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“It's fine,” I say as I open my own door, though my pulse is still racing. I will also admit that it's taking everything I have inside of me not to take off running toward the cabin door.
“You’re all freaking out, aren’t you?” Claire is gleaming. “Like full on panic mode.” Of course she finds humor in our fear.
“Can you and the Bobbsey Twins grab the rest of the stuff in the truck,” Claire hollers over her shoulder as she starts walking toward the front of the cabin. “And don’t drop any of the food along the way, the bears will smell it and be hanging out on the porch for days expecting more.”
“Bears,” Lauren squeaks with wide eyes.
“I can handle bears, it's the crazies I’m worried about.” Leah shrugs.
“Oh please,” Lauren scoffs. “If a bear showed up here you’d shit yourself and run back home.”
I walk toward the cabin laughing with my arms full. I freaking love the two of them and even in my own sadness I can find joy.
The moment I step over the threshold I am reminded of my childhood. The times I was here with Claire and her family, and her father would tell us ghost stories in front of the fire.
It only has one bedroom, and two sets of bunk beds that are in the main living area. A large, oversized couch, a decent television and though it looks rugged and rough on the outside, her parents had the inside cozy.
There is Wi-Fi, satellite television and every utensil you could need to make a decent meal stocked in the kitchen.
Her parents come here several times a year and when they aren’t here they have a cleaning service that comes in to freshen the place up monthly.
“It smells clean,” Leah sounds surprised as she enters the still open door with Lauren right behind her.
“What did you expect, roaches and stale food?” Claire smiles over at them as she sets her bags on the countertop. “There is no way my father or mother would let this place fall apart. It belonged to my grandparents and when they passed it was inherited by them. This place holds a lot of memories.”
The four of us settle in, deciding to camp out in the big room with the bunk beds instead of using the bedroom. That way we could watch movies, talk and laugh. The talking part did worry me as I am about to lay a bombshell at both my sisters feet that I haven’t even told my parents yet.
After we’ve all showered, and are in comfy clothes, we decided to call it a night after all the driving. The girls snicker and talk across the two upper bunks, and I curl onto my side and close my eyes. My mind falling back to the scene earlier with Tyler.
I want to message him, but I refrain, giving him the time he obviously needs. But it doesn’t stop me from worrying about where this all will take us.
I know he cares; he’s made that clear. But I also know that this might be too much, and that terrifies me, because though I know I will, I’m not sure how I’ll handle this alone.
Then an even bigger part of me knows that if this isn’t what he wants, Tyler is too good of a man to admit that, and he’ll do it out of obligation.
Which scares me more, than being completely on my own with this.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-ONE
Tyler
I am well aware that I am possibly leading myself into hell, or a form of it. Driving up Amara’s parents driveway I understand that this may go in the opposite direction I hope. I am sure they are well aware of the baby, and the conversation she and I last shared.
I’m even more sure they’ve all formed an opinion of me, or already had one and this confirmed their presumptuous thoughts. With Amara’s phone off, and her not going home or into the shop I’m left with very little options.
The moment I pull up the driveway and find no signs of her car, only to see her father standing near the open garage door, regret rushes over me.
He wears a scowl, and I grip the steering wheel tighter.
Taking in a deep breath I turn off my truck and climb out of the driver's door, closing it behind me. His eyes remain locked on me as I move up the drive in his direction.
“Afternoon sir,” I dip my chin giving him a nod and when he only watches me, saying nothing and making no movements, I suddenly feel sick to my stomach. “I was looking for Amara.”
“Doesn’t look like she’s here to me.”
I’ve never met the girlfriend's dad before, I never got that far with any girl or woman. I’ll admit, this shit sucks.
“It doesn’t, but she’s not home and she hasn’t been in the shop either.”
