Also, I had also been with the wrong person before. I knew the feeling well. Not like my experiences were anything close to the extent that Weylan’s was. But I still understood the nightmare his experience was.
Agony was one thing. But the one thing that trumped the misery of being stuck with the wrong one was being trapped with the right person who wanted nothing to do with you, in a cabin surrounded by snow, with no hope of escaping until it melted.
Now I understood the definition of pure hell. I bet I could look it up on my phone and find a picture of me right next to the definition. Because I was the byproduct of my own undoing.
I shook my head and stood from the couch. Something had to give. Something needed to be the start of repairing what was shattered between Cadence and me. We weren’t over. Not yet.
I started pacing the floor in front of the fireplace. If I didn’t figure out a way to make everything right between us again, I was going to lose my mind. But maybe losing my mind wouldn’t be such a bad thing. I mean, I wouldn’t be in agony if I didn’t have a clue what was going on around me, right?
And, really, if I took the time to really think about things, I probably couldn’t blame her for believing I had somehow betrayed her. Nor could I blame her for reacting in the way she did, much less her behaviors toward me. I probably would have reacted the same way if the roles were reversed.
I probably would have acted a lot worse, come to think of it.
God, I needed a Hail Mary.
I pulled out my phone and frowned at the screen as I noticed that my battery was almost dead. I stepped toward the solar-powered charger and plugged it in and sat it down and watched as the battery icon slowly filled with green.
Before I realized what I was doing, my urge to fix things with Cadence took control over me, I grabbed the phone and called Cassidy. Even though it hadn’t charged fully.
She answered on the second ring. “Hey. Did you get everything figured out?”
“Not even close,” I said.
“Why?” she asked. “What happened?”
“She thinks you and I are together,” I said. “And she refuses to believe otherwise.”
“So, she thinks you cheated on me with her?” Cassidy asked.
“That’s what I said,” I muttered.
“I’m sorry,” Cassidy said through a heavy sigh. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
I squeezed my eyes closed. A dull, throbbing sensation entered my head. “I doubt it. She’s so convinced you and I just broke up, I don’t think there is anything that could be said.”
“Maybe there is,” she said.
“Well, if y ou figure it out, let me know. Meanwhile, I need a favor. I understand if it’s not something you could do,” I said and held my breath.
“Shoot,” she said.
I explained to her that I needed tools. My cousin and his love-sick roommates didn’t have an iota of organization when it came to tools and maintenance.
She listened to everything I needed then said, “Text all of that to me.”
“Will do,” I said. “Thank you.”
“And I will even do you a solid when I get there,” she said.
“What’s that?” I asked.
“I’ll talk to Cadence for you,” she offered.
“You think that will work?” I asked, feeling a spark of hope.
“Maybe,” she said. “Couldn’t hurt to try.”
“That’s true,” I said. “Thank you. I really appreciate it.”