Filed to story: Crushing on My Enemy Stepbrother
The harshness in his voice takes me by surprise and I shrink back slightly into my seat, fiddling with a loose thread on my shirt as I try to backtrack.
‘I’m sorry, that was rude’ I mumble, ‘It’s none of my business, sorry, that was weird of me, forget I even asked.’
The Marine blows out a harsh breath, the tension in the air easing slightly as his gaze flicks quickly to me and then back to the road.
‘Don’t apologise’ he grumbles, ‘it’s not weird to wonder why I left something that I just told you I loved.’ He smiles sadly, ‘it’s just . . . painful for me, talking about it.’
I nod quietly, waiting patiently as the man beside me sorts out the thoughts in his head.
When he doesn’t continue, I tentatively reach out my hand, placing it on top of his where it rests on his thigh. He startles slightly, his gaze falling to our joined hands before raising to mine. I give him a small smile that he slowly returns, turning his hand over and threading our fingers together.
We travel together in silence just like that, our hands clasped as he steers the SUV skilfully with the other. It takes a few hours but finally, we’re weaving our way down a rough track, through a forest until we break out into a clearing where a large log cabin stands.
My breath catches as the building in front of us comes into view, it’s a gorgeous two story house with a porch that runs all the way around the perimeter.
Slowing to a stop, Caleb stares at the cabin for a moment, a flurry of emotions fluttering across his face that I can’t catch before they are gone again. Taking a deep breath, he climbs out, making his way around to my side and opening the door. Holding out his hand, he waits for me to take it before helping me down and wrapping an arm around my shoulders.
‘So’ he starts, smiling over at me, though his smile doesn’t quite reach his eyes, ‘what do you think?’
I stare open-mouthed for a minute before spluttering, ‘it’s incredible.’
Caleb chuckles sadly, squeezing me gently, ‘my great great grandpa built it himself’ he informs me, a warmth and pride in his voice as he runs his gaze over the sturdy residence.
‘Your family built that?’ I demand incredulously, turning my head to stare at him instead. ‘I don’t think my relatives have even built one of those wooden kits you can buy!’
The Marine chuckles again, his shoulders relaxing as a wistful look crosses his face. ‘My great great grandpa was a carpenter’ he explains. . ‘He built furniture and all sorts, the story goes that when he met my great great grandma, she wouldn’t date him, every time he’d go to the store she worked at and asked her, she would turn him down. He asked her what he had to do to get her to agree to just one chance of a date with him. She supposedly said that he had to build her something that she could never buy in a store.’
I giggle as he winks at me, ‘so he built her a house?’ I ask in amazement.
‘Uh huh’ Caleb replies, ‘she actually thought he’d given up trying to pursue her as he didn’t come and see her for over six months. He’d stop by the store to pick up groceries and things, but he never approached her station or asked her out again. Then one day, he turned up and said he’d finished making her gift and it was time to show her. She still made it hard on him, refused point blank to get in the truck to go and see this amazing thing he had made that she could never buy. In the end, he had to promise her that if she didn’t like it that he would never ask her out again.’
I’m full on laughing now, Caleb chuckling along with me as he draws me closer to the cabin. ‘Anyway, after so much persuading on his part, he got her to get in his beat up old truck and drover her out here to this clearing. They pulled up in front of this, at the time it was only a single story and there was no porch, just a few steps up to the door.’
‘But it was still something that your great great grandma couldn’t buy in the store’ I sigh, smiling softly at how romantic it all must have been.
‘She agreed to a date, and then another, and another and they got married. This was their family home, when my grandpa inherited it, he added the second floor and the porch. My mum was the one who was supposed to inherit the cabin from grandpa but . . ‘ he face falls slightly and his throat bobs as he swallows.
‘It’s OK’ I say softly, ‘you don’t have to continue.’
He nods, blinking rapidly a few times before giving me a small smile, ‘so it now belongs to dad and when he passes, it will be mine and Gage’s. We used to come here all the time when we were little, I haven’t been back since . . well I haven’t been here in a while’ he amends pensively, his steps faltering slightly as his gaze zones in on the front door.
We make our way up the sturdy steps just as I gasp and start to turn back toward the SUV.
‘Our luggage’ I argue as Caleb turns me back toward the house.
‘Will still be there later when I go out and get it, right now I want to show you the cabin.’
Rummaging in his pocket, the Marine pulls out a key, releasing me just long enough to slide it into the hole and turn it before pushing the door inward. Grabbing my hand, he drags me inside as I stare in awe around us. All of the furniture is wooden and from the age, I’d say it was probably made at the same time as this cabin. The living area is open plan, and bookshelves line one wall, overflowing with books and board games. A large TV hangs on the wall over a working fireplace, and as I keep looking, I find more and more upgrades that must have been added as it was handed down through the generations.
An archway leads through to a kitchen that is also modern, though whoever did it has tried to keep with the traditional feel of the property.
I run my fingers along the countertop as Caleb pulls open the door to the refrigerator which has a few essentials already inside.
‘I had the management company bring in what we’d need for tonight’ he explains, ‘but we’ll need to drive into town for supplies tomorrow.’
I nod, moving to the rear window that looks out over a glass-like lake at the bottom of a rustic brick path.
I feel two arms wrap around me, Caleb’s chin resting on the top of my head, ‘my Grandpa put the steps in after he took it over’ he murmurs, ‘he worried that my Grandma would fall when she went down to the water. She had problems with her legs sometimes and could be a little unsteady.’
I nod, leaning back into his embrace, ‘what will you add when you take over?’ I murmur.
Caleb’s grip tightens on me slightly, ‘whatever my wife needs me to add’ he replies, ‘if I manage to find myself someone willing to take my sorry ass on’ he adds with a forced laugh.
I hate hearing the defeat in his voice though, the tinge of disbelief that he’ll get the happily ever after that everyone dreams of. I decide now is not the time for that argument though, right now, I just want to enjoy the feeling of Caleb behind me, relaxed and safe, knowing that if someone is after him or me, that they won’t find us.