Chapter Thirty

Calla

I had to fight back the giggle that bubbled to the surface. Jake had a very strange sense of humor. The man was serious almost all the time, but these moments, when he let that little bit of his personality shine through made it all worth it.

“It was fine,” I winked.

He smirked. Blake was behind me and I heard was sounded a lot like a gag.

Leaning up on my tiptoes, I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “Thank you for everything,” I whispered.

I didn’t get the chance to hear what he had to say because Blake had grabbed my hand and was yanking me towards the waiting snowmobile. “Get on!” he fumed.

Once he got on I slid in behind him. One of the other men handed me a helmet. It was clear that Blake wasn’t going to give me his. Chivalry was dead in him. The other men turned their machines around and started down the driveway. Blake took one last look at me. I could see the anger and disgust in his eyes and smiled behind the full-face helmet, glad he couldn’t see it.

He whipped around and followed the men. I took one last glance behind me. Jake was standing there, arms crossed, hair blowing in the wind and a look on his face that cut right to the bone. I knew I had hurt him by not telling him about Blake. I should have. It was a mistake I would have to live with, but I would never regret the time I’d spent with him. These were memories I would treasure for the rest of my life.

The ride up the mountain was cold, and I was a little worried about Blake’s ability to control the snowmobile.

When we finally pulled up in front of the lodge, I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what was to come. Holly burst out of the double doors.

“Calla! Oh God! I’m so glad you’re okay. I’ve been sick with worry!” she squealed, wrapping her arms around me.

“I’m fine, thank you for sending the search team out for me. If you hadn’t, I don’t think I’d be standing here right now.”

She wiped a tear from her eye. “I’m so sorry it took me so long to realize you were missing.”

“It’s okay. It really isn’t your fault,” I assured her. “And look, I’m fine, unharmed. It wasn’t so bad.”

“I have a room,” Blake stated, grabbing my arm.

“I already had a room,” I reminded him.

“I know. I demanded an upgrade. We have a suite now,” he smirked. “It isn’t exactly first class, but it’s better than that tiny room you had.”

I opened my mouth to tell him we didn’t have anything, but didn’t get the chance.

“Miss Fanning?” a man approached us, his hand extended.

“Yes?”

“I’m Don, the manager here. Can we talk a minute?”

“She’s just returned. I think you can wait until she’s been able to change and have a meal,” Blake said, his tone haughty and rude.

I rolled my eyes. “I’m fine. Yes, what can I help you with?”

“My office?” he asked.

“Sure.” Blake started to follow, I turned and stared at him, stopping him in his tracks. “I can do this on my own, Blake.”

“Fine. I’ll get a bath started. Room 202. Don’t be too long.”

I exhaled a breath, praying for patience to tolerate the man.

“Have a seat,” Don gestured to a chair, closing his office door.

I sat down and waited, really anxious to change out of my snow gear.

“I understand you had quite a scare and for that I am truly sorry. Your, uh, boyfriend, has expressed his serious displeasure with how things unfolded. I hope you can understand that we did everything in our power to find you and ensure you were safe,” he said, folding his hands together.

“Thank you,” I said, not sure why he needed to tell me that in his office.

“Miss Fanning, are you expecting monetary compensation for the experience?” he asked, point blank.

My mouth dropped open, “What?”

He leaned back in his chair. “Blake has said he will be suing the lodge for a long list of offenses. I wanted to know what I could offer you to keep that from happening. Our trails are clearly marked and I do feel there is shared culpability.”

I began to laugh. I couldn’t stop myself. If anyone knew how horrible my experience had been, they would charge me.

“I’m sorry. I have no intention of suing anyone. Blake, well, he tends to get a little jumpy about things. I assure you, he does not speak for me. He has no legal right to speak for me. Your lodge is safe. All I really want is to change and go home,” I told him, meaning every word.

“You don’t intend to file a lawsuit?”

I smiled. “No. Trust me. I have no interest in suing anybody. If that’s all, I’m going to go.”

“Yes. Please, enjoy the remainder of your stay. The power is back and we will be having drinks in the main room later this evening. It’s a little celebration for our guests that had to ride out a tough storm with us.”

“Thank you,” I said, leaving the room.

I had no intention of showing up for drinks. I wanted to go home. I wanted to be in my own bed, cuddling my own dog. I would never forget my time with Jake, but it was over.

Opening the door to the suite, I was impressed. Blake walked towards me with a glass of champagne. “You look exhausted. I drew you a bath. Sit, soak and drink this.”

“I’m going home, Blake.”

“I know. We’ll go back tomorrow. We may as well enjoy the free upgrade I got for you,” he gloated.

I shook my head. “I cannot believe you took advantage of the situation. You’re a real piece of work, Blake.”

He shrugged and swallowed the contents of the glass. “You were lost and it was their fault.”

“No, it wasn’t. I went off the trail. I wandered away and I paid the price,” I explained.

He brushed my comments aside. “Just go take your bath.”

He made no move to kiss me or hold me or look at me like I was the only woman in the world he ever wanted to be with. He didn’t look at me like Jake looked at me. It was then I knew for sure. I was so over Blake. It wasn’t just the sex with Jake. It was seeing how a real man treated a woman that had made me see Blake with clear eyes. He was selfish, self-centered and just a real pain in the ass.

I popped open my suitcase and pulled out fresh, clean clothes. I quickly changed, eager to get home.

“You can’t leave. This can be a lovely romantic night away for us. Let’s talk,” Blake said, as if I hadn’t just told him I was leaving. “Let’s start over. When I thought I had lost you, it made me realize how important you are to me. I know things have been difficult, but I’m willing to accept you as you are.”

I scoffed. “As I am? Seriously? You’re ready to accept me and all my flaws? What about you, Blake? Do you honestly think you are some perfect man?”

He shrugged. “I’m not perfect. No one is, but I’m good looking, smart, successful. You could do a lot worse.”

I groaned, fighting back the urge to slap the pretentious dick.

“Blake, we are done. Over. We will never work. Enjoy the room at my expense.”

“You can’t drive. The roads are shit,” he sputtered out.

“I have four-wheel drive. I can drive just fine. I am not staying another minute in this room with you. Goodbye, Blake,” I said, dropping my suitcase to the floor. Pulling up the handle, I rolled it right out the door.

I felt free, and it was a wonderful feeling. For so long, there had always been Blake in the background. Even when we weren’t officially together, he was there. Not anymore.

I waved goodbye to the people in the lobby. People that knew me as the girl that got lost. I didn’t care.

The roads weren’t exactly great, he was right about that, but I was confident I could navigate them just fine. As I made my way down the mountain, I paused at the turn off that would lead me to Jake’s house. As much as I wanted to, I couldn’t do it. The man had taken me in because it was the right thing to do in the moment. There was nothing forcing him to let me in again.

I let off the brakes and slowly made my way down the road and off the mountain. I drove to my parent’s house, which was my current home for the month. That was going to be remedied very soon. I needed to put down roots. To grow up and settle down instead of drifting from place to place.

Knocking on the door of the woman who lived next door to my parents, I smiled, anxious to see my dog.

“Hi Mrs. Reynolds. I’m here to pick up Evie. How was she? I hope she was a good girl for you.”

The elderly woman smiled. “She is such a sweetheart. I just love her.”

Evie bounced around the woman’s ankles, anxious for me to pick her up. The Pomeranian had been a gift from Blake. Originally, he had wanted the dog and I didn’t, but once I snuggled with her, I was sold. When Blake and I split, I kept Evie. Blake didn’t care.

“Thank you again. I really appreciate you taking such good care of her while I was gone.”

“Of course, dear. Good night.”

Evie ran around my feet as we made our way back to my parents’ house. They were out of town until next week which is why I had to have Mrs. Reynold’s watch the dog.

When I walked inside, I took a moment to take it all in. I had missed home, but was definitely ready to get my own place. Depositing my suitcase in my room, I headed out to the living room. I plopped down on the sofa and flipped on the TV. Evie jumped up to sit beside me. I laughed at her tiny size compared to Casper, and briefly wondered if they would get along.

“You should see the big guy I hung out with the past couple days,” I said to the dog.

She ignored me.

“The dog,” I clarified. “I hung out with a big, soft dog.”

It wasn’t like she knew I was talking about Jake, but I felt the need to clarify it anyway. I missed him. Both of them. I missed sitting on the couch in the quiet little cabin with nothing but the fire crackling in the woodstove to look at.

“This is the real world, Evie. This is my life.”

The dog ignored me. I leaned back and flipped through the channels, trying to find something interesting to watch. Nothing caught my attention. Nothing could when it was so preoccupied by a blonde giant.

“Oh Evie. I’m so screwed,” I moaned.

The past three days had been amazing, life-changing, really. But now, it was time to face the facts. Jake didn’t want a relationship. As if that wasn’t enough, the fact I had lied to him about having a kind-of boyfriend had sealed my fate. Jake was not the kind of guy to trust people. I knew he had trusted me, even if only a little, and I had ruined that by not being honest up front.

I couldn’t have Jake, but I could change my life to make myself a little happier.