Page 50 of Cedarwood Cabin

“I…” I hesitate for a moment. “I used to paint landscapes mostly. Places I visited, places I imagined. I guess it’s my way to escape. Creating a world that feels safe and beautiful.”

“I’d love to see your paintings sometime.”

His interest makes me smile. “Maybe I’ll show you some. That’s if I find the courage to dig them out.”

A fly buzzes near my face and I flick my hand. “Truth be told…when my mother died, I just painted with the color black. I haven’t painted at all since my father's death.”

Dax sits up and places a hand on my knee, his eyes filled with genuine concern and empathy. Talking about my parents hurts and I feel a hard lump form in my throat.

“After my father died, I just couldn't bring myself to do it anymore. It just felt pointless, you know?”

“Maybe being here will help you paint again, hopefully in color.”

I look into Dax's eyes, wanting to wrap my arms around and hug him. He smiles and his playful demeanor returns. “Plus, we’ve got a pretty awesome hot tub here. That’s gotta count for something, right?” he asks, trying to cheer me up and change the subject.

I laugh. “You're right. It does.”

Dax stands up, extends his hand out, and I grab it. “Come on. Let's head back.”

When Dax and I returned to the cabin, we settled in to watch House of Wax. Halfway through, Lyka joined us, his hair slightly messy and sawdust sprinkled on his flannel from working on his wood projects all day.

By now, the storm has arrived and is in full swing. I stand in the stockroom, scanning the shelves for some snacks. My stomach rumbles, craving something sweet. My eyes land on a packet of candy just as Lyka enters the room. He reaches above me to grab a packet of mixed nuts.

“Enjoy watching?” he asks quietly.

I feel a rush of panic and my heart skips a beat.

Fuck! Oh my god! He knew I watched him please himself. Oh, fuck!

I try to think of an excuse. “Uh…” I stutter.

Lyka looks at me with a confused expression. “Misery is my favorite. However, I do like House of Wax, too.”

“Oh, yeah! The movie…” I reply, trying to sound nonchalant.

Lyka gives me a strange look, but says nothing more. He exits the stockroom, leaving me alone with my mind going crazy. I’m surprised he even spoke to me. He is normally so blunt and stern. I take a moment to catch my breath, steady myself, and then head into the kitchen. The wind outside is howling and rain violently lashes against the windows.

I lean against the counter, unwrap the candy, and take a bite. Dax walks into the kitchen. “Find something good?”

“Just some candy,” I reply.

He grabs a couple of beers from the fridge and hands one to me. “Damn, it's stormy outside,” he says, clinking his bottle against mine. “Cheers to surviving the first day of lockdown.”

“Cheers,” I echo, feeling more at ease. We both take a sip.

Dax and I walk into the living room. Lyka is already settled on the couch, munching on his packet of mixed nuts and scrolling through his phone. I take a seat beside him, sinking into the cushions as Dax rummages through the stack of DVDs, looking for our next movie.

I turn to Lyka and ask, “Any news on the lockdown situation?”

He glances up from his phone and simply shakes his head. Dax finally finds a DVD and pops it into the player. He then sits on the couch next to me as the movie begins.

“Don’t you guys have a computer or internet here?” I ask.

Dax chuckles, glancing at Lyka before answering. “Our parents were old school. They hated technology. But, we had phones as we got older, so it wasn't a big deal.”

I nod, understanding the sentiment behind it. The movie plays on, filling the room with laughter and lighthearted banter.

TWELVE

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