Page 51 of Sinful as They Come
“Huh...” I didn’t know that about Lucas.
“So?”
“Alright, yeah. Sounds good. Just us and Lucas?”
“Yup. Guy’s night. You like him, right? I know he’s friends with Carter, but he’s been cool to me.”
I nodded slowly. Me and Lucas weren’t close or anything. We’d give each other a friendly nod here and there and exchange a quick “what’s up?” when we had to be near each other. We had art together last year, and he had always been quick to compliment me on my projects. Dude was cool. I just didn’t like his friends. If he was willing to share his cabin with me and Brodie, then he was okay in my books. I could hang out with him.
Being in the outdoors was one of my favorite places to be, anyway. I liked the open sky. The sight of deep blue lakes and rivers that looked like they could take you anywhere you wanted. Far, far away. That sounded like heaven some days.
“Nah, he’s alright,” I said lowly. “But I finish work at six-thirty tonight. What time do we have to be there?”
“That’s fine. Lucas said he has a free period this afternoon, so he’s gonna drive up a little early and get all the shit set up. Barbeque and all that. You okay to drive up that way?”
I had been to Alden Lake a few times. The road twisted left and right and it wasn’t a fun place to be if you got car sick easily, but I didn’t mind. I liked the freedom of that place. How quiet it was. It was so easy to get lost in your thoughts up there, the breeze carrying everything away like your problems really didn’t matter in the long run.
It could be good inspiration for me. I did need to paint more. Maybe it could trigger something in me. Just the outdoors and some good food and freedom…
“Sounds fun, cousin,” I said with a grin.
Chapter 16
SAWYER
When me and Brodie got up to Alden Lake after a thirty-minute drive, the sun was on the brink of setting. The sky was a cast of orange and pink, the most beautiful kind of mixture.
My fingers gripped the steering wheel a little tighter, turning the sharp corners as we moved along the rocky road. The road was pretty old, but it had a certain charm to it. And I knew it would be worth it when we got to the cabin. Alden Lake was always gorgeous. The water almost looked haunting at night – the crystal blue turning into a curtain of seemingly never-ending blackness. It was a good way to spend the weekend, and I deserved a break.
“Ooh, I think I see the cabin.” Brodie sat up in his seat next to me. “Yeah, there’s Lucas’ car.”
I spotted Lucas’ SUV, the usually spotless vehicle speckled in some dirt. It was parked outside the two-storey cabin. It was a good old classic log cabin, probably built a few decades ago. It sat in the middle of a sea of looming oak trees, the brown building looking inviting after the drive. The ride was longer thanks to Brodie needing to make two pit stops. Most of the lights inside were already on, including the porch light which showed off a couple of white chairs that sat out the front.
We got closer and closer, my truck coming to a slow halt when I saw another car parked on the far side of the cabin. The side I couldn’t make out earlier. The shiny vehicle looked far too pristine to be in the middle ofthe fucking woods. Wasn’t it supposed to be just us and Lucas?
“Is that Carter’s car?” Brodie suddenly asked.
I nearly hit the brakes then and there.
Fuck.
I squinted at the black car in the nearby distance. No wonder it looked so fucking out of place. It was a goddamn Porsche. And of course, it belonged to Carter fuckin’ Henderson.
“God fucking dammit,” I mumbled. It was supposed to be a fun weekend. Just me and my cousin and Lucas. A few beers, some steaks, some good old star gazing. And now that asshole was here? Had Carter even been in the fucking woods before? Dude should have been at home cheating on his girlfriend.
It hit me then.
If Carter was here, then was Holly here too?
“If that fuckin’ tiara wearing brat is here, then I’m going home,” I said quickly.
“There’s no way she’s here. I don’t think Holly likes the woods. She’s gotta be back—"
As if on cue, Holly Sutton walked out of the cabin doors, standing under the vibrant light that shone above her.
“Fuck it, we’re leaving.” I was about to turn the truck around, but Lucas appeared behind Holly, sending me a wave. “Fuck me.”
“Let’s, uh, just be polite and courteous,” Brodie said with an uncomfortable chuckle.
