Four hours, three pit stops and seven coffees later we were on a bumpy dirt road in the middle of nowhere. Tall pine and spruce trees towered above, sheltering us from the afternoon light. I hadn’t been camping since as long as I could remember. But I felt like I missed it. Not all the memories had faded when I took the cure.
When I saw the small structure in a small opening in the woods, I realized that it was exactly what I had expected. A log cabin, the size of a small house with an adorable chimney, some firewood was stacked alongside it, and I could somewhat see an area a bonfire was meant for, surrounded by logs for sitting on.
It was everything I imagined and wanted. “It’s... beautiful.” For lack of better words.
He pulled up his truck in front of it and put it in neutral before getting out and grinning at me. “I’ve missed the place.” He murmured as he walked around the side and grabbed a few bags. I realized now that neither of us were really city people. We aren’t the biggest socialites.
I climbed out of the truck carefully, trying not to fall and landed on the damp ground to realize I hadn’t put my shoes on. The cool grass was nice against my feet, and it was a shame as I stepped into my flippy-floppies. I smiled to myself. “How long has it been?” I asked him walking around the back to get my bag.
He sighed, not wanting to meet my gaze. “About a year.” He knew I took whatever opportunity I could to poke at Jean. It was simply too easy. Most the time, it amused him as well. “Jean doesn’t like camping.” His voice was monotone, he’d trained himself not to be affected by her ‘quirks.’ “This doesn’t even count as camping.” He muttered. “If there’s a fridge, it’s not camping.”
I shrugged. “No one’s perfect.” I grabbed my bag and followed him into the cabin where he dropped his bags on the ground and carried the cooler to the fridge. As I walked over the couch to drop my bag onto it, my eyes locked onto the one bed in the corner.
“Sorry, there’s only one bed. Hope that’s okay.” He glanced at me as he put a couple things into the freezer. “If it isn’t I can sleep on the floor.”
I rolled my eyes. “I don’t care.” I mutter, unzipping my bag, and wondering why I was suddenly worried if I talked in my sleep like Jubilee said at one sleepover. He finished unloading the cooler and started with his bag into some drawers.
“Want to go into town to pick up a few things?” He took a gulp of a beer I hadn’t seen him grab. “Just necessities.”
I smiled back leaning against the couch. “Meaning things Jean wouldn’t let you get?”
He grinned. “Smore supplies, more beer, cigars.”
I laughed. “I’m in.”
After we finished unpacking everything we drove into the small town I couldn’t help but smile. It had the simple stores of a small town. An ice cream store, a small movie dome known as the “Roxy Theatre,” a restaurant, a place to rent movies, and a bar, a grocery store and a gas station.
Somehow this place seemed amazing. It made me feel safe and at home. I smiled as I watched the passing stores, like a little strip mall. We parked and walked over to the grocery store.
He smiled at me as he opened the door. “After you,” He murmured.
I grinned back and walked in, automatically walking over to the fruits and vegetables, grabbing some peaches, bananas and strawberries. Logan groaned as I grabbed a few other vegetables. “We’ve got to eat more than mashed potatoes and hot dogs Logan.” I insisted poking him in the stomach.
He laughed. “Fine. But some bacon or sausages wouldn’t hurt anyone.”
“Deal.” I agreed.
We made our way up to the checkout counter where an old woman began to ring up our stuff. “Oh my word!” She gasped. “If it isn’t Mr. Howlett!”
I saw a small smile creep across his face. “Hey there Barbara. Been a while huh?”
She had white hair and a face full of wrinkles, but there wasn’t a sweeter looking woman I could think of. She peered over at me and hid an embarrassed smile as her gaze flickered to Logan. “And this must be the girl you were always talking about!”
I sucked in a breath. “No, I’m not Jean—“ I began to intercede just as she spoke.
“Marie!”
I froze, shocked before I stole a glance at Logan who I could swear was blushing as he pulled out his debit card. I already had my wallet out. “No, Logan come on, my turn to pay for groceries.”
“As if.” He rolled his eyes and Barbara squealed with delight.
“You two are just adorable.”
“So I hear.” Logan said smoothly, not bothering to correct her.
I folded my arms across my chest and walked over to grab the two bags. He followed me out and I saw him smirk as Barbara called. “I’ll see you two later then!”
“I’m sure you will.” He called back to her.
We were almost at the car when I started imitating her. “This must be the girl you were always talking about!” My voice high pitched and amused.
“Shut up.” He grumbled opening the car door.
“You two are just ADORABLE!” I laughed, unable to stop myself as I got into the truck. “So I hear.” I muttered trying to make my voice sound deep. “God. Like enough people don’t think we’re together.”
He had been about to put his keys in the ignition when he paused. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
I shrugged. “Just Emma’s new boy toy couldn’t stop talking about it while you were gone.”
“Oh.” He sounded relieved before he was concerned again. “You never told me that.”
“I didn’t see a point.” I revealed, not thinking much of it.
He chuckled slightly. “I suppose not.” He put the keys in the ignition before peering across the street. I looked in the direction his eyes were pointed and saw the bar. “Wanna stop for a drink?”
I glanced at the time on my phone. Only 5:00. “Sure.”
***
I took another swig of my beer and giggled, kind of drunk. I’d had some liquid courage. I cheered at the girl on the stage singing some song I couldn’t recognize. Apparently it was karaoke night.
I leaned into Logan, who gazed at me with a great deal of amusement. “Well kid, had enough yet?” He took another gulp.
I shook my head stubbornly. “No. I don’t want to go back yet.” I got up and nearly fell in the process, tripping over my chair, I realized that his arms were around me a moment after he did, and he instantaneously balanced me and let go.
I took a deep breath just as I heard the song the girl was singing finish. He glanced at the stage and then back to me, a smile on his lips. I read his mind immediately. “No Logan.” He grabbed my hands and started to drag me up. “Logan come on! No!” I wouldn’t budge.
He swung me over his shoulder within the moment and next thing I knew he set me down on the stage. “Come on, one song.”
“No!” I shrieked. Suddenly there were cheers from the crowd around me. Chanting for us to sing. He grinned down at me.
“Please?” He begged.
I glared at him and stood up, grabbing a microphone. “What song?”
I should have known, he started laughing as soon as he made the selection. The first piano chords really didn’t ring a bell until he started singing. I was immediately surprised. He wasn’t a bad singer at all, doing it an octave lower than the original, or maybe I was drunk after all.
“Just a small town girl... living in a lonely world...” I stared into his eyes as he sang to me, and I heard the cheers around us. “She took the midnight train going anywhere.” I immediately thought of that night, when he’d found me on the train.
I stood up. “Just a city boy.” I couldn’t stop grinning at him as I sang the words. I finished the verse and couldn’t help but start dancing as the song became more intense. We started trading lines, instinctively, not even having to think about it. Easy as breathing.
Don’t stop believing. I couldn’t believe it. There were so many songs that he could pick, but he chose the one song that I loved. And now, we had a song. laughed at the irony and faked rocker enthusiasm, listening to the crowd around us cheering. I grinned at him.
For a smile they can share the night, it goes on and on...
He took a step closer to me, and I felt my hand crawl up his chest, and rest on his shoulder. His other hand was on my waist as we moved with the rhythm comfortably. We laughed, and I leaned into him without realizing it. Hold onto that feeling. It was overwhelming me. How had I never felt this before?
The song started to fade, and as the music fell into the sound of the people of the bar shouting at us to kiss. I found myself face to face with the world’s deadliest man, his lips just inches away from mine.
But Jean was my friend. I pulled away from him.
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Author's Chapter Notes:
This gets a bit song fictionish. Just to let you know. I hope I wrote it okay.
Chapter End Notes:
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