The Warrior's Second Chance Mate

Chapter Five: The Cabin

Annabeth

I could literally jump up and down as my shift was finally finished for today. The work was overall fine, and I loved coffee and making it, but the problem was the people. I didn’t enjoy the interaction with the customers on most days. I wasn’t a patient person and I definitely didn’t like it when people thought they could walk over me just because I was making their coffee.

Normally, the customers were fine and very pleasant, offering a smile and nice tips, but there were days like this one when the overbearing pretentious arseholes came. At the beginning of the shift, I was able to push the unpleasant need to tell them off to the back of my mind, but as the hours went by and my mood decreased and my headache increased, it became harder to do so. The sassy remarks I wanted to throw at them or the sarcastic comments that were on the tip of my tongue became harder to control and I had to literally bite my tongue in order to be quiet.

I shook my head as I was walking towards my locker, changing from my work clothes into a comfortable t-shirt, jeans and a grey hoodie as I closed and locked the locker before finally heading back home. I was living in the two-bedroom flat with my roommate, Josephine, Jo for short, sharing the space.

She was great, funny, kind and very easy-going. Beautiful inside and out, something that is very uncommon nowadays. We just clicked. It was unexpected for me, as I rarely made friends so fast, but nevertheless, the feeling was pleasant and very much welcomed. I liked people who were not easily offended or sensitive and they knew how to make fun of themselves.

I was walking through the small town where I lived now, enjoying the fresh spring air and the scent of nature that surrounded the area with broad never-ending thick forest that smelled like pines. I fell in love with this town the first time I came here. It was a little bit further away from the university than the campus and dorms I lived in before, but it was less crowded and more personal, silent and comfortable. Thankfully, Jo also studied at university, so I could drive with her, which really made it much easier for me.

It was almost like a sign that I found her ad for renting a room three months ago when I desperately needed to leave the dorms. As if someone up there had mercy on my poor soul and helped me escape. I came here and found the place to call home for the first time.

I felt safe here, even if I was alone walking through the thick empty forest or if I was coming home after the long shift during the night, I felt safe here in this town. Protected. It was an odd feeling. I have never felt safe anywhere.

I didn’t have any real home as I grew up mostly in a foster care and an orphanage. So, to call some place a home was very new to me, but I quite liked it and I quickly realised that this town was my home. The people were welcoming, the work was good, and the roommate was already close to being my best friend.

The last rays of the sun were hitting my skin and sending a warm sensation down my body. It was almost the end of May and the weather finally started to get warmer and sunnier. I loved spring, I loved the colours and how nature was waking up after a deep and long winter's sleep.

The pictures I could take during this period of time were my most treasured ones. There was so much to catch with my camera; the blooming of the flowers, the first birds returning from the south, the green grass appearing underneath the melting snow, the animals coming out of their lairs. My fingers were itching to take my camera and go for a walk into the nearby forest like I used to do so many times before.

I moved here during winter, so mostly everything was covered by snow, but I still loved the changing of the seasons. There was something magical and entrancing watching the circle of nature with my own eyes and catching the precious moments with my camera, so I could remember it later. My photos were my sanctuary, the spruce of a good mood, when I looked back at certain parts of my life, where I felt happy or at ease. It made me realise that maybe, just maybe, my life wasn't so f*cked up yet.

I didn’t even know how I got there with all the thoughts swirling inside my head, but I realised that I was standing in front of my front door as I fished for the key in my back pocket.

“Mum!” I shouted as I came through the front door, “I´m home!” I shut the door close, removing my shoes before making my way to the kitchen, hearing some noise over there and the smell of garlic and tomatoes filled my nose.

I entered the kitchen, seeing Jo standing behind the counter chopping the tomatoes with a huge and sharp knife she was holding in her hand, freezing mid movement as she heard me coming.

“Seriously? Don’t you think I am too young to be your mother?” she huffed back, her hand that was holding the knife moving as she spoke.

She would look dangerous if she wasn’t wearing a pink apron with ice cream cones all over it.

How could you take someone seriously when they were wearing a pink ice cream cone apron?

Her golden blond hair was tied up in a ponytail, making her oval-shaped face stand out with her big innocent blue-green eyes that were shining with humour as she looked at me. Her thick, perfectly shaped eyebrows were scrunched in a frown and her full pink lips were pouting, making her look cute with a small button nose.

“Well, maybe you are just a slut,” I threw back at her, making her laugh and shake her head.

“What are you cooking?” I asked as I came closer, smelling the delicious aroma of sauce and seeing the water boiling for the pasta.

“My classic, tomato and basil spaghetti,” she said, making my mouth water.

God, if I was attacked by a woman, I would definitely have snatched her already.

“Yummy,” I said to her as I sat on the highchair behind the bar in front of her as she continued to cut the tomatoes, garlic and fresh basil.

“How was work?” she asked me before turning around and taking a bottle of wine from the counter as she poured me a glass before pouring one for herself.

What did I say?

She was perfect!

Too bad she wasn’t my type.

“Peachy, as usual,” I told her, “thank you, my darling.” I said as she handed me the glass of red wine, my favourite, and sent her a kiss.

She caught it and winked at me before her eyes narrowed at my tone as she looked all over me.

“What did you do?” she asked suspiciously.

She knew all about my big mouth and inability to stay silent in some situations.

“Nothing!” I huffed before slumping my shoulders as I told her about the barbie doll customer and her ridiculous order.

Jo giggled at me, “well played.” She appreciated it as she gave me a fist bump.

“Thanks,” I smirked, drinking my wine as my stomach started to rumble.

I hadn’t eaten anything since lunch, so I was pretty much starved at this point, watching as Jo mixed the sauce while pouring the pasta into a boiling hot water.

“How was your day?” I asked her, drinking the wine from my glass.

Jo was working part-time in the town´s kindergarten as she was studying to be a teacher at the same university but was a year younger than me, just turning twenty-one a few weeks ago. She specialized in special children's needs. As I said, she was absolutely amazing.

“It was great, the p… I mean children as incredible,” she said, blushing slightly, as if she had almost said something she shouldn’t. I didn’t ponder over the small stutter as we talked about her day.

Soon, the pasta and sauce were finished, and we could finally eat. I dig into the food hungry like a big bear that just woke up after a winter's sleep, stuffing my mouth with the delicious pasta and even more tasty tomato and garlic sauce.

How could something so simple be that good?

I was enjoying this high carb food too much for my own liking. I needed to get back into the form as the summer was approaching and I wanted to look good. I wasn’t necessarily fat or anything, I was normal, I guess. With additional pounds around my stomach and a little bit wider hips, but otherwise I had strong and muscular legs as I was standing and running all day at work. But maybe some more running or jogging through the forest while taking pictures would be welcomed. My thoughts were interrupted by a scratching noise coming from above.

“What´s that noise?” I asked Jo, hearing the roaring of the drill and banging of the hammer.

“The neighbors above us are remodeling the flat, building a new kitchen and bathroom. It should take around ten days, they said.” She said causally and I could barely hear her through all the noise that machines were making.

“F*ck,” I murmured as I was thinking about studying for my exams in such terrible noise that the machines and people were doing, just f*cking great.

“What?” Jo asked me, turning to look at me.

How did she even hear me through all that loud noise?

“I have my final exams coming. I planned to study the whole time next week hoping to have some peace and quiet,” I told her honestly as the drilling stopped for a second before starting again.

“But with this,” I gestured with my hand to the ceiling, “I won’t be able to concentrate.” I said, distraught.

“Oh, I see. It is rather noisy,” she had agreed as the drilling and thumping started again.

It was already late afternoon. How long did they want to work?

“What would I do?” I asked out loud, more myself than her, but then I saw her eyes cloud for a short moment before they shone as her face morphed into a huge smile.

“You can stay at my parents´ cabin in the woods,” she offered, making me blink as I thought about it.

“Where is it?” I asked, intrigued about the possibility of getting away from the town and into nature.

It would be perfect! I could go jogging through the forest, take pictures with my camera and, of course, study in a peaceful and quiet environment.

“It is located about twenty miles west from here, in the middle of the forest. It´s a bit remote, but there is everything you will need for a couple of days. There is also a small lake nearby,” she said excitedly.

“Oh, that sounds great, but how would I get there?” I wondered, as I didn’t have a car.

“I can drive you there,” she offered with a smile.

“Really? Isn’t it too much to ask?” I didn’t want to trouble her, but she just waved her hand as if it was nothing.

“But, what about your parents? Are they okay with strangers staying in their cabin?” I asked. I didn’t want to disturb someone else’s privacy or go there unannounced without their knowledge.

“Of course! I already asked them!” she said before stiffening and realising what she had just said.

“I… I planned to go there myself, but you need it more!” she claimed, but there was something in her eyes that just didn’t fit.

“Are you sure? I mean if you wanted to go there …” I started to say, but she just lifted her hand, signalling for me to stop talking.

“I am sure, Beth. You need it more than me. Your finals are important,” Jo told me with a smile, her voice was kind and gentle, her blue-green eyes shining.

“Thank you,” I told her honestly, feeling so grateful for showing me such kindness.

“Don’t mention it, Beth. You are my friend.” Jo said, making my heart swell.

I have never felt as if I fitted somewhere in my life, changing foster cares like bed sheets, never developing a real relationship with anyone in fear of abandonment.

For the first time in my life I had a true friend and it felt good.