Page 64 of The Cabin

There’s another noise. A chair scrapes along the hardwood floors and there’s a smack. From the sound of the chain clinking against the hallway lamp, I think somebody got pushed up against the wall there, shaking the table it sits on.

“You’re going to put a baby in me, Grayson, or I’m going to absolutely ruin you. The pharmacy called about my birth control prescription. Said I needed a new script. I told them I had stopped taking it months ago, and do you know what they said?” I close my eyes, stomach in knots. This is so bad. Jesus, he doesn't deserve this.

He doesn’t answer, but I hear him grunt. I mean, I definitely have to go out there, right?

“They said, ‘Really? Because your husband’s been picking it up every month.’ What did you do, Grayson? WHAT DID YOU FUCKING DO?” I don’t know that I’ve ever heard someone scream like that. Furious, wild, crazed.

I have to do something.

“He was picking it up for me,” I stammer, stumbling out into the hallway. Both of their heads turn towards me as I barely catch myself before falling face first into the floor.

“Sol?” Natalie asks, confusion written all over her face.

“Hi, Natalie.” I give a very awkward wave. Why did I do that?

“Sol…” I refuse to make eye contact with Grayson. I know what I’ll see, but I’m going to do this anyway.

“What are you doing here? Are you staying in your cabin for the summer? Gosh, it’s been so long…” Her body language shifts startlingly fast. She’s in ‘damage control’ mode. ‘Keep up with appearances’ mode.

“No, I’m actually staying inthiscabin for the summer.” Her eyebrows shoot up.

“Sol.” He’s more insistent this time. I ignore him. I’m just happy she has backed away from him and given him enough space that I feel a little less panicked. The immediate threat has subsided slightly.

“I thought Grayson had come up here to stay for the summer?” The smile on her face is forced and so stiff it looks like she cemented it there.

“He did.”

“Okay, so…”

“We’restaying here this summer, Natalie. Together.” Big deep breath. Fuck. I can do this. For Grayson. He has shown me this kind of kindness, and I can return the favor. He deserves someone in his corner.

“We’ve been together. For months. That’s why he was filling the birth control prescription. I couldn’t get a script and we were taking precautions.”

“Sol! Absolutely not!” There’s so much grief on his face. He would never put me in this position. He’s going to feel so guilty.

I would do it again, though. To save him.

I hold up a hand in Grayson’s direction. “It’s fine, babe. Cat’s out of the bag.”

I am getting daggers shot at me from both sides. Natalie’s are depraved, ferocious. But Grayson’s are just agonized.

“You’ve been cheating on me?” She rounds on Grayson and I give him a very stern, very pointed look. He’s quiet for a long time before releasing a breath. “Yeah.”

“Oh my god, isn’t this rich! My useless, impotent, sorry excuse for a man husband has been cheating on me with the sad, pathetic girl who always wanted to be me and have the things I did. Congratulations, Sol. Your dreams have finally come true. You can fucking have him.” She spits in my direction. Grayson’s reaction is immediate.

I lunge forward, stepping in front of him. Putting a hand on his thigh behind me.

“Do not talk about her like that,” he fumes. I can feel how hard his breathing is against my back.

“Oh, I’m going to talk about her a lot. I’m going straight to our lawyer and letting him know all about this. You’re not gonna get a penny. Absolutely nothing. I’m keeping the house, the cars, I’m keeping it all.” They stare off with me very uncomfortably right between them.

“I’ll email and let him know I’ll update my signatures electronically.”

She does not like that response. At all. She raises her hand as if to slap him and I shove my chest into hers on pure instinct. So fast, without consciously deciding to. With enough force that she steps back a few feet.

“It’s time to go, Natalie.” I nod towards the door.

“Who the hell do you think you are telling me to get out of my own cabin?” She screeches.

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