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The hearth wasn’t lit either. The ash and embers from yesterday still smoldered in the hearth, proof that Ash hadn’t even come in when I’d slept.
Was he avoiding me?
“You’re being ridiculous,” I said to myself out loud. “You got what you wanted.”
I’d ached for Ash to fuck me, and that was exactly what he’d done. It didn’t have to mean anything. Hell, it was better that it didn’t mean anything. I wasn’t ready for a relationship. I was just emotionally vulnerable. I was attracted to him because he was hot, and because he’d saved my life.
Wasn’t there some kind of syndrome where that happened? I couldn’t remember.
The fact that I was drawn to him because of his looks meant I had good taste. I was probably also on the rebound after Oscar and all the shit he’d gotten me into. Yeah, I definitely wasn’t ready for anything new. I was still tangled in the mess my last love had gotten me into.
It was better that Ash was avoiding me. He spared me a lot of heartache that wouldn’t do anyone any good.
I took a deep breath and nodded, determined to convince myself that it was nothing more than a rebound fling. A savior fling. I giggled at the idea.
Now that I’d decided I didn’t want to feel something for Ash, it was fine if he didn’t feel something for me. I would feel much better.
I’d found another dress in the closet. It was more like a robe of sorts, and I had to wrap it around myself in a strange fashion, like I’d seen in pictures of the ancient Greeks.
It was surprisingly comfortable.
Once I’d covered up my nakedness, I moved around the cabin, cleaning up. There wasn’t much to put away, but the cabin could do with a deep clean. It looked like it hadn’t been cleaned in a very long time, with dust particles floating like glitter in the sunlight that poured through the windows.
I’d cleaned the place before, but I hadn’t gotten nearly all of it.
I decided to knuckle down and get into it. I had to keep myself busy doing something, and there was nothing else to do. A life without electricity—without televisions, phones, radio… without any noise at all, come to think of it—was peaceful and terrifying at the same time. I wasn’t used to being alone with my thoughts this much. There was nothing to do, nowhere to rush to, and no one to please. Yet, I started to enjoy my solitude.
I’d never thought I would feel this way. I hummed to myself and got lost in the simple motion of cleaning.
A knock on the door startled me, yanking me out of the hypnotizing motion I’d been in while scrubbing. I sat back on my heels and stared at the door. I tasted my heart in my throat, my pulse fluttering in fear. Ash never knocked, just walked in.
I held my breath and waited. Maybe if they thought no one was in here, they would go away.
My mind spun. Ash had said no one would find us here. He’d said I would be safe, no matter what.
Another knock sounded.
“Hello?” a female voice called out, and I frowned. A woman couldn’t be dangerous, could she? Would the traffickers have sent a woman to draw me out?
“I know you’re worried,” the voice sounded again, “but I’m not here to hurt you. I know you’re hiding here. I just want to hang out. You must be lonely, right?”
I stood and moved toward the door. She—whoever she was—didn’t sound like a threat.
When I opened the door, it was like sunshine flooded into the cabin. A woman stood in front of me. Flowers had been woven into her long, dark curly hair, and her petite face held a bright smile and light green eyes.
“I’m Philippa,” she said, and held out her hand.
“Lorraine,” I said.
“It’s so good to meet you!”
I shook her hand, and warmth enveloped me. I had no idea who Philippa was or where she’d come from, but I liked her right away.
“Do you want to come in?” I asked.
Philippa nodded eagerly and stepped inside. “I love your tunic,” she said.
I noticed she wore something similar, a tunic wrapped around her body almost like mine that was fastened with a golden chain that had pendants. She wore leather sandals, and her skin almost glowed.
