loved me.
Once I’d finally given myself to him.
I can hear him behind me, calling out. Ordering me to stop so he can explain.
But everything’s a blur.
Like the snow and the wind.
Everything in my mind and in my heart.
All a blur.
Carter!
I should never have been so stupid. I should have gone home when Dad left.
I should’ve stayed away in the first place.
Never been born.
That’s what it feels like.
Chapter Sixteen
Carter
The woman I’ve never met before and have about as much interest in as jamming my head in a car door is back.