Page 58 of Forever Found

“I’ll coordinate with this packing company and make sure the new place is all set up as fast as possible, so it’s good for Addy when she’s ready to come back,” I told Asher, leaving Kane to mull over what he’d been told.

“I’d appreciate that, man,” Asher told me and I nodded, relieved to see him looking more relaxed now. I hated what I’d put him through. I knew what it had done to him the night before, having to ask me if I was using again after everything he went through the last time I was. I hated that I’d done that to him and to my brother. I needed to apologize to Jordan too, a lot. He had to have been terrified when he thought I’d slipped again. This was why I had to pull myself together. I couldn’t continue putting the ones I loved through the ringer because I was a selfish asshole. I had to do better.

CHAPTER 20

ADDY

My rumbling stomach woke me up. I was still laid in Jordans arms, just as I’d been when we fell asleep. He’d been at the cabin with me for two days now and it had been amazing. We’d had sex last night too, and I couldn’t seem to get enough of him, or the incredible way he brought me to life with his magical touch. The sex had been awesome, and the idea that I had feared it seemed ridiculous to me now, but I guessed that was just because it was Jordan, and I trusted him deeply.

We’d spent some quality time together too, watching movies, making dinner, and going out for brisk walks in the snow. Eli had driven into town and bought toboggans for us all that day, and we’d spent the whole afternoon racing down a large hill, not far from the cabin. It had been such childlike fun and I’d loved sharing every second of it with Eli and Jordan. In those two days I hadn’t had any nightmares or flashbacks. When my anxiety started to rear up, Jordan had been right there, holding me, or making me smile, chasing away the darkness with his light. It had been perfection, and I had tried not to allow any of my worries to creep in and ruin it. I just wanted one weekend to be normal.

“Princess? Nightmare?” Jordan uttered sleepily as I started to pull myself rom his hold.

“No. No nightmares. I’m just hungry. I worked up an appetite,” I told him playfully as I leaned over him and kissed the end of his nose. “Go back to sleep. I’ll be back.”

“’kay, but eat plenty. I plan to make you work up that appetite again in the morning,” he told me with a sleepy smile. I smiled too as I slid from his hold and climbed out of bed. The cabin was warm, so I just pulled on Jordan’s t-shirt and my panties, not bothering with my robe. I left the room and tiptoed down the stairs, not wanting to wake Eli, grateful for the lights one of the guys had the forethought to leave on downstairs for me.

I didn’t turn any more lights on as I crept into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. The small lights under the cabinets were enough for me to see what I was doing, along with the glaring light from the refrigerator.

I pulled out some cheese and some grapes, then a knife so I could cut a few slices of the cheese for myself. It was so unlike me to be hungry, especially in the night. I smiled as I realized I likely had worked up an appetite with Jordan before we fell asleep wrapped around each other. I could definitely get used to that.

I had to climb onto the counter to reach a plate from the high cabinet, but once I had it I set to work putting a small bunch of green grapes on my plate, then I cut a few slices of the cheddar Eli had picked up from a little deli in the town.

I paused mid slice when I heard a crash from outside, but I didn’t think much of it. We were in the woods after all, and the trash had already been raided once by some wildlife when Eli didn’t put the lid on the can properly.

Once I had what I wanted I grabbed the leftover food and loaded it back into the refrigerator, then grabbed a can of soda and moved to the counter to sit down.

Ash had told us he’d be back the next day, and while I was looking forward to him being with us again, I worried Jordan would leave as soon as he had his Jeep back. It was enough to make me contemplate returning home too. At least then I’d be with Jordan, but it also meant I’d have to face Kane and Adam and I wasn’t sure I was ready for that devastation.

I shook my head as I told myself I was having one weekend without worrying. All of this would be waiting for me soon enough. I needed to take this time to enjoy the beautiful place I was in and the great people I was with.

I popped a grape into my mouth and looked out through the huge front window at the lake. The only light came from the full moon above but it was enough to show me the slight glimmer and movement of the water, and the sway of the tall trees in the wind. It really was the most beautiful place I had ever been and I had loved being there, even with the bitter weather and so much snow.

I was just finishing up, ready to cuddle up back in my warm bed with Jordan when movement outside caught my eye. My heart pounded as I froze in place and stared out of the window, but it wasn’t an animal, as I expected to see. There was a man outside, looking around the car on the drive. Instinctively I slid from my stool and dropped to my hands and knees on the floor. I crawled over to the side of the sofa and peeked out enough to see the guy was still there. He had a hat or something on, and it was too dark to make out any details, but he was bending to do something under the driver’s side of the car. My panic only rose as another figure appeared and approached the first. Who were they? Were they the maintenance guys for the cabin? I quashed that thought as fast as it came. Why the heck would maintenance guys come in the middle of the night and be messing with our rental car?

I was frozen in place, watching the both of them as they seemed to talk to each other, then they moved around the cabin again, heading for the back, I guessed. It was the terror that they’d try to get in through the back doors that had me moving finally. I crawled to the stairs, then ran for my life, leaping up the steps three and four at a time.

“Jordan!” I cried as loud as I dare as I burst into my room gasping. Tears were running down my face and I couldn’t stop shaking.

“Addy?” Jordan sat straight up and looked to me with fear. “What is it? What happened?” He was already on his feet, hurrying to me where I stood frozen. “Fuck, you’re freezing,” he hissed as he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me against him.

“There…there’s men outside…two guys. They w-went round the back,” I spewed out all at once. “I saw them…two men.”

“Two men outside? You’re sure?” he asked as he moved me towards the window which faced the lake.

“I’m sure. Who are they?” I asked shakily as I clung to him.

“Fuck!” Jordan hissed as he dropped the slat of the blind he peaked under and stepped back. “There’s a car at the end of the lane. We have to wake Eli. Where’s your phone, Addy?” he asked as he held me at arm’s length and looked to me for an answer. I pointed to where it sat on the nightstand and Jordan let go of me long enough to reach for it.

“I need you to call Ash, okay? And get some clothes on too. I don’t know what we’re gonna do, but it’ll be easier if you’re dressed,” he told me in hushed tones. “I need to grab clothes andwake Eli. Can you call Ash for me?” he asked, and I nodded again as I took my cell from him and held it in my trembling hands.

“I’ll be right back,” he whispered, then he was gone and I just stood shaking and staring out of the open bedroom door. My cell in my hand reminded me what I had to do, and I gave myself a shake as I unlocked the screen and dialed Asher’s contact, my hands trembling badly.

As it rang I started pulling clothes from the closet, not even taking notice of what they were. I was already pulling on a pair of jeans when Ash finally picked up.

“Addy?” he rasped sleepily.

“Th-there’s someone outside,” I whispered. “Jordan t-told me to call you…two men a-and a car outside,” I babbled as I collapsed onto my bed with my jeans only half on.