bad situations or are lonely and can’t figure out their own life for real.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, Cole,” I said.
“I’m just making small talk.”
“And I heard guys who have vehicles this big are making up for something they lack in,” I said.
Cole whistled. “That’s true.”
“Yeah?”
Cole leaned a little closer to me. “Except, I don’t own this SUV. I didn’t ask for it. Mr. Pickle sent it.”
Cole winked.
I blushed.
Yeah… I hated him even more.
“Two minutes to go,” Cole said. “You should check your bag.”
“What?” I asked. I turned and looked at my bag. “What did you…”
My phone vibrated.
Cole started to laugh.
It was Bev texting me.
You okay? Still alive?
I turned and reached for my suitcase and replied to Bev.
Alive and well. Not well, sorry. Just alive. Ugh.
I reached for the zipper and started to open my suitcase.
“You know, Maya, you’re giving the rest of us a show there,” Cole called out.
I gasped and heat rushed to my cheeks.
My ass was up in the air, pointing at Cole and the driver.
Bev texted me back.
Keep in touch. Just had this vibe… like, what if he kills you?
I rolled my eyes.
Bev. He’s not going to kill me. Getting there now. Have to go.
I dropped the phone on the seat and I flipped open my suitcase.
When I saw the clothes right on top, I let out another gasp.
That motherfu-
“We’re here, Maya,” Cole said.
I spun around and plopped down on the seat.
My mouth was open, ready to unleash on him.
But then I caught sight of the cabin.
The pictures didn’t do it justice at all.
It was three times the size I thought it was going to be.
A real wooden cabin in the woods on the top of a mountain.
Right on cue, a few snowflakes began to fall from the sky.
It almost felt like it was all staged.
The SUV came to a slow stop and my eyes were glued to the front of the cabin.
The steps. The pillars. The porch. The dark brown front door. It was so…
“What do you think?” Cole asked.
I had no words.
I just gasped one more time.
Chapter Ten
Cole
I had to hand it to Mr. Pickle.
The cabin was beautiful.
It definitely was not the whole idea of being in a rustic cabin without running water and electricity. This was a mini hotel on the top of a mountain.
Through the main entrance, the floor plan was wide open, all the way to the back of the cabin. That’s where a large, arched window gave a view to the other side of the mountain.
Of course, that’s right where Maya went.
A bag over her shoulder. Her other suitcase with the missing wheel kind of just bouncing along until she dropped it for good.
The cabin smelled very clean with a touch of wood.
To my left was the kitchen and dining area.
The word area was the only word for it because of its size. This wasn’t some tiny, little kitchen. It was a country style kitchen with stainless steel appliances. The fridge had a screen on it that not only welcomed me, but had a full inventory of what was in the fridge, along with the capability of watching TV and movies.
I laughed at some of the technologies we had now.
A fridge that could tell me if I had tomatoes and if it was going to rain.
What a time to be alive.
I heard a noise in the dining room and looked to see Maya slowly walking, still gawking outside the window.
The table could seat eight.
The ceiling came to a small pitch with wooden beams to give it that rustic look that really didn’t exist here.
“Never been in a cabin before?” I asked.
Maya shook her head. “This isn’t a cabin, Cole. This is a mansion.”
“Far from a mansion, Maya. But I get what you’re saying.”
She looked at me. “Tell me you’re not impressed by this.”
“I am,” I said. “I’ll admit it. Why don’t we check out the upstairs?”
“Is that where the bedrooms are? With the dormers?”
“I think the upstairs is more of a loft area. The main bedrooms are on the first floor off the living room area.”
I walked from the kitchen and went right for Maya’s bag.
I grinned and picked it up.
“Cole…”
“I’ll get this for you,” I said. “We can check out the upstairs in a little bit. Follow me.”
I walked to the living room area.
To my surprise, it was smaller than I expected.
Smaller only meant cozy.
And smaller still was able to have three couches, two recliners, a bar that was fully stocked, and a stone fireplace that was made