The Loss (Heartache series #1) (10 page)

After putting on my hoodie and bringing the hood over my head, I pick up my backpack, put my arms through the straps, turn off the light and open the door. Still no sounds in the house. I walk through the living room, then the kitchen and unlock the back sliding door, pulling it open then closing it behind me. I had decided to go around the back and stick closely to the houses, staying in the darkness and away from the street lights that light up the area. The rain is pouring down heavily as I make my way through the front yards of our neighbors. A dog barks in the distance, and I quicken my pace. I’m already soaked by the time I get to the trail, the rain making visibility even worse in the darkness. The thunder booms more often. The lightning cracks behind it making it a little easier to see but also easier for me to be seen. It takes another several minutes until I reach the dirt path which is now mud, my shoes hitting puddles of dirty water, some so big it’s hard to sidestep.

Suddenly, I slip when I step on a rock, throwing me off balance, and I go down, hard. “Ompfh.” My shoulder lands on another rock and my left foot twists. “Ow!” I clamp my mouth shut with my hand to muffle my cry. Pain sears through my shoulder and I wince when I straighten my foot. Dammit! I roll over and push myself up, trying to stand but when I put pressure on my foot, I grimace in pain. Great. So not what I needed right now. Pulling up the strap of my backpack, I hobble up the muddy hill, slowly.

When I round the corner of the huge trees and get to the big rock, I sigh in relief. I’ve made it. Not many know of the dirt path as it’s fairly well hidden with overgrown brush and trees. I feel safe, for now. Just in case, I make my way through the large brush and go behind the rock. Sitting down on the hard ground, I pull my knees up to my chest, wrapping my arms around them to try to keep warm. I reach down and grasp my ankle and hold my breath with the pain. Hopefully, it’s just a sprain but shit it’s already throbbing and not gonna help to make my escape any easier. My backpack helps to guard against the roughness of the rock pressing on my back, but my shoulder hurts. I’m sure there’s a scrape, and a bruise will form. According to my plan, Jase should be here to get me in about half an hour. I just need to stick it out until then. I look up from under my hood, the rain hitting my eyes, so I close them and look back down quickly, trying to let it shield me as much as it can.

I have no idea of the time or how long I’ve been sitting here but I shiver with the coolness of the blowing rain, and my eyes are heavy from lack of sleep.

Chapter 10

The night went from heaven to hell in a matter of minutes. Engaged? Pregnant? What the fuck? Why didn’t she tell me? After downing about half a bottle of Jack, Scott walks over to me and pats my back. “Shit, man. You okay?” I look over at him and shrug, but I’m sure the look on my face tells him I’m not. “Come on. Let’s get you home. You look about ready to punch that asswipe’s face in.” I let out a laugh. That’s comical. No, I want to fucking kill the motherfucker. He helps me stand from the chair I’d stumbled to earlier and takes my arm as I swerve while we walk to the door. The place had mostly cleared out so there aren’t many to gawk at me as I wobble out. He gets me in one of the cabs that is waiting and then gets in beside me.

“Hey, you know that asshole is more than likely lying, right?” I look over at him as the car starts to move and smirk. “Well, think about it. He’s an asshole and a prick that manipulates your girl. Don’t you think he lied to control the situation even more?” He’s got a point. “Seriously, dude, you’re so wasted you can’t see it?” Fuck! I’m a lovesick, drunken idiot!

We get to my house, and I shrug off Scott’s help to get to my door. It takes me a few tries to unlock it, but I finally manage and stumble my way in, closing the door behind me and knocking into the end table on my way to the kitchen. I flip on the light and walk straight to the coffee pot, get it set up, turn it on then sit down at the table. I need to get sober and quick. She’ll be waiting for me soon, and I can’t be late. I’m such a fucking fool. Once the coffee is ready, I drink a couple of cups, the first one not going down easily and making my stomach queasy. The plan. It’s not gonna be easy, but I think it’s doable. I hope. It has to be.

I check out the clock. Four more hours. My eyes grow heavy, even after the coffee settles into my system. Maybe the alcohol is overruling. Pulling out my phone, I set my alarm, stand and walk into the living room, get comfortable on the couch and lay my phone on my chest. Maybe a little sleep would be good.

My eyes snap open, my heart racing when I hear a strange noise. Beep. Beep. What the hell? I’m late for work! I dig underneath me, finding the foreign object making the noise and pull out my cellphone. My phone! Oh, shit! Alena! I fall off the couch, trying to get up too quickly, and shake my head. Damn liquor. I run around like the world is coming to an end, and it most likely is. After doing my bathroom business and gathering my jacket and backpack full of the things we need, I run out of the door, lock it and amble out on the porch. Lightning cracks and the rain is beating down in front of me. Just great! I flip up the hood of my jacket and run down the steps, realizing I forgot my knee brace but not wanting to stop to go back and get it. I’ll just need to be careful. By the time I get into my truck and start it up, I’m soaked. I back out of my driveway and turn, then quickly drive down my street and turn left and head to the trail. Looking at the clock on the dash, I cringe. Five o’clock, I’m already thirty minutes late and will be even later by the time I get to our rendezvous. “Shit!” I hit the steering wheel with my fist and yell out to no one. She’s out there alone, in the dark and in the pouring rain. Fuck!

Finally, I park in the street near where the trail begins and climb out into the rain. The sound of it pelting against my truck, making it loud and less than conspicuous. Thank goodness it’s Saturday early morning and a lot of people sleep in around here. I start jogging the trail, trying to hurry but the visibility sucks and the rain keeps pelting me hard. By the time I reach the dirt trail, which is now a muddy mess, full of standing water, hail starts to hit. Not large enough to do any big damage but shit, they fucking hurt when they hit. At least I have my jacket to protect me a little. I finally make it to where the trail bends; it’s not much farther until I get to her. The hail continues, and my knee is starting to ache from the weather and because I forgot my brace. Maybe I can stop back at the house to get my brace but then that might be risky at this point as it’s starting to get a little lighter out, even behind the dark clouds.

When I reach our meeting site, I look around, the rain hitting my face but the hail has finally stopped. I walk over to our rock, then push away the brush as I move through it until I see her. She’s curled up in a ball, her backpack being used as a pillow against the hard ground. She’s shivering, but she doesn’t seem to be awake. Fuck! I feel even worse now. So selfish! I bend down on my good knee, trying to shield her face with my body, and shake her, gently. She doesn’t move. “Alena,” I speak out into the darkness. Still nothing. I stand back up, shake out of my jacket and lay it on her then put my arms underneath her legs and around her back, lifting her, trying to be careful, and grabbing her backpack with my hand.

It takes me way longer than I wanted to get her down the muddy trail, but the paved walking trail was a little easier to navigate. Struggling to get my keys from my pocket, I finally manage to get the truck unlocked and the door open. Her head lulls back against the headrest when I set her on the seat. I lean over and buckle her in and pull down the soaking wet hood of her hoodie. Her face is pale and with her stillness, worry sets in. “Alena?” I cup her wet face with my hand and shake it a little. “Alena!” I shout and then my eyes roam around outside, making sure no one is around. Nothing. Fuck! I need to get her dry and somewhere warm now.

Quickly, I shut her door and jog around my truck, then get in and start it up. I check the gas gauge and sigh in relief. Thank God, it’s full. I turn my head, looking over my shoulder and then look down at her. It’s gonna take about an hour to get there. Maybe I can pull over in a discreet place and at least get her in some dry clothes. I know just the place. After driving for about twenty minutes, I see the offside rest area and pull into the parking lot. No one is here, but I know that could change at any time. The rain has finally let up but the clouds are still pretty dark, so I’m expecting it to storm more. I get to her door, but open the backdoor first, grabbing my backpack then I move back to her and unbuckle her seatbelt, lifting her into my arms when I hear a faint sigh. Thank fuck!

I push her door close with my back, then the backdoor and walk over to the small shelter and into the men’s room. Bending down, with her on my lap, I unzip my backpack and pull out a long sleeved t-shirt and sweatpants and lay them on the ground and set her down, carefully, holding the back of her head like a child. She’s shivering and her lips are a light shade of blue. That can’t be good. Fuck! This is all my fault! I proceed to take her shoes off, and she flinches. The heaviness of her wet pants is against me, but I finally manage to get them off. Then I remove her socks and underwear. I pull up on her shirt and carefully start to pull her arms from it but she cries out so I stop.

“UH!” Her eyes blink behind their lids and then slowly open. Her chin quivers and her body shakes. “You found me,” she whispers, her voice gruff.

“Shhh, baby. I’m here.” She winces again as I try to remove her shirt. “Are you hurt?”

Her head shakes. “I am engaged but I’m not pregnant.” Her eyes search mine, pleading. “Please believe me.”

I cup her face, my heart bleeding for her. “I believe you, Alena. Where are you hurt? Please, baby. Calm down.”

Her chin quivers, her body shivering. “My shoulder. I fell.”

I pull up her shirt, lean over and see the caked blood all over her shoulder and on her back. “This is gonna hurt, but just for a minute. Can you sit up?” She nods, and I move my hand from around her and pull her shirt off quick.

“Ow!” She yells.

“Sorry! Sorry!” I look in my backpack and pull out my small first aid kit, gathering bandages to cover the area until we can get to the cabin. “Here. Better?” I look into her water filled eyes and she nods, trying to give me a smile. I reach around and unclasp her wet bra and bring it down her arms. She pulls her arms out, helping me a little since she’s more awake. I grab my long sleeved t-shirt and gather up the material then gently help her pull it over her head and she puts her arms through the long sleeves and winces. The ends hang off her hands but she keeps them inside to get warm. “There. Is that better? Are you getting warmer?” I brush back her wet hair and she smiles.

“Yes, thank you,” she responds shyly.

I start putting things back into my backpack, taking out a large plastic trash bag and placing her wet things into it. “No need to thank me, Alena. I’m just sorry you had to go through all of that and I wasn’t there for you.” I stop forcibly cramming everything in the backpack, taking out my frustration, when I feel her hand on my arm. I look into her beautiful green eyes and take a deep breath.

“You’re here now. That’s all that matters, Jase.” I lean into her, kissing her cool lips and then press my forehead against hers.

We stay like that for a few minutes, not wanting to move but then I finally go back to gather up all our things. “Why don’t you go over to the dryer there and warm up some more.” I feel her move away and continue packing until she hisses. My head snaps up to look at her. “What’s wrong?”

She limps over to the counter and then turns, using her hands to help push her up to sit on it. “Oh, I twisted my ankle when I fell. Stupid mud. I hit a rock pretty hard when I landed.” She hits the big silver button on the dryer, and then the room is echoing with the sound. She puts her hands underneath, closes her eyes and sighs. “Oh! That feels wonderful.” I smile, glad she’s getting warmed up, and finish stuffing everything into my bag. I stand up and walk over to her, her legs opening for me to get closer, and I kiss her cheek. I reach over and turn the nozzle towards her face and watch the warm air blowing her hair. It turns off so I hit the button again. “Ah! God, that feels good.” She almost moans and my cock twitches. Now is not the time or the place.

My fingers find their way into her hair, fluffing it as the warm air continues to blow. “Once you’re warmed up enough, we need to go. The sooner we get to the cabin, the sooner I can build a fire and get you something to eat.” She nods with her eyes still closed, but a smile graces her face. “Did you sleep at all last night?”

Her eyes open and she shakes her head. “No. I was too nervous and thought if I fell asleep, I’d miss the time to get moving and it would be too late.”

My fingers move out of her hair and I rub under her eyes. “No wonder you have dark circles and after being out in the element that long, you could have caught your death.” She turns her head and kisses my hand, and I can’t help but smile. “I have blankets in the truck. Let’s get you outta here and get on our way.” She nods and smiles at me then starts to hop off the counters. “No! Here, let me.” I put my arms around her and lift her up.

“Jase! You have your bag. I can walk.” She shakes her head and tries to push against my chest.

“I’ve got you. Just grab my bag.” I walk over, bend down and she picks it up, and then I stand. It has to be heavy for her but she smiles, her eyes lighting as I carry her out.

Still no one around. I get her in my truck and buckle her in, then stowaway my bag in the back. I grab a blanket and tuck it in around her. After getting settled and back on the main highway, I feel a bit better. I turn up the heat full blast and she turns to me and smiles. She looks so much better. The feelings of dread wash away.

♥    ♥    ♥    ♥

The heat feels so good, and I’m finally getting warmed up. Jase has thought of everything and is taking great care of me. I feel so loved and comforted by him. I bounce in my seat at the sight of the cabin, nestled back in the large trees. I haven’t been here for so many years, remembering all the great times we had here when we were young. The truck shakes us as it climbs the rocky hill, jostling us around. He pulls up along the far side of the cabin, hiding his truck so no one can see it. I start to open my door when his hand grasps my arm. I turn my head to him and watch him smile and shake his head. My smile can’t grow any bigger as I watch him get out of the truck and run around behind it; my head turning watching his every move. I’d never tire of seeing his gorgeous body as he runs, or when he looks at me with those brown eyes, glazed with love and desire. I never thought it could be this way, feeling so amazing, or that we’d ever have a chance to be together.

He opens the door and I quickly unbuckle the seatbelt before he lifts me into his strong arms, carrying me up the few wooden steps and unlocks the door. The heavy wood door opens, shining a little light around the room only to find it dusty and dirty. “Yeah, I’ll have to clean up a bit,” he chuckles as he takes me inside and setting me down on a chair by the table. “Sorry about that.”

I look up and smile as he hurries to light the kerosene lamps around the room, then picks up some wood by the fireplace. He squats down, showing me a fine view of the muscles in his back as they flex underneath his shirt. “Ha, it’s not like you had fair warning. Besides, I like to watch you.” His head turns, his smile beautiful. I can’t help the giggle that escapes me.

He stands, the fire small at first but then it expands. He puts his hands on his hips then looks around. “I need to go get some supplies. Thank fuck the nearest convenience store is only about twenty minutes away. I’ll clean up a little first and get you settled.”

I tilt my head, crooking my finger at him. His sexy cocky grin appears as he strides over to me then bends down so our faces are level. “Give me something to clean with. I think I can manage that much while you’re gone.”

“But….” My finger lands on his lips and he kisses it.

“No buts. This much I can help with. I’ll be careful moving around and will sit as much as possible, okay? You’re not Tarzan and I’m not Jane. Now go.” His mouth is on mine before I can take a breath, my fingers move up into this hair on their own. He pulls back but only to press his forehead against mine, his hand splayed out across the side of my face. We both pant as we look into each other’s eyes. “Well. Okay, you can be Tarzan.” He laughs, and it’s music to my ears. After he kisses my forehead, rubs his thumb across my skin, he stands and gives me a wink, then walks out the door.

I make great use of the time while he’s gone. Everything is horribly dirty. Thank goodness I found a sponge and bucket but there’s one big problem. No water. There’s no electricity here, no inside plumbing or anything remotely civilized. Great. Hobbling down the front steps, my hand over my eyes to shield them from the sun that finally decided to come out, and carrying the bucket is not my idea of fun but Jase has already done so much for me, and I need to do my part. It takes me so much longer to get down to the creek then it used to but I didn’t have a sprained ankle the last time we were here either. I manage to get a full bucket of water and then the struggle back with it was even worse. I swear, sometimes I just don’t think.