Page 1 of Wicked Winter Night
CHAPTER ONE
Day Before Christmas Eve
The road is blurry as I fight back the tears forming in my eyes. Snow falls fast on the ground outside, and the roads are slick. Crying would only make my anxiety worse about having to drive in these conditions, but I had to leave. I couldn’t stay there any longer. Catching my own fiancé fucking my best friend inour bed was not what I expected to happen two days before Christmas. I might have lost my shit and thrown a few things at them, but can ya blame a girl? Liam and I had been together for eight years, and I caught him balls deep in Kaci, my best friend of fifteen years. Fuck both of them. May they never know a moment’s peace moving forward. I hope my face haunts their dreams. May both sides of their pillows always be hot, and I hope that every time they’re about to orgasm, it fades. Fuck love. And fuck friendships.
My body is vibrating, and it’s not from the cold. I feel like I could scream until my heart gives out, but in an effort to prevent myself from completely spiraling, I decided to make a drive out to my family's cabin in the woods. Just a peaceful, quiet Christmas alone. I can’t go home because I don’t want to deal with the interrogation from my mother and sister.How could you have missed the signs?What did you do to make him stray? He’s such a nice man, you should try to make it work.I can only handle my family in small doses as an adult, and that’s just a type of medicine I don’t want to take right now.
Looking back on a few things, I can see how I was stupid and naive in some situations, but forgive me for thinking adults could be friends without wanting to rip each other's clothes off. Thankfully, I can get a little Christmas spirit at the cabin, considering it’s where we all used to go to spend Christmas together. There should still be a flocked Christmas tree and some decorations in the attic I can use to spruce up the place. I made a pit stop at the grocery store to pick up what I need to get me through a few days, including a nice Christmas dinner I can make. I can get through this. Fuck men. Fuck best friends. The only thing I know is that I always have myself, and I always survive.
The snow begins falling faster onto the ground the closer I get to the cabin. The sky is pitch black, only lit by the moon’s softglow and the twinkling of the stars. The heat in my car is on full blast, and I’m bundled in my favorite sweat suit. F.U.R.B (F U Right Back) by Frankee blares loudly on the speakers, and I am belting the words with rage-filled anger when my phone slides off the seat.
“Shit,” I whisper to myself.
I bend down, trying to keep my head above the dashboard and stick my arm out, reaching around the floorboard. It’s just out of reach as my fingertips graze the edge. I push further, taking my eyes off the road for a split second and grab it, sitting back upright in my seat. Just as my eyes hit the road again, they widen, noticing a man standing in the middle of the pavement, and I slam on my brakes and jerk my wheel to the left. The tires slip and slide on the slick ground, and I scream, trying to right the wheel of my car while moving in the direction of my tires. The car spins out twice before coming to a stop, facing the wrong way on the road, right where the guy had been standing. My heart is pounding in my chest, and I feel like it’s going to explode. My hands are gripping the steering wheel so tight, my knuckles have turned sheet white.
“What the fuck,” I whisper to myself, staring at the empty road illuminated by my headlights. I didn’t feel a bump, so I know I didn’t hit him. Or did I? Did I just hit someone?! I frantically unbuckle my seatbelt and throw the door open, grabbing my thicker coat from the passenger seat and throwing it over my body. The snow crunches beneath my boots as I rush over to where I last saw the man standing.
“Hello?” I shout. “Is anyone there?”
Silence. There’s nothing but the sound of the snow falling and the distant sound of the whooshing of my windshield wipers.
“Hello?” I shout again, moving to each side of the road, searching around. “Is anyone hurt?”
Again, silence greets me, and I’m left stunned by what could have happened. If I didn’t hit him, then shouldn’t he have at least checked on me after spinning out? I mean, it was his fault that he was in the middle of the road. If it had been another car, he might not have been so lucky.
I spend the next 10 minutes searching up and down the street for any signs of a body, but I come up empty. If someone were here, he’s gone now, and I can’t stand out here anymore. I can’t feel my hands or face, and I’m pretty sure the snot running down my nose has frozen to my face. Walking back to my car, I take one more look over my shoulder, but the result is the same. I get in my car, shoving my face and hands into the heat from the vent before I put it in drive, turn around, and head toward the cabin.
What the hell just happened?
CHAPTER TWO
The familiar wooden structure greets me ahead as I make my way down the never-ending road leading up to it. It’s been too many years since I’ve been here, and a few memories come flashing back in my mind. Mom’s homemade apple pie, sitting by the fire and reading Christmas stories, chopping down our own tree in the woods nearby—so many happy moments. This cabin has been in my family for generations, but as my sister andI got older, we started coming less and less. I don’t think anyone has been here in years.
I bring the car to a stop, turning the engine off and gathering my belongings. The snow has eased up, now only falling in light flurries. I only grab what I need to get through the door. I’ll come back out for the rest. Throwing my jacket back on, I step out of the car and close the door before heading up the worn-down stairs. This place is in need of a little TLC after all these years, but Mom sends a caretaker out here every few months to ensure there are no squatters and that everything is working properly, should anyone want to come up here.
Sticking the key in the lock and turning it, the door creaks open. It’s pitch black, and the air is stale, but I quickly find a light switch and flip it on. The cabin is immediately lit by the warm yellow glow of fluorescent lighting. The air has a musty smell to it, and I crinkle my nose, trying to breathe through it. The furniture is covered in sheets, draped across it to protect the fabric from bugs. I flip the sink on to confirm there is running water. The pipes rumble a little, then several spurts rush out of the spout until it becomes a steady stream. Excellent. I open the fridge, confirming it is clean and waiting to be stocked. Everything looks fine down here, so I head to my car and grab the ice chest I packed with the food I’ll be needing during my stay. Well, food and wine. Gotta have wine.
I pull the ice chest from my back seat and drag it through the snow, using two hands while I walk backwards. Once I hit the steps, I slowly place a foot up each one while pulling the heavy plastic box with me. I shouldn’t have grabbed such a big ham when it’s just me, but it was on sale at the last minute, and I couldn’t resist. It looks so good.
Once I’ve finally pulled the chest through the front door, I close and lock it, picking up my keys from the table by the door and doing the same to my car. An overwhelming sense ofsadness creeps up on me out of nowhere, and I sit on top of the ice chest, hanging my head in my hands as the tears start pouring down my face. I know I said I don’t need anyone—and I don’t—but the idea of starting over is daunting. I’m thirty. I expected to be married already, at least to have found the “right guy” to spend the rest of my life with. I don’tneedanyone, but having someone Iwantis nice. I thought I was finally there. Finally at a point of comfort. Of safety. Ofsecurity. I guess I was wrong.
“Damn it, Ella. Pull yourself together,” I whisper to myself, and I wipe my face, get to my feet, and drag the cooler all the way to the fridge. Once the food is loaded, I get to work on the rest of the house, pulling the sheets off the furniture, lugging my bags upstairs, and unpacking. The master has an attached bathroom with a garden tub, and a hot bath sounds amazing right now, so I grab a towel and start the water, putting on my favorite Sleep Token album as I step over the edge. Warmth envelopes me when I lower myself in, and I exhale, trying to rid myself of the stress from the last 24 hours. I lean my head back, closing my eyes, but a memory floats into my mind.
I can’t wait to show Liam his gift. He’s been begging for a new wallet for some time, so I saved up and bought him a dark mahogany brown leather trifold wallet and had it engraved with L & E 4ever. I just know he’s gonna love it.
I pull into my assigned parking space at our apartment complex, shutting off my engine. I got off early today, and I wanted to surprise him. I wasn't supposed to be off for another three hours, so I took the opportunity to pick up his wallet and some dinner on the way home. Giggling all the way up the stairs, excited for his reaction, I unlock the door and sneak inside.
“Liam, honey, I’m home early!” I yell, but there’s no response. Odd. Because I know I saw his car out front.
“Liam?” I call out again, making my way to our bedroom.
Soft moans echo from the bedroom, and I freeze. My heart rate picks up at the impending dread I feel because not only are those familiar sounds, but I recognize the voices.
Slowly, I take a few more steps, turn the knob on the door, and push it open. What I feared was happening is suddenly before me. Kaci, my best friend of fifteen years, is on all fours on top of the bed, and my fiancé is currently thrusting in and out of her. The moans fill the air, and by the sound of it, he’s close to finishing. Fuck that.
“WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK,” I scream, and both of them scramble, muttering “shit” and “fuck” back and forth.
“Ella, it’s not what it looks like,” Kaci says, covering herself with my comforter while trying to find her clothes.