Unknown (17 page)

Or maybe she’d just be happy for me

Sighing, I gripped the phone tighter. “I made a… friend here.”

“A friend? You don’t make friends. How did that happen? What’s her name?”

I cleared my throat. “Derek.”

“It’s a man? You’ve been spending your time with some strange man?”

“Not… not like that.” I licked my lips. I had very little doubt she knew I was lying. “He’s just been a support for me. We were both here alone, so we’ve been spending time together.”

“And are you with him right now? Or are you in your
hotel
? And what hotel are you staying at?”

“Kim, I can tell by your tone you don’t believe what I’m saying. Just be happy I’m happy right now.”

“This just… doesn’t sound like you. At all.”

“Trust me, I agree.”

“Just don’t do anything drastic. Are you in a healthy mental place to be making the decisions you’re making?”

I heard shouting from downstairs. “Maybe not, but I’m supposed to be on vacation, right? Look I have to go. Thank you for checking on me. I’ll talk to you when I get home on Sunday.”

I hung up the phone and headed towards the commotion downstairs. As I got closer, I realized I couldn’t understand the shouting- it was in Russian.

I rounded the corner to enter the kitchen but froze. A tall, skinny, blonde beauty had her arms around Derek. I hid behind the corner and watched as he removed her arms. She pouted and said something, and he replied and shook his head.

She reached for him again, and he took a step back. I didn’t have to understand the language to figure out they had something romantic- at least at some point.

She was probably what all of his conquests looked like. I looked down at myself and frowned. I stepped away to head back upstairs, but knocked over a vase. I cringed as it crashed to the ground.

“Shae?”

I took a breath and rounded the corner, the blonde’s bright green eyes widening as she saw me. She said something in Russian.

“This is Shae. She’s staying with me.”

She folded her tanned arms as I approached.

“Hello,” I said.

She didn’t respond.

Derek turned back to her. “Did you need anything else?”

She shook her head and walked out of the cabin.

He turned to me after the front door closed. “Sorry about that.”

“It’s… alright.”

“She’s an old friend. We grew up together.”

“Oh,” I said, turning back to my cold eggs. For once, I didn’t want him to elaborate and I was thankful when he didn’t.

“So, are you excited for the masquerade ball tomorrow?” He asked, forcing a subject change.

I slowly chewed a mouthful of rubbery eggs. “I’d forgotten all about it. I suppose it will be fun.”

“It gets better every year. Do you have anything to wear?”

“What’s the dress code?”

“Black tie.”

“Yes, I have a simple gown I can wear. I could use a new pair of shoes, though.”

“That’s not a problem. I know just the place. Want to go shopping this afternoon?”

“Sure.”

“I have a bit of work to do in town, and then we can go.”

16

He left after breakfast. Every time I allowed my mind to drift, I convinced myself he was in town with his “friend.” I distracted myself, cleaning up since I hadn’t done it in a couple of days. I cleaned up the mess he made while cooking breakfast, cleaned the living room and took out the trash.

As I sat alone, I realized that I missed him. And it had only been a couple of hours. That wasn’t good. I couldn’t afford to miss someone who was only a passing fling in my life.

I sighed. I didn’t need him to go shoe shopping with me. I could do it myself- just like I’d always done everything. I found a store online and walked to its location on Main Street. He called me as soon as I entered.

“Hey. Where are you?”

“At Mimi’s Boutique.”

“You didn’t wait for me?”

“I was bored. Besides, I can buy a pair of shoes without your help.” It came out a little more curt than I’d intended.

“I know you can; I just wanted to come with you.”

I jumped as the voice was no longer coming from my phone speaker, but from behind me.

“Finished early,” he said, disconnecting the call. He pointed to the black kitten heels in my hand. “Those are nice.”

I looked at sensible two-inch heels. “Thank you.”

“What about these?”

I’d already spotted the charcoal pumps he pointed out and was heading to them when he called. They were more decorative than the ones in my hands, but still elegant.

I nodded as he picked up the gray shoes.

“You should try them on.”

The more I looked at the shoes, the more I preferred them to the ones in my hand. But I shook my head.

“No, I think I’m going to get these.”

“But-”

“No buts. I have this handled.”

His fantasy of taming me was now over. I was my own woman; I made my own decisions. And once I got back home, I was going to be alone. Might as well get used to it now. His eyes narrowed as I breezed by him to pay for the shoes.

He took the bag from me and held it as we walked back to the trail that led to his cabin.

“Would you like to do anything?” he asked once we were inside.

I shook my head. “No.”

Although difficult, I managed to walk by him. I needed to break free of him, and the only way to do that was distance. Sure, I was going to enjoy his company at the party, but until then, I had to wrap my head around going back to a life that didn’t involve Derek Anderson.

All I wanted to do was enjoy every moment, but being all in with Derek meant I’d have to go cold turkey come Saturday. Weaning off him was the better- albeit undesired- solution.

He knocked on my bedroom door a few hours later.

I glanced up from the laptop on my legs. “Come in.”

He smiled when he poked his head in. “Damn. I thought you were in here chopping up more of your clothes.”

I curled one side of my mouth into a stiff smile, sitting up straighter in the bed. “Sorry; I’m back to my boring style. Just getting a little work done.”

He entered the room, and I put my eyes back on my laptop.

“Why are you working?”

I shrugged, and he continued to approach the bed until his crotch was eye-level with me. I scooted towards the center of the bed, until I could no longer feel his body heat on my skin.

“I’m working because it’s my vacation, and I can do what I want.”

He paused, stuffing his hands in his pockets. “Do you want to do anything? Maybe get in the hot tub?”

I shook my head, refusing to look at him. “Maybe later.”

He sighed, combing his fingers through his hair before walking out of the room. My eyes darted to the door as it closed, and I exhaled the breath I had been holding in, ignoring the tightness in my chest.

Later that afternoon, I forced myself out of the room to grab a snack. When I passed the living room heading towards the kitchen, Derek was on the couch on his laptop. He looked up at me, but didn’t speak. I gave him a polite smile, then continued into the kitchen.

“Done working?” he asked once I came back. I nodded. “Want to do anything? Movie? A trip to the slopes? Or… something else?”

“No, I’m alright. Thanks.”

He sighed, patting the couch. “Come talk to me.”

“No, I’m alright,” I repeated, heading towards the stairs to end the conversation.

He jumped off the couch, walking to me.

“Why are you being so stubborn today? It’s because of Katya, isn’t it?”

I folded my arms. “What you and that woman do is none of my business. Your life is none of my business.”

“You don’t need to worry about her. She’s just a friend-”

I held my hand up to stop him. “I told you I don’t want to hear it.”

I tried to step around him, but he blocked me. He grabbed my face and forced our eyes together. “I want you to know that, though.”

I pushed him away, taking a step back. “
Why?
None of this matters!”

He grabbed my arm and led me to the couch.

“What’s going on with you?”

I looked down at my knotted fingers through my blurry, tear-soaked vision. I was
crying.
Over Derek. My desperation couldn’t get any more pathetic.

“You’re leaving Saturday, and by Sunday, I’ll be back home. We’re never going to see each other again, so nothing matters. You have your life, and I have mine. This was just a vacation fling. Whoever Katya is to you is irrelevant.”

“Is that why you’ve been holed up in the room all day? To distance yourself from me?”

“The sooner we do, the better.”

He cupped my cheek and turned my head to face him. “Would you like to see me again? After we leave here?”

“I don’t know. Maybe. I’ve been letting loose because I knew once we parted, I wouldn't have to face you again. All of my guilt about our time together could be pushed away. But, I like being around you.”

“I like being around you, too.” He dropped his hand from my face.

I sighed, drying my eyes. “Yeah, but sometimes we're only meant to be in a person’s life for a season. And that’s what this week has been. I’m sorry I snapped at you today.”

His mouth opened, but he didn’t reply. I knew he didn’t agree with me, but it didn’t matter. The facts were still the same. He was leaving in two days, and it was going to be over.

We couldn’t stay in that cabin forever. I stood and went back to my room, turning the computer on to continue distracting myself with work for as long as I could.

There was a knock on the door as I slipped into my dress. “Yes?”

Derek entered, dressed in a black tuxedo. His hair was slicked back and I could smell his cologne as soon as the door opened. He looked divine.

“Brought you something.”

He sat on the edge of the bed and opened the small box he had in his hands. I gasped.

“It’s a Venetian Mask. I ordered one for you a few days ago. They provide masks at the party, but most wear their own.”

I trailed my fingers over the intricate detailing of the gorgeously gaudy mask. The fine black lace, covered in a dense layer of shimmering gold crystals, would decorate the top half of my face beautifully.

“It’s stunning. Thank you.”

He placed the box on the bed and stood to leave. “I’ll be downstairs when you’re ready.”

“Wait… can you zip me up?”

His fingers grazed up my spine as he zipped the dress. We’d barely spoken since our talk on the couch. I missed his voice, his presence, and his touch.

I’d ruined the light air between us, crushed our final evening together with harsh reality.

“Thanks,” I said, turning to him with a small smile.

“Yup.” He leaned in, putting his lips to my ear. “You look absolutely beautiful, Shae.”

I grinned wider and watched as he exited the room without another word. The day was bittersweet. Yesterday's confession still hung in the air between us. I wanted to continue distancing myself but at the same time, I just
had
to enjoy our final night together.

17

I walked downstairs once I put my hair into a high cinnamon bun, and we headed out to the chauffeured car waiting for us. We headed away from the resorts and Main Street, to a more residential area of the city. Minutes later, we approached a large, stand-alone building well hidden behind a grouping of thick trees.

Women in extravagant dresses and men in custom tuxedos flocked the building, most running inside to escape the cool night air. Valets bustled getting cars parked, and a few couples walked the red carpet as they entered the space, pausing to brave the wind in order to take a picture.

We ran inside, choosing to escape the cold rather than socialize with the people on the red carpet. A picture to remember our final night would’ve been sweet, but I didn’t mention it, and neither did he. Staring at his hypnotic blue eyes on a photo, knowing I’d never get to see them again in real life sounded more like torture than a charming memory, though.

My mouth dropped when we entered the lavish ballroom.

The room was smothered with royal blue decor, dripping in gold accents. A string quartet played lightly from the stage at the back of the room, overlapping with the sounds of the guest’s chatter.

There were stunning crystal chandeliers overhead, but they were off. Instead, the only lighting was from the ornate golden candelabras placed strategically throughout the room. Guests checked their coats at the entrance, and put their masks on- it was party time.

Servers walked the floor with trays of food. They were in uniform, but each one had a unique mask decorated with sequins and feathers. It was an awe-inspiring spectacle.

I was still feeling a bit down, but it was our last evening together; I wanted to enjoy it. Derek’s usual light aura seemed a little heavy, and I could tell he felt the same way. I smiled, grabbing his hand.

“Let’s get a drink,” I said after readjusting the mask on my face.

“What would you like?” he asked as we approached one of three bars in the ballroom.

“Pick for me.”

That put a small smile on his face, a smile that got hidden as he lowered his full-face mask. He ordered me an apple martini. My eyes lit up as I took a sip.

“It is good?”

“Yes; I’ve never had one before.”

“Really? Man, we have to get you to expand your horizons.”

I placed my palm on his chest, on top of his beating heart. “You’ve done a great job of helping me.”

A woman behind us burst into a fit of giggles, and I cringed. I’d been listening to those giggles for the last 24 years of my life. I spun around. Although masks covered half of their faces, I recognized Reggie and Danni instantly. She was laughing uncontrollably, he had his arm around her, and they were happy. Reggie spotted me and his mouth dropped.

“Shae, what are you doing here?”

Danni shut up immediately, a small cut on her lip from when the ski pole hit her face instead of her torso. Looking at the wound, I didn’t feel guilty. She lifted her mask to gawk at Derek and I. I frowned and Derek wrapped his hand around my waist, pulling me in tight to him.