The Real(45)

“Shit,” he muttered under his breath as I told myself not to panic.

He slowly eased on the gas again and the SUV jolted as if it were free and then, spun tires.

“You don’t have snow tires?!” I asked in calm observation.

“Abbie, baby, don’t yell. It’s okay.”

“I’m not yelling!” I yelled.

“You’re panicking.”

“I’m not panicking!” I panicked.

“We’re okay, Abbie.”

“I’m fine!”

I was close to hyperventilating. I had to trust Cameron. He was a manly man. He could definitely give the woods a run for its money.

“Why did you bring me here?”

Cameron sighed as he hit the gas again and lodged us where we sat. He slammed his palms against the steering wheel. “FUCK!”

“We’re stuck?” I asked as he hung his head and slowly nodded.

“I’ve got some stuff in the back,” he said, glancing over at me. “I’ll get us out.”

“Okay, can I help?”

I was already shaking as he leaned over.

“Abbie, don’t freak out, okay? It’s a test, and we’re going to pass it. Matter of fact, I’ll wager with you right here and now that within an hour, I’m going to cook you the best steak of your life and we’re going to laugh about this in that hot shower you want so badly. We’ll wear matching flannel pajamas—you top me bottom—while we watch movies and then wear no pajamas while I watch you come. That’s how tonight is going to go, okay?”

I nodded.

“Trust me?”

“Yes,” I said with a sigh. “Just hurry up and get me out of here.”

“How do you like your steak?”

Before I could answer, he was out of the SUV and lifting the lid of the trunk. All I could hear was the howl of the storm and the metal clacking behind me.

I pitched my voice back at him in warning. “If you’re thinking about making any jokes right now at my expense, like merely fucking around that you may be hurt or in trouble in any way, I’m warning you, I will make you cry and you will lose a testicle.”

“That’s my witchy woman.” He chuckled as I heard the clatter of iron and a few grunts.

Manly grunts.

Because Cameron was all man. But it did little to ease my nerves as he circled the SUV.

A few minutes later, confidence high, Cameron got back into the SUV and put the truck into gear. I clasped my hands together in silent prayer as he hit the gas.




“Man, it’s really coming down,” Cameron said as I glared at the side of his head. We’d been in the truck for hours and the snow wasn’t stopping. He’d avoided my eyes for the last hour as we sat in the pitch dark, stuck in the dead-end driveway in the middle of a snowstorm, in the woods.

My back plastered to my seat, I continually looked out the windows, checking and double checking the locks to make sure no one could open the door. I should’ve felt safe with Cameron, but even if he’d multiplied by ten and surrounded the vehicle with heavy artillery, I would have been on edge.

“Abbie—”

“Don’t you even say it. Don’t you even think about leaving me here. It’s not happening.”

“Abbie, listen—”

“If we die, we die together.”

Cameron chuckled. “I know you have to use the bathroom. I’ve gone twice.”

“I’m fine.”

“Abbie.”

I turned to him with what I was sure were laser beams coming out of my retinas.

“Why? Why did you bring me to the woods?”

“I don’t feel safe enough at the moment to answer that question.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. I guess because I thought somehow I could get you to like it if we—”

“If we what?”

“If we made good memories here.” He shrugged.

I bit my lips in an attempt to keep the smart mouthed reply idle on my tongue.

“I’m sorry,” he said sincerely.

“It was a nice gesture,” I ground out. “Misplaced, but nice.”

“Are you mad?”

I turned to look at him and saw the disappointment in his features. I climbed onto his lap for the second time that day. He smiled as he palmed my ass.

“No. I mean, yes, it’s my worst nightmare come to life. But, hey, fears are meant to be conquered, right? Please, do tell me what your worst fear is so I can return the favor and make it just as romantic for you someday.” I bat my eyelashes and his body shook with his laugh.

“Point taken.”

“I do have to pee.”

“I know.”

“Once we do this,” I warned, “there’s no going back. All the sweet etiquette of our new union will be erased. You will have seen me squat.”

“I’ll turn my back. But I can live with it.”

“I don’t think I can.”

“Come on.” He moved to open the door.

“WAIT!” I shrieked.

“Okay,” he said, taking his hand off the handle.

“Just give me a mental moment. Tell me something. Anything.”