Saved by the Blizzard: A romantic winter thriller (Tellure Hollow Book 2) (9 page)

“He’s never told you?” I began slowly.

“Told me what?” she replied with a practiced innocent blink.

Was she really ignorant or just playing me?
“I’m sure if you knew, you would’ve said something about it by now...Kay, I...” There was something in her expression that made me hesitate, something hungry. She lived off alcohol, drama, Diet Coke, and gossip. I decided to test her, give her some of the truth and see what she did with it. “Rick loaned me money a while back.”

“Aw babe, and he wants you to pay him back?” she replied with a sympathetic pout. “How much? I have some saved up. I’ll help you out.”

“Two hundred and fifty thousand.”

Kayla laughed. “No, seriously. I want to help.”

“I am being serious,” I said balling the towel up and throwing it across the room. I opened my makeup drawer and began patting my skin with powder. “And I don’t need help paying it back. I have the money.” I looked myself in the eye. “I just don’t agree with the repayment terms.”

Her mouth hung open. “How? Why?” she stammered. “I had no idea you had that kind of money. You don’t act like you’re—”

“Rich?” I said with an edge to my voice. Kayla looked at me with wide eyes. To her, showing you had wealth was almost more important than actually being wealthy. “It’s not for me.” I replaced the lid on the powder and sighed. “It’s for my dad.”

“So...what then? What’s the problem? That’s why he’s been after you, because of the money?” Kayla shook her head. “I know he can be a real asshole sometimes, but it just doesn’t sound like him. If you want, I can try and talk to him about it?”

I avoided her eye, trying to appear embarrassed when in fact, this was exactly what I’d hoped she’d say. She and Rick had a different relationship, one almost of equals. If she was able to convince him to back off, then all the better. Plus, their conversation would reveal the truth and I’d get to see what she’d do with that information. Two birds, one juicy stone.

“If you don’t mind. I know borrowing money from people gets complicated, I just...” I sighed, resting my hands on the counter and looked up at the ceiling. “I never thought he’d come after me so hard.”

Kayla rubbed my shoulder and nodded. “Let me see what I can do, alright?” After a moment of comfort, she jumped off the counter with a loud clack. “Now! Let’s get you fixed up and back out to that party. If we get a few drinks in everyone, I think I’ll be able to work my magic. New Year’s is coming!”

____________

We slipped and slid our way back down the mountain. All I wanted was to find Bryan, ignore Rick, and ring in the new year right. With the seedlings planted in Kayla’s brain, I felt as though I’d done enough for one night. I could control baby steps and with enough, I’d eventually fix things.

Scanning the people scattered across the snow and ice, it wasn’t difficult to spot the tall figures of Bryan and Rick standing to the side of the small shed. Kayla was babbling on about something, but as we drew closer, I put my hand on her arm and held a finger to my mouth to indicate quiet. I motioned that we should move around back, unnoticed. Approaching the opposite side of the shed, it was easy to hear their conversation. We couldn’t see them from this vantage, but Rick’s voice came in loud and clear.

“So what, you’re loaded or something?” I heard Rick ask.

“You could say that,” Bryan chuckled. The arrogance in his voice sounded so foreign. I’d never heard him act so cocky. “Between my career and the accident, I have a fair amount in the bank.”

I furrowed my brow.
His career?
With everything that’d been going on with Rick chasing me, the whirlwind way I’d started to fall for him, I realized with a shock that I didn’t know that much about him. I knew a bit about the accident, that his father died, but nothing deeper. I didn’t actually think he was just a guy who worked in a ski shop, did I? And he had money? This whole thing was odd. Why hadn’t he said anything about this?

Rick laughed this time. “You’re saying you want to buy Beth’s virginity from me?” My eyes flew to Kayla who looked at me with surprise. I didn’t have time for embarrassment. My heart froze. Is this what they were actually talking about? Had Bryan seriously said that before I’d walked down the hill? I couldn’t move. I barely heard the words, my ears were ringing so loudly. My neck and chest prickled with heat as my temper rose.

I closed my eyes and hoped Bryan’s reaction would be different, would be more like the Bryan I knew.
I must be getting all this out of context,
I thought, but instead I heard that same laugh. “Are you fucking deaf? I told you I already took it...recoup your losses...naive girl.” These words popped out as if in bold print on a page. Kayla looped her arm through mine and pleaded for some kind of explanation.

Naive girl? Is that what you really think of me?
I was furious. I was that terrible kind of angry that leaves you shaking, trembling, even crying. The kind where men think they should try and comfort you when really, they should be hiding any sharp objects within reach. I stood there listening to them negotiate a price on my body, too shocked and horrified to do anything. It was only when they started throwing out genuine numbers that I lost my shit.

Pulling Kayla out by her arm like a shield, I emerged from the shadows of the shed to see them facing each other, deep in conversation. Bryan’s back was to me and I was sure Rick had seen us appear, but he made no notice.

“Three hundred,” Bryan said.

I didn’t know who to glower at more, the jackass who’d ruined my life and was chasing me or the jackass who just offered to sell me like livestock. Rick stood back and smirked. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted to hurt someone so badly in my life. No matter how much that policeman Hughes had liked me, I don’t think I’d be able to talk my way out of an assault charge with my breasts.

“You have got to be kidding me,” I shouted. For some reason, the shocked look on Bryan’s face made it even worse, like a kid who’d been caught in a lie. “Oh please, keep bargaining. Let’s see how low you can get him.” My vision swam in tears but I resorted to the same snarky attitude that’d always kept me strong. “Quick question, though. When you’re finished, do I just lay down and spread my legs here?”

Kayla gasped and pulled me close. “What are they talking about?” I shook my head. So much for my well-laid plans, but I guess it didn’t matter anymore.

The tiny foundation we’d built together crumbled to ash. I couldn’t believe the person in front of me, the one I’d heard talking with such audacity, was the same who’d knelt in front of me, bandaging my wounds while I spilled out my life story. The same kissable mouth, the same warm, hazel eyes but who really lurked behind them? I panicked as he stepped towards me, afraid of what I might do if he touched me.

“Don’t you dare come near me,” I snapped.

“I trust you, too. I’ve been more open with you than anyone—” he started but I couldn’t bear to listen to any more.

I pushed him away, like I push everyone away. Even my self-righteousness couldn’t make me feel any better about it. Bragging about taking my virginity...I couldn’t stop myself. I had to throw it back in his face if that’s all he cared about, embarrass him even a fraction of the amount he’d embarrassed me.

“And by the way, just so you know, I’m still a virgin,” I said directly to Rick. If I was on my own, I had to protect myself completely. “At this rate, I will be for the rest of my life, fuckers.”

I turned right around and followed my footsteps back up the hill, cursing the entire way.

____________

“More,” I said holding out my mug of hot chocolate. Kayla and I were both curled up in my bed, nestled in a sea of pillows and blankets. We watched the dancing flames of the lit fire, a light snow drifting by the windows outside. Without a word, Kayla reached over to the side table and picked up the bottle of whiskey and uncorked it.

“You know how I feel about the guy, but I don’t understand why you’re so upset with him. It’s not like he lied to you or anything,” she said as she tipped another shot into the cocoa. I pulled it close, wrapping my hands around it and took a sip. I glanced at the open laptop at the foot of the bed. A Wikipedia page had been left open, Bryan “The Blizzard” Marsh’s face in the corner. I hadn’t been able to read anything past the first paragraph, but Kay had given me a brief rundown.

“He lied by omission, for weeks. This isn’t a little thing, you know?”

“I guess...”

I turned towards her, my eyes tearing up before I could even pry the words from my mouth. “I told him everything.
Everything
. We even...last night...” The tears rolled hot and fast down my cheeks. Kayla wrapped her arm around me and pulled me into a tight hug. He knew everything, even stuff I’ve never even been able to tell her, my closest friend.

“It’s alright, sweetie. Shhh, don’t worry about him. He’s nobody,” she said as she soothed me. “At least now we can trade sex tips,” she giggled. Kayla was a sweetheart but she could never really handle deep conversations very well. Her instinct was always to joke.

I shook my head, wiping the tears away with the back of my hand. “No, we didn’t do that. Pretty much everything but...” I sniffed. The party was still raging outside, coming up to midnight and this was how I was going to bring in the new year. Half drunk, crying over some guy, in bed with my best friend. Classy.

“Aw, what an asshole.” She paused as if deep in thought. “You actually sold your virginity?”

I groaned and pulled the comforter up over my head. “Can we please not talk about this now?”

“Why did you do it? Because you could?” For once, she sounded curious and sensitive. My defenses were lowered and it caught me off guard.

I poked my head out and sighed. “If you boil it down, yeah. I knew he wanted it, so I figured why not? I think I’d heard about some girl selling hers online and got the idea.” Tucking the puffy comforter under my armpits, I chuckled. “The way I see it, I’m not actually a prostitute until I give it up. Until then, I’m merely a con artist.”

“Nothing new there,” Kayla laughed. She shifted to face me, resting her head on her hand. “What did you spend the money on, then? Obviously not clothes.”

“I haven’t spent it. Like I said, it’s for my dad. I’ve been letting it earn interest, which I even offered to give Rick. I thought more money might smooth things over with him...”

“How do you think he found you on Christmas?”

I took another sip of cocoa, the liquor and chocolate soothing my nerves. “I have no idea. It’s a small town, Bryan’s a local. Maybe he just asked around and figured out where the family cabin was.”

“Well, it sounds like he was getting out there just in time to save you,” Kayla said with a huff.

Just as I was about to defend Bryan, a loud pounding reverberated down the hall from the front door. We both looked at each other in surprise.

“It’s him,” I said. I could almost feel the urgency through the knock. “Can you please get rid of him? I really don’t want to do this right now.” I pulled the thick blankets up around my chin and wiggled further down into the bed.

“Gladly,” she said bouncing out of the bed. She left the bedroom door open and as much as I tried not to, I focused on her footsteps and the click of the front door. I couldn’t hear the actual words, just the murmur of conversation until Bryan shouted.

“Liz! I know you’re in there. Please, just let me explain and then I’ll go away if you want. Please!”

I threw my mug onto the side table and clamped my hands over my ears. His voice tore right through me. I wanted nothing more than to believe the lies he’d inevitably tell me, to try and forget any of this happened but I couldn’t. Was I seriously that bad a judge of character? First Rick, now him. Apparently I was.

Kayla’s voice rose to meet his and the shouting eventually stopped. The door slammed shut and Kayla’s bare feet slapped against the wood floor as she ran back to the bedroom. She dove under the covers with a shiver.

“He’s gone, it’s alright.”

“What did he say?”

“Does it matter?”

I snuggled into the pillow and sighed. “I suppose not, no. Do you wanna watch a movie or something? We could watch some cheesy New Year’s movie where everything works out in the end.”

“Ahh shit...” Kayla said as she sat up in bed.

I followed her eyes to the windows just as Bryan came into view. He lifted his gloved hand to touch the glass, scanning the room. He immediately saw the roaring fire and looked to the bed, our eyes connecting instantly. The agony in his expression weakened my resolve. Kayla shouting at my side was the only thing that stopped me from completely crumbling.

“Get the hell out of here, you creeper! I’m gonna call the police in two seconds if you don’t leave.”

Bryan opened the unlocked door and stepped in. “I don’t care. I don’t care what happens to me as long as I get to explain myself. I’ll go back to that cell but Liz, please.” He gripped the door.

“No, get the fuck out of here. Go,” Kayla yelled. She was on her knees at the edge of the bed screaming as loudly as she could. No matter what she yelled, his eyes stayed locked on mine.

I slid out of the bed and stood, the back of my legs pressed against the tall mattress. Kayla quieted at the movement, a tiny smile curling her lips, perhaps waiting for my outburst. When I spoke, my voice was low and so much more controlled than I’d expected. “I know what I heard back there. I know who you are now. I’m not sure—”