The cabin was exactly as advertised in the listing—rustic, charming, and mercifully spacious. Three bedrooms meant I wouldn't have to share, which was the only good thing about the situation. The drive had been long, and by the time we'd arrived around midnight, I was exhausted and ready to collapse into bed.

Sarah had gone straight upstairs to claim the master bedroom, leaving me and Marcus to figure out the logistics of the remaining two rooms. I grabbed my bags and headed for the smaller bedroom down the hall, as far from everything as possible.

I'd just finished unpacking the essentials when Sarah knocked on my door, holding a bottle of wine.

"Peace offering?" she asked, smiling apologetically. "I know you're annoyed about Marcus."

I took the bottle from her and pulled her inside. "I'm annoyed about the situation, not you."

"I know," she said, settling on the edge of my bed. "But I also know I kind of sprung this on you, and that wasn't fair."

"It really wasn't," I agreed, but I was already softening. Sarah had always had that effect on me—she was genuinely good-natured, and it was hard to stay angry at someone who actually cared.

We found glasses in the kitchen and settled on the cabin's porch, overlooking the dark forest. The air was cool and crisp, and for a moment, I felt some of my tension ease. The wine was cold and smooth, the kind of wine that made you forget to pace yourself.

"So, what do you plan to do with Derek?" Sarah asked quietly. "He's getting worse"

"I know, right?," I said, taking another sip. "He thinks every man on earth wants to get under my pants, I don't know what gives him that impression."

"Well, I wouldn't blame him," she replied, winking her eyes, "you're too hot to not put a rein on you, I wouldn't hesitate to make a move if I was a man"

I took another sip, laughing at her words, "you can still make a move, you know I'm not biased" I jabbed her shoulder "maybe we should give it a try"

She burst into laughter and I followed, "No, no, I don't swing that way, and we're better off as friends"

We clinked our glasses taking a sip at the same time and I leaned on the porch railing, taking in the view, "I think he's planning to propose" I said suddenly, sighing a little

Sarah leaned on th other side of the railing facing me "why do I feel you are not happy?"

"I don't know" I replied, conflicted. "We've only been together for a while, and I can't see myself settling down with him, with his whole...you know. I mean, we're not even married, and he acts like I'm his property and all. You know how I almost lost a client few months ago because of him"

Sarah nodded, "so what do you do? Break up? I don't think he'll let you go that easily, I don't even know how you got together with him in the first place...the only good thing about him is his face"

I knew Sarah wasn't really a fan of Derek, which was something considering she liked everybody. But apart from his possessiveness, Derek was ok, he was hot, and most importantly...he was good in bed, that was the reason I got together with him in the beginning.

But getting married, that was whole story entirely, I couldn't even imagine a life with him...or anyone else, maybe I wasn't cut out for marriage.

"He hasn't really brought it up though" I replied, "as long as he doesn't, we're good. It's not too late to end it if he has intentions of taking it further. At worse I'll relocate and find a hotter man with a bigger dick"

"Evie!!"

"What? It's true, that's the only important thing"

"Whatever, as long as you're ok. Just be careful, insecure men like him sometimes get violent. We don't want him caving in your beautiful face"

"He'd be long dead before that" I laughed downing the rest of my drink and pouring another, "at least I have one week away from him, and I'm going to ignore the one variable and have the best week of my life" I raised my glass and she clinked hers against it.

"For what it's worth," Sarah said, "Marcus isn't a bad person, he's more bark than bite. I know he's insufferable, but you don't have to like him. You just have to not kill him this week."

"I'll try," I said. "But no promises."

We finished the bottle as the night deepened, talking about everything and nothing. Sarah was my only safe space, I can't even remember how my life looked like before her, two contrasting personalities that didn't seem possible, but we made it work.

We went inside eventually, both of us tipsy and laughing at things that weren't particularly funny. Sarah headed upstairs to the master bedroom, and I collapsed into mine, still in my clothes, the wine making the room spin pleasantly.

I was almost asleep when I heard footsteps in the hallway, then the sound of Marcus's bedroom door closing.

I would try to pretend he wasn't around and try my best not to react to his snide remarks and superiority complex.

I would do this not just for Sarah but also for my perfect week off.

The next morning started peacefully enough. I woke to sunlight streaming through the windows and the smell of coffee drifting up from downstairs. Sarah was already up, moving through the kitchen with the kind of competence she brought to everything. Marcus was nowhere to be seen—probably still asleep or out taking a morning walk or doing something else that kept him away from me.

Perfect.

"Good morning," Sarah chirped, handing me a mug. "How's your head?"

"Better than expected," I admitted, accepting the coffee gratefully. "The wine hit harder than I thought."

"That's what happens when you drink on an empty stomach," she said, setting down a plate of scrambled eggs and toast. "Eat something."

"You talk like you didn't drink too" I mumbled inhaling the coffee and sighing in satisfaction before taking a sip

"I handle alcohol better than you do" she countered taking a sit and digging into her food

"That's true"

I watched her wash the plates after we were done eating, then looked around, Marcus was still nowhere to be seen.

"And where's the pettifogger?" I asked

"Marcus?" Sarah turned to me drying her hands on a napkin "he left for his morning run after making breakfast"

"He made breakfast?"

"Yes, he likes eating before his morning run, says he can run on an empty belly"

"But isn't that the purpose of a morning exercise?"

Sarah shrugged her shoulders

"He's always so weird" I said finally, closing the subject.

We spent the morning on the porch, reading and occasionally talking about nothing in particular. It was exactly the kind of relaxed, easy time I'd been craving. No drama, no tension, just the simple pleasure of being with my best friend in a beautiful place.

At around eleven o'clock, my phone buzzed.

Then it buzzed again.

And again.

I ignored it at first, but after the fifth buzz, I checked it. Five missed calls from Derek, each one with an increasingly aggressive series of texts.

Where are you?

Why aren't you answering?

Are you with him?

Call me back. NOW.

I felt my stomach tighten. This wasn't unusual—Derek often called multiple times if I didn't answer immediately—but it still made my anger spike.

"Don't answer," Sarah said, noticing my expression.

"I have to," I said, already standing up. "He'll just keep calling."

I walked down to the edge of the porch, away from Sarah, and dialed Derek back. He answered on the first ring.

"Where the hell have you been?" he demanded.

"I was on the porch reading," I said calmly. "We just got here yesterday. I'm allowed to not answer my phone immediately."

"You weren't responding to texts—"

"Because I was reading, Derek. Not everything is a crisis."

"I just wanted to make sure you were okay," he said, and there was that manipulative softness to his voice that made me want to scream. "You could have just answered."

"I'm answering now," I said, trying to keep my voice level. "I'm fine. Sarah's fine. Everything is fine."

"What about Marcus?" The way he said the name was loaded with accusation.

"What about him?" I asked, hearing my voice getting sharper.

"Where is he? What's he doing right now?"

"I don't know, Derek. I don't track his movements. He's probably sleeping or hiking or literally anything that isn't my responsibility."

"You're defensive," he said, as if pointing out my tone was the same as proving his suspicions.

"I'm not defensive. I'm annoyed. There's a difference."

"Annoyed at me?"

"Yes," I said, gesturing even though he couldn't see me. "At this conversation. You call constantly, you ask me these questions like I'm doing something wrong, like I'm not allowed to have a life outside you"

"I'm not—"

"Yes, you are," I said quietly. "You're checking up on me, asking where I am, who I'm with, what I'm doing. That's not normal."

There was a pause. When he spoke again, his voice was softer, more vulnerable. "I just don't want to lose you."

And there it was—the thing that always made me cave, the thing that made me feel guilty for being angry.

"You're not going to lose me," I said, my anger deflating.

"I'm serious," he continued. "You're out there with some guy, and I'm here worried that—"

"Nothing is going to happen," I said firmly. "Marcus is Sarah's brother. He's not interested in me, and I'm certainly not interested in him. You have to trust me."

"I do trust you," he said. "It's him I don't trust."

"Well, you're going to have to figure it out, because I'm not leaving the trip." I said it with finality. If he wasn't ok with it, he could go suck his dick

I hung up and went back inside, Sarah took one look at my face and didn't ask. She just pulled me into a hug, and I let myself stay there for a moment, accepting the comfort without having to explain.

"I'm getting scared," Sarah said quietly.

"It's nothing," I replied, "it's always been like this, nothing new"

"That doesn't mean it's okay," Sarah said. "That doesn't mean you have to accept it."

"It's nothing really, you know me, I won't ever allow myself to suffer a loss. I'd have him five feet below the ground before he even thinks of doing anything to me." I replied "Alright, let's not spend our first day mopping over Derek, he's not worth it, let's go get out bikinis, it's beach time... I need to get a proper tan before we go back"

Sarah smiled, following obediently as I dragged her back to our rooms.

"Let's show off these sexy ass and boobs"

Sarah gasped, slapping my hands, but I caught the smile tugging at her face.

"You aren't showing off any ass, Sarah" I commented looking at her choice of bikini, it was a simple swim skirt with a matching crop top that covered everything, where was the ass and boobs?

Sarah laughed at my words, looking at my own choice of bikini wear and nodding, "you can show off enough ass and boobs for the both of us"

I smiled, turning around in my bikini for her to see, it was a simple and very sexy two piece with a white shirt draped over it left unbuttoned to give an illusion of modesty

It was perfect

Marcus appeared from his room just as we were about to leave, looking annoyingly put-together in dark jeans and a shirt that emphasized his shoulders.

"You guys going out?" he asked.

"To the beach," Sarah explained "want to come?"

I shot her a look, but she ignored it.

"Sure," he said grabbing his wallet

"Stop" I held a finger up, "you're coming in...that?" I gesticulated to his outfit

"What about it is wrong?"

"It's a beach"

"And?"

"Don't tell me you're too dumb to know what a beach is all about"

"And you're obviously too foolish to realize I can wear whatever I want to wherever I want"

"Sarah," I turned to her, "can you hear him? He's calling me a fool for caring about his stupid ass"

"I think you should be more concerned with your boobs spilling out of whatever rag remains you're wearing than my outfit"

"What?" I thundered getting pissed, "so now you have a problem with my outfit? You wouldn't know real taste, you old fashioned crook" I stormed out of the cabin, Sarah chasing after me as she told Marcus off behind me

"Her outfit is perfect, what's wrong with you Marcus?"

"There's nothing perfect about something that covers nothing"

I turned back to him, "and how is that any of your business? "

"Exactly"

I puffed, trying to control my anger, this is exactly why I can't relate with him at all. How am I supposed to tolerate someone who doesn't even understand what to wear to a beach? I blame my busybody self for trying to help him, I deserve whatever he threw at me.

I'm never speaking to him again till the end of this trip

Never.

We got to the beach quite late—because of him—the warm morning sun was gone, replaced by a scorching heat that had me removing my shirt just two hours into my sunbathing.

Marcus was cooking, boiling—literarily—and I couldn't be happier, what better proof of my words than the great pettifogger steaming in dark jeans and fitted t-shirt?

I wanted to shout "told ya!!" in his face.

Sarah was resting under a shade fanning herself as she waved at me, I waved back, sweat trickling down my spin as I sat up and moved towards the two of them, taking a sip of the cold drink in front of her

I nearly laughed watching Marcus fumble with his clothes, fanning himself again and again.

"You should probably advise your dear brother to take off his shirt if he doesn't want to turn into a puddle of sweat before we leave"

Marcus glared at me while Sarah laughed but I said nothing moaning softly as the cold drink hit my throat again

"I'm gonna go get another," I stood shaking when drink was was quickly disappearing into my belly

"One watermelon juice pls" I said to the man at the counter scrolling on my phone as I waited for it.

"Hi, beautiful," a short, funny looking balloon shaped guy greeted.

I looked around, and seeing I was the only one around he could possibly be speaking to I almost burst into laughter... Was he trying to make a pass at me? Wow...

"Thanks?" I replied, praying internally that he's not one of those who likes causing a scene.

"I noticed you're alone, and I couldn't help but be mesmerized by your beauty how about..."

"I'm sorry, I cut in, I'm with my friend, so I need no company" my drink came and I took it offering a thank you and moved to leave

"I advise you reconsider my offer" he said holding my arm, the flirty tone gone replaced with a weird tone that sounded like he was trying to be intimidating, he gestured towards a table where four bulky and funny looking guys like him were already standing, trying to intimidate me by flexing their balloon looking shoulders

I sighed, I hate men like this, why be ugly and have a stupid personality too?

"Let go," I said trying to release myself from his grasp

He only held me tighter

I sighed dropping my drink and sweeping my hair back before kicking him hard in the groin

He screamed, doubling over as he immediately released his hold on me, his friends—if that's what they were— ran to him just as Marcus and Sarah also got to my side

Sarah turned to me checking my bruised arm and glaring at him while his friends helpex him up asking if he was ok

I pushed Sarah to my back and looked at the man, "next time you want to pick on a woman, ensure you know who exactly you're getting yourself involved me, you should be thankful I didn't ruin your useless dick. If I ever see you again, I'll make sure you never remember what an erection feels like."

"You whore," the man screamed, "why dress like that if you didn't want men ogling at you?"

Marcus stepped in front of me, blocking my view before I could even reply, "if a beautiful woman makes it difficult for you to kept it in your pants, maybe your dick is better off being cut off, at least that way you wouldn't have to endure getting it up for a random woman"

The man's face paled

"If you don't believe me," Marcus continued, "you can try me," he bent down a little staring into the man's eyes flexing his shoulders, "my muscles could use a little exercise"

The man scrambled away still holding his crotch, with his friends following after him

I looked up at Marcus, he was really hot, he'd taken off his shirt, and with him flexing his muscled shoulders, sweat trickling down his body as he wiped himself down with his shirt watching the five scramble away, he looked exactly like the kind of man whose dick I'd like to suck at least once in my life

But when he turned back to look at me, a scowl on his face and stupid words coming from his mouth, whatever fantasy was going on in my head shattered

"Why would you do something like that?"

"Like what now?" I sighed, "is it my fault some random men decided I was the best target to pick on?"

"Like kicking a man of that size in the groin, what if he had retaliated?"

"Marcus, calm down" Sarah intervened linking her arms around mine "at least everything worked out well and she's fine. Besides..." She said looking back at me briefly, "Evie has a black belt in MMA, she's fully capable of taking down a few men"

Marcus scoffed, "If she was so good, why...?"

"Stop," I cut him off, clearly pissed now, why did he help if he was only going to nitpick? "I don't think a cold drink is going to cut this," I said, storming away from him and dragging Sarah with me, "let's get a strong drink, I don't think I can face your brother without punching him in the face"

Sarah laughed

The drink burned the back of my throat as I downed it in one go, immediately pouring another. Any thoughts of sunbathing was gone, the sun was already setting too, and the heat was reducing, but Marcus didn't put on his shirt as he lay on the mat.

My phone rang

Derek

I ignored it

It rang again, and again, and again

I switched it off, "fuck it Derek, can't you let me live in peace?" I groaned downing another drink

"We need to get going," Sarah said dragging me up and picking my phone, "you're drunk"

"I'm not" I replied letting go of her hand and trying to steady myself but failing terribly

"Marcus" Sarah said, "help carry her before she hits her head on something"

"No" I protested, but I was already off the ground and on his back

I cursed loudly as we trekked back, cursing the stupid man for ruiningy beach day, cursing Marcus for being an arse, Sarah struggled to hold her laughter, and Marcus kept jabbing me to stay still and stop making ridiculous comments.

I scoffed, but shut my mouth. Couldn't risk him dropping me and making me break my neck.