Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 76647 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76647 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
“Honestly, I didn’t do my best thinking last night, either.”
“It’s not the same, though. Drew and Carter were right. I tried to take away your autonomy, your right to make a decision for yourself. In that regard, I’m no better than the people in your past who’ve mistreated you and tried to take away your power.”
However mad I’d been last night, it was hard to feel that way today. Especially with Tristan sounding so upset with himself. “There’s a difference,” I said.
“How’s that?”
“Those people… my overbearing stage mom, and various demanding directors… they kept me down for years. You screwed up last night, and you’ve apologized for it today. That’s a big difference.”
“I just wish I’d never hurt you in the first place.”
He was still pacing, so I reached out and touched his arm, stopping him. Then I moved into him, pulling his arm over my shoulder. He tilted his head and rested his cold cheek on my shoulder. “I’m sorry,” he said again.
I squeezed his hand and for a while, we stood there in silence. The woods were stark, but the snow was pristine and beautiful.
“I heard you slept with Drew. I mean real sleep, not, you know…” He trailed off.
“That’s right. It was nice. I’m still tired, though. That happens to me after things get emotional.”
“I’m tired, too. Didn’t sleep well last night.” He sighed, squeezing my shoulders. “Sierra?”
“Yes?”
“Will you take a little nap with me?”
“I’d like that.”
He kept his arm around me the whole way back to the cabin.
“Oh shit,” Carter muttered. “That’s not good.”
It was after dinner—which was the first meal we’d eaten together today—and now we were in our usual spots in the living room watching videos on the screen above the fireplace.
There were a couple new clips on Lila James’ Battery Operated channel. One was her review of a high-tech air fryer. But the one we watched right now was completely different than anything I’d seen her do.
“They’re complete Luddites,” she claimed. On the screen behind her was what appeared to be a publicity photo of three handsome men.
“What does that mean?” Drew whispered.
“They’re anti-tech,” Carter answered quickly.
“Shh,” Tristan scolded. He was still a big fan of Lila’s videos.
“Down to Earth,” Lila said. “That’s the name of their show. And what do they do? Give tips on grilling a good steak. Show you how to change your oil. Yet, stats show they’re gaining popularity among women eighteen to twenty-five. Why do you think that is? I’m twenty-four, and I’ve never once had a burning desire to change my own oil.”
Carter chuckled.
“Newsflash,” she continued. “Women watch them because they’re hot.” She put up another photo of the three men, this time with the name Down to Earth underneath them. I had to admit, they were three very good-looking guys. Then Lila snapped her fingers, and the word Earth was crossed out with something else written on top of it so that it now read: Down to F*ck.
“There,” she said. “That’s why women watch them.”
Tristan whistled. “That girl wants to start a war.”
“She might just get one,” Carter agreed.
“Have any of you ever watched their show?” Drew asked.
I hadn’t, but I was kind of curious to see what it was about—and what their response might be.
The television went dark when her video was over. “Want to watch a movie?” Carter asked.
“I kind of feel like we’ve watched them all,” Drew said. “Or at least the good ones.”
“Well, we’re not playing a card game, that’s for damn sure,” Tristan said, and I nodded.
“Too bad we don’t have a jigsaw puzzle,” Drew said, and we all stared at him as if he was four. He shrugged. “It just seems like a cabin-in-the-woods kind of thing to do.”
Maybe he had a point.
“What would you like to do, Sierra?” Carter asked.
I thought about it, just as I’d been thinking about it for hours, ever since waking up from a nice nap with Tristan. “I’d like to see the upstairs bedrooms.”
Silence greeted that.
“I hoped all of you could give me a tour.”
“Are you sure?” Carter asked quietly.
“Yes.”
Tristan didn’t say anything, but when I met his eyes, something passed between us. Drew reached out and squeezed my fingers.
“All right. Why don’t you come on up in fifteen minutes?” Carter suggested.
That sounded good to me.
It was a little longer than a quarter of an hour later when I climbed the steps for the first time. I’d taken the world’s quickest shower and fixed my hair, but I kept my makeup light, now that I finally had some. I wore the dark balconette bra and panties I’d unearthed in my suitcase, along with Carter’s shimmery gray shirt on top of it. It would’ve been sexier to wear heels or go barefoot, but I’d opted for wool socks instead. Last night was about impressing them. Tonight would be about something different.