Could Have Been Us

by Corinne Michaels

  “Get on my back,” he instructs. “We have a little way to go.”

  “I can walk.”

  He turns to me, his eyes moving across my face. “I want to feel your body against mine, Stella. Let me carry you.”

  Well, I don’t know that I am going to turn that down.

  I lift up on my toes, pressing my lips to his. “You are a very sweet man.”

  “Remember that.”

  “Why?”

  He winks. “Just remember.”

  “All right,” I say warily.

  He squats, and I wrap my arms and legs around him. As ridiculous as it feels to be getting a piggy back ride, it’s sort of fun. We move through the woods with ease. I push a branch aside as he moves, and we spend the time laughing and talking, when I briefly mention my best friend’s assumptions about our date.

  “Winnie isn’t wrong,” Jack says as he hoists us over a fallen log.

  “What do you mean?”

  “We are camping.”

  I close my eyes and groan. “Jack!”

  “You’ll love it.”

  “I promise I won’t.”

  Not unless the tent has running water and a bath.

  Oh, maybe that’s it. Maybe he got the RV from my brothers. That I could do. Glamping is a thing that I could get on board with.

  Before I can ask another question, we push through to a clearing, but there is no damn RV.

  Instead, it’s a big white tent with a pallet in front of the door. The campsite is already set up with a pile of firewood to one side, a grill and coolers on the other, and a fire pit and chairs in the middle.

  I slide off his back, looking around. As much as this isn’t what I would’ve picked, I know that he worked hard on this.

  Jack’s hand slides in mine. “I want to share with you, Stella. I want to give you glimpses of the things we would’ve done if things had been different.”

  I look up at him. “What do you mean?”

  “Had I been able to love you all those years ago, I would’ve taken you to the woods, and we would have shared a night under the stars. I would’ve begged you to let me make love to you in a tent with the fire glowing outside.” He moves us so we’re facing each other and settles his hands on my hips. “I would’ve spent countless nights beside you, showing you that the outdoors has advantages too.”

  “Like what?”

  He leans close. “Like no one around us for miles. The stars above, twinkling as I kiss you. The way the air is clean, and I can inhale, taking in the smell of the wildness that is mingled with your perfume.” Jack’s lips move to my ear. “I want to feel like we’re the only people in this world. I want to love you like this night is all we’ll have so when we wake in each other’s arms tomorrow, we see the sun rises for just us.”

  He pushes my flannel shirt down my shoulders, kissing my neck.

  “And what do you want to do now?” I ask, already knowing where this is going.

  I feel his grin against my skin. “Whatever you want.”

  I take his face in my hands, staring into his eyes. “I want you to show me the bed.”

  There is no cell service out here. That’s the first thing that has me going a bit crazy. The second thing is the absolute silence.

  I have no idea what time it is, but it’s pitch-black and the fire has died to embers. Or, at least, I’m pretty sure it has since I can’t see it anymore. Fuck if I know what the hell the fire is or isn’t.

  Jack and I are cocooned in the sleeping bag, his strong arms wrapped around me. As much as I didn’t want to come camping, it’s been fun.

  Kind of.

  Well, it hasn’t sucked to the extent I thought it would, which is the first step toward thinking it could be fun.

  However, I have to pee and this part doesn’t seem so fun.

  I reach for my phone to get the flashlight, and Jack’s arm tightens. Great, now I’m going to pee in the sleeping bag.

  I try again, and this time, he rolls onto his back. The loss of his heat is immediate, and I shiver, but I need to move.

  I pull my flannel shirt around me, throw on my boots, and rush out.

  He showed me the spot on the left of the tent that he cleared so nothing would poke me as I squatted.

  Seriously, he is going to pay for this.

  Using my flashlight, I find the spot and internally groan.

  I can do this. I am a smart, successful woman who has accomplished great things. Taking a piss outside is . . . easy.

  I don’t even believe myself.

  An owl hoots from somewhere deep in the woods, and I take a deep breath, ignoring the fact that nature is all around me.

  I sink down, and then I hear it.

  A branch breaking.

  I stand quickly, shining the flashlight around.

  I don’t move.

  Silence.

  It is probably nothing. I start to drop again, and then it’s louder.

  Leaves moving and another crack of the branch.

  That’s it. I am going to die.

  I am that girl in those scary movies who thinks all is fine and goes outside where the murderer is waiting.

  Only this time, it’s not some serial killer, it’s a bear or a lion. I don’t think we have lions here, but if we do, I’m about to be dinner.

  My legs are trembling, and I’m dangerously close to peeing on myself instead of behind a damn bush.

  “Jack,” I whisper-yell. “Jack!”

  I can feel something’s eyes on me. “Oh, please don’t eat me,” I say to the creature that is probably licking its chops. “I’m bony and you’d much rather eat Jack, he’s meatier.”

  I don’t feel bad that I’m going to sacrifice him. He is who brought me camping. He should die first.

  Although, I’m not sure I want to watch him get eaten.

  I would miss him.

  “Okay, I take it back, I’m a good appetizer,” I tell the ferocious beast lurking in the woods.

  “Jack!” I say louder this time. “Jack, something is going to kill me.”

  I start to back toward the tent and the shotgun I’m pretty sure Jack told me is in there.

  I probably should’ve asked more about why he felt the need to carry a gun out here, but I was trying to put on a brave face.

  Stupid that.

  I take another step, listening to the sounds behind me too. “Jaccccck!” I say again.

  Finally, I hear the tent zipper open, and Jack emerges with a lantern. “Stella?”

  “Jack, there’s something in the woods.” I rush toward him.

  He pulls me to his chest. “Where?”

  “In the woods! I don’t know where.”

  “Did you see it?”

  I nod. “It was huge. It has to be because it was breaking trees down as it walked.”

  “Trees?”

  It sounded like it. “Maybe small ones.”

  He looks around, scanning the area with an intensity that would be sexy if we weren’t about to be eaten by a bear-lion thing that knocked down trees. He pushes me behind him, head turning to me. “Are you wearing pants?”

  “Are you seriously asking that when Yogi is out there, wanting his version of a human picnic basket?”

  “Stella, I’ve been on hundreds of camping trips and have only seen a bear once.”

  “What?” I screech. “You brought me out here when there are bears?”

  “Go in the tent. I’ll look around.”

  That would be great, but I still really have to pee. “Jack, I . . . I need to use the restroom.”

  He laughs once, and then the sound of something in the woods happens again. Within a heartbeat, Jack has me behind him and is walking me backward toward the tent. The light slashes through the inky darkness, and I can feel the tension in his muscles.

  The light reflects, and I tap his shoulders. “There!” Two eyes are shining back at us. “I love you. I’m sorry I had to pee,” I say as my last words.

  It moves closer. It
’s a bear or a wolf or a lion or maybe some mutant version of the three. That’s it. I’m going to die the first time I experienced nature.

  The animal stalks closer as he moves us back with each step.

  Then three things happen almost at the same time.

  The killer emerges.

  I scream.

  And Jack bursts out laughing as I realize my killer is a deer.

  I really hate nature.

  Chapter 20

  Stella

  My four siblings and I are seated in my father’s study. It’s the day. The day we’re going to all walk out of our jobs, inheritance, and his life.

  Alex’s leg bounces continuously. Josh looks calm, Grayson is furious, and Oliver seems indifferent. It’s insane that he’s able to stay so carefree when the tension in the room is enough to make me feel ill.

  Our father enters, looking us over before taking his seat behind the huge mahogany desk. “I see this is a family meeting. I’m sure it’s about your mother.”

  Josh speaks first. “It’s not. It’s about you.”

  “Ahh, yes, I’m the villain. Go ahead, have your say.” Dad leans back, arms over his chest.

  Alex, the one closest to our mother, laughs. “You’re incredible. You cheat for years. You play games with all our lives, and you think that we want a say? Do you really think all five of us came together just to let you have it? Come on, Dad, you’re smarter than that. Or maybe you’re not.”

  Dad’s eyes narrow, and he sits straight. “Then what do you want?”

  “I would’ve liked a good father, but clearly, that didn’t happen,” I say.

  “Yes, you had it so hard, Stella. You’ve lived in luxury, owned a home before your friends were out of college, got a free education, and have a job that supports a life that most people would kill for. I’m a horrible father.”

  “You know what that cost me,” I remind him of Kinsley. While no one else will know, I see the flash of emotion in his eyes that lets me know my barb hit.

  Good.

  “Everything comes with a price.”

  Grayson leans back in his chair, crossing his leg over the other. “And what is your price, Dad?”

  “So, this is retribution?”

  The slow smile that forms on my brother’s lips is chilling. “It will be.”

  “What did I teach you about threats, Grayson?” Dad asks.

  “Oh, don’t you worry, Father. I will make good on my promises today.”

  For the first time since he entered, the confidence and manner of ease slips away. He assesses us, and I hope he’s scared. He did this to us, trained us to be ruthless in business when we needed to be. While none of us have ever followed in his footsteps regarding other areas of his life, when it comes to this part—we’re going to prove our mettle.

  And this is going to come hard and fast.

  Joshua drops a folder onto his desk. “We all plan to.”

  “What is this?” Dad asks, his voice filled with anger.

  “This is what you taught us,” I say with a smile.

  Alex nods slowly. “It’s what family does.”

  “Well, what a real family would do, not what he does. No, not our dad, he fucks around on Mom and sleeps with Grayson’s ex, who happens to be his granddaughter’s fucking mother,” Oliver speaks, his voice hard, which is a total contrast to his outward appearance. “But the thing is, we’re not like you.”

  My father does his best to look unaffected, but it’s clear he’s not. The tic in his eye and the way he keeps shifting in the chair give him away. I really expected better of him. “Then you’re weak.”

  I laugh this time. “Maybe we’re weak apart, but together, we’re stronger than you.”

  Josh grins at me. “You made an error.” Dad doesn’t say anything, and as he opens the file, Josh continues on. “At the age of twenty-five each of us was granted partial ownership of the company. We have shares and a seat on the board.”

  My father inhales and looks around. “This is what you’re play is? To force me out?”

  Grayson grins. “No. We don’t want you to go anywhere.”

  “Then what?” My father finally snaps, getting to his feet.

  Then Alex puts his folder down and walks over to Josh. “Nothing.”

  “You too?”

  Oliver and Grayson do the same, giving them the paperwork we all have. My four brothers stand in front of me like a wall of power. When we talked about this, they were clear that I was to be the one to land the final blow. As his little girl, there’s nothing that would hurt him more than it being me. I’m not really excited about it, but they’re right. I am his only girl, the one person he thinks will always love him more than anyone else. And for a time, that was true.

  I thought he walked on water. I believed in him because he was my daddy. The one man who I was supposed to always be able to count on. Then I learned that there’s no such thing. He’s a man. A flawed one who has a cruel streak as wide as his selfish one.

  He forced me to give up my child because it didn’t fit his appearances. He used power, family, threats, and money over me and Jack.

  He broke my fucking heart, and I’m going to do the same.

  Slowly, I place my hands on the arms of the chair and push myself up. I take two steps so I’m beside my brothers. “We’re going to make you pay, Daddy.” He swallows deeply, and I paint a sly smile on my lips. “You buy back all our shares or we’ll use our other buyer. You see, the five of us no longer want to be in business with Parkerson Enterprises. You have a month to come up with the money to buy us all out or . . . we find someone else to do it, and then your precious company will crumble.”

  I walk out of the room, my brothers following after me, and none of us look back.

  Chapter 21

  Jack

  “Let’s stop here and get some water from the stream,” I instruct the small group with me.

  Today is the last day of our two-night bonding experience. The boss thought this would be a great way to help with office tension.

  The boss is unglued.

  All they’ve done is complain or criticize each other.

  “How much longer?” Denise, the receptionist, asks.

  “Just a few more miles.”

  She nods. “And how did we do?”

  I smirk. “As expected.”

  “So we sucked?”

  “No, you guys just aren’t working as a unit, and I don’t know that two days is enough to fix that,” I explain.

  Originally, they wanted a five-day exploration, but after talking to their boss, I convinced them to just do two. Five days is a lot and better suited for a group of people who don’t blatantly hate each other. Not to mention, Stella and her brothers had the talk with their father yesterday. I really didn’t want to be out in the woods during it so I could be there for her, but I couldn’t convince Stella to wait, and I couldn’t cancel this trip.

  Having the trip shortened made it easier on my conscience.

  She kept reassuring me it would be fine. I haven’t been able to relax, and I won’t until I know she’s okay.

  The boss walks over, wiping his forehead. “I tried.”

  “You did, but what you guys need is a reason to trust each other.”

  “I hoped this would do that.”

  It’s clear he had their best interests at heart. “Then rally behind something. A common goal that the entire group cares about. When we set out, we had a plan, but that went to shit when members of the team broke off from the group.”

  Mike sighs and looks over at the two people I was talking about. “He thought he was going to get the promotion.”

  “So, he’s working to create a divide.”

  Mike nods. “He’s been with the company for years, and I haven’t.”

  “Your boss clearly thought you deserved it.”

  “Yes, I work hard while Jim just screws around.”

  “Well, a two-night camping trip won’t bring them all arou
nd, but creating meaningful relationships with the five who didn’t exclude themselves might be a good start.”

  “Thanks,” Mike says with sincerity.

  “No problem.” I clear my throat and address the group. “We have about two miles before we’re back at camp. If we get a move on, we can make it back within an hour. I want to just say this before we start back up. I’ve been doing this a long time, and I’ve seen a lot of companies come out here and go back without having learned much. You’re a team, and when you work as one, you’ll accomplish more than you will divided. Grab your packs and let’s go.”

  It’s a last-ditch effort.

  Everyone moves to grab their stuff, and one of the women is struggling with her pack. Before I can get there to help her, Mike takes it from her. He puts it on his chest, with his on his back, and carries it for her.

  Right there, I see that maybe they’ll find a way.

  When we get back to base, everyone scatters, hugging each other before getting into their cars. I’m freaking beat, but I want to clean up before going to see Stella.

  I go into the cabin that doubles as my office, check the messages, make a few notes of who to call back, and text Stella.

  Me: Hey, baby. I’m back, and once I’m done showering, I’ll head to you. Are you okay?

  Stella: I’m good. I’ll tell you about it when I see you.

  Me: Okay. I’ll see you soon.

  I toss my phone onto the bed and enter the shower. Two days of no showers and bathing in the lake we usually swim in isn’t so fun. The hot water sprays down on me. I rest my head against the cool tile, letting the steam release the tension in my muscles.

  I’m not used to my trips leaving me feeling this way. Usually, I don’t want to get back to civilization. I love the wilderness and the serenity that comes with it. This time, I was antsy. All I wanted was to be with Stella. I thought about her every fucking minute. This woman has crawled her way inside me, and I’ll never be the same.

  I sigh, eyes closed, and then I feel a hand on my back.