Stranded Read online

  And to make everything else worse, Liam, my rock, seems to be off. He doesn’t seem like himself and hasn’t since we arrived at their house earlier today. To be honest, he hasn’t been himself for a couple of weeks. He’ll barely look at me, and I don’t understand what’s going on with him.

  “It’s so beautiful.” My little sister stares at the heavy snow like she’s looking at a miracle.

  I hate the snow. I’m definitely a summer girl.

  Cooper takes her hand in his and brings it to his lips, pressing a kiss to it. I roll my eyes and try not to gag. I’ve seen this guy taking body shots off naked girls, fuck a girl in a hot tub, and I’ve walked in a on him having a threesome on more than once. He’s not the sweet guy he pretends to be with Aria. He takes nothing seriously.

  But she looks so damn happy with him. Completely taken over by his charm.

  I hate that he’s so good looking. He was blessed with unruly black hair, a face that promises sin and a good time that’ll make you not care about anything he does, soulful eyes, and full red lips. A jawline cut from glass. Tall. Built. Gorgeous.

  He’s everything a sweet girl like my sister can’t resist.

  The bad to her good.

  I slide my palm over Liam’s jean-clad thigh and turn to him, keeping my voice low, “Are you okay?”

  His sweet smile is sad as he looks at me and gives me a nod, covering my hand with his much bigger one. “I hate not driving. It makes me sick.”

  He does get carsick. “Coop,” I call to the front seat.

  “What?”

  “Pull over. Switch with us.”

  “No fucking way. I’m not stopping. We’re making good time.”

  I clench my jaw because he has to fight me on everything. “What exactly are you in a hurry for?” I glare at his reflection in the rearview mirror, and I swear if he says anything about fucking my sister, I’ll kill him.

  He keeps his mouth shut and addresses Liam, “You want to drive?”

  It’s starting to get dark, but I can see Liam’s handsome face as he nods. “Yeah. Maybe it’ll make me feel better.”

  “I want to ride up front,” Aria pouts.

  I sigh. “Okay. You can stay up there.”

  Cooper pulls over to the side of the road, and Liam looks at me with wide eyes. “Really?”

  I laugh because it’s no secret how I feel about Cooper. Poor Liam has been running interference between us for years. “It’s fine. Really. I just want you to feel better.”

  Cooper climbs out, and Liam presses a kiss to my lips. “Thanks.”

  He climbs out and hops behind the wheel as Cooper stuffs his big body in the seat behind him. “Two more hours,” he says almost to himself.

  I fold my arms over my chest. “Two more hours.” I hate that his scent has taken over Liam’s in a matter of seconds. Where Liam smells more clinical, Cooper smells woodsy, like pine and whiskey.

  The asshole better not be drunk.

  “Have you been drinking?”

  Aria turns to look at me. “Of course he hasn’t.”

  “Smells like whiskey.”

  She giggles, “It’s his cologne. Bourbon and Oak. It’s sexy.”

  He winks at her, and I cross my arms, hating that I agree, but I’ll never admit it. “Did you go swimming in it?”

  It’s not really that strong, but somehow, I can never bite my tongue or hide my annoyance with him. “Liam, your girlfriend is being bitchy again. Can you please give her better D? Tame her.”

  I glare at him. “Fuck you.”

  “Not a chance, sweetheart.” I want to kill him, but Liam just laughs, flipping him off as he navigates through the snowy highway. We haven’t seen a car in a while now. It’s crazy how desolate this part of the state is.

  “Wow. It’s really heavy snow. I don’t think a plow has been out.” Aria’s voice sounds worried now, and I do what I’ve done since I can remember.

  “It’s falling so fast. It wouldn’t make sense to plow yet. They will. It’s fine.”

  She smiles back at me and then turns her attention to Cooper. “Tell me more about the cabin.”

  He grins. “I can’t wait to get you into that hot tub. Did you remember your bikini?”

  She nods. I can’t see her now that it’s dark, but I know she’s blushing. “I did. I can’t wait either.”

  “Ugh, I really don’t want to hear this,” I groan and meet Liam’s eyes in the mirror. He gives me a wink, and I can’t fight my smile. He’s always made me feel safe.

  “Turn is coming up, man,” Cooper says to Liam, who was already putting on the turn signal.

  “Yeah, I’ve only been her a hundred times.” He gives Cooper shit with a happy lilt in his tone. I guess maybe he was just carsick. He seems more like himself the closer we get to the cabin.

  “Yeah, yeah. You cocky motherfucker.”

  “You know it,” Liam jokes, and I roll my eyes, but really I can’t wait to get to the cabin and be alone with him. It’s been several days since we’ve had any time alone with finals and the end of the semester.

  Aria unbuckles and turns around, reaching for something in the floorboard by my feet. I immediately scold her, “Hey, put your seatbelt back on. What are you doing?”

  “I’m starving, and I have a ton of snacks.”

  “I’ll get it. What do you want?”

  “I’ll find it.” She keeps rifling around in the bag, and I push her hand away.

  “Turn around.”

  She huffs, turning back in her seat and pouting, but then her arm reaches out and points in front of us. “Liam, watch out!” I hear my sister’s squeal just as Liam slams on the brakes, skidding on the ice and snow on the gravel road.

  “Oh fuck, hold on,” I hear Liam’s voice as my sister screams, and the vehicle spins out of control.

  There must have been an animal or something in the road, but it’s so damn hard to see. The SUV flips, and we’re rolling. I close my eyes, praying we get through it with each rollover and each sound of glass breaking and metal crushing.

  My heart is pounding in my chest, and I feel pain. But I also feel numb.

  The roads out here are winding, and despite what many may think, it’s not totally flat. There are hills, and we happened to be going up a particularly treacherous winding hill when we wrecked.

  I open my eyes, looking around the car. I reach up to touch my forehead that clearly hit something, but I’m not sure what. It comes back with a sticky thick liquid I know is blood even in the dark.

  I look over and see Coop, who’s stirring and holding onto his left shoulder. “Fuck.”

  Somehow the vehicle landed on four tires, but all the windows are broken. And it’s cold, really cold. Then, I notice the windshield is shattered and gone.

  “Aria?” I gasp.

  There’s no answer.

  Why is there no answer?

  Well, fuck. This is not good. My shoulder is killing me and hanging uselessly. It’s clearly dislocated.

  Everly seems to be okay, but she keeps hollering for her sister. My ears are ringing. I think I hit my head, but I’m okay too.

  “Aria! Answer me.”

  I unbuckle and move forward, gaping at the empty passenger seat. “Fuck.”

  “What?” Everly is distraught.

  “She’s not there.”

  “What? What the hell do you mean she’s not there?” She unbuckles, her movements slow and shaky.

  “She’s not there.”

  “Aria?” she shouts and then places a hand over her forehead, like it pains her.

  “Liam?” I ask and turn to see him slouched in the front seat. He’s not moving. Fuck, he’s not moving. I grasp his shoulder and shake him. “Liam?”

  “No.” I feel Everly trying to shake him too. “Liam, wake up!”

  “Oh, fuck.” I drag my fingers through my hair, trying to figure out what the hell happened. One minute we were all laughing and giving each other a hard time, and the next, we’re here. Aria is
missing, and Liam isn’t moving.

  “Liam, you have to wake up. Please,” Everly pleads with him.

  I bring my fingers to his throat, feeling for a pulse, my own breath stopping until I feel it. It’s weak, but it’s there. “He’s alive.”

  She’s panting with panic as she looks at me, horrified, and looks down at his chest. My eyes follow hers, and then I gasp when I see a piece of metal has lodged into his chest.

  “Oh, fuck.”

  She glares at me. “Stop saying that.”

  “I’m sorry, what the fuck should I say? That’s not good?”

  “No shit.” She reaches into a bag, grabbing a shirt and climbs up front, placing the bundled-up cloth over his wound. But we both know it isn’t going to do any good. “There’s so much blood.” She sounds dazed and desperate as she tries to soak up the blood seeping out of him.

  “Liam, man. Can you hear me?” I ask, but there’s no response. “We’re going to get you help. You just have to hold on.”

  I pull my cell out of my pocket, and even though I knew it would be, it kills me when I see there’s no signal. There are no towers out here. None.

  Not even emergency.

  “Goddammit.”

  “Nothing?” Everly asks.

  I shake my head and look out the window at the dark sky that still has snow pounding down from above. “No.”

  She pulls her phone out and curses before tossing it to the floor. “Nothing. I knew this was a bad idea.”

  “Not the time,” I growl.

  “No?” Her fiery eyes meet mine. “Because we’re all going to freeze to death on the side of a deserted road all because you wanted some place to fuck my little sister for a month.”

  “I could fuck your sister any goddamn place I want to. I didn’t have to bring her out here. This was her . . .” I stop and look around frantically. “Where is she?”

  Everly’s eyes widen as she searches through the now nonexistent windshield. “Oh God, she wasn’t buckled in.”

  My heart sinks. No, she wasn’t. And the windshield is gone.

  Liam groans, stirring and then opens his eyes, grunting from the pain when he looks down at the metal sticking out from his chest. “What the hell happened?”

  Everly places a kiss on his lips and sobs, “You’re awake. Just stay with us.”

  He groans again. “Fuck,” he gasps, looking down and touching the metal protruding from him. “This is not good.”

  “It’s fine,” Everly offers, and I’m pretty sure she’s trying to convince herself. “You’re strong, the strongest man I know.”

  He scoffs, shaking his head. “I’m not.”

  “You are. You’ll be fine.” Everly turns to me as I stare at the blood rushing from his body. “Cooper.”

  I watch the blood soak the shirt and look at Liam, who looks distraught. We both know. He isn’t making it out of this vehicle. I’m frozen as I stare at my best friend bleeding out. I’m pre-med. We both are, but I can’t fucking move or think straight.

  “Cooper!”

  My eyes snap to Everly. “What?”

  “Go look for Aria. Please. I’ll hold this.” She looks desperate, like she needs to tell herself it’s okay. That we’re all fine.

  I’m numb as I try to push the door open, but it doesn’t budge. “Fuck.”

  “Try the other one.” She nods to the other side of the car.

  I nod and slide over to the other side, my injured arm throbbing and useless, and I have to hold it. I push the door open and stumble out into snow which goes up to my knees.

  This is bad.

  It’s dark. I locate my cellphone, using its light as I look around, knowing whatever I find won’t be good.

  There’s an eerie feeling out here in the blizzardy abyss.

  I hate how right my instinct was when I see the blood in the snow first, and then I see her. The sight before me makes my stomach clench, and I immediately lean over, retching into the white snow.

  No. Please don’t let this be real.

  She’s gone.

  The sweet girl I barely even got to know is dead. There’s no denying it.

  I walk back to the car, my guts twisted, and pull open the front passenger door, even more numb now.

  “Did you find her?” Everly looks at me, hopeful and terrified. I nod slowly and meet Liam’s eyes. His head drops knowingly, but Everly demands answers. “Where is she?”

  I shake my head, and Liam curses under his breath.

  “Cooper?” Everly’s hands are on his chest as she struggles to staunch his blood. “Where’s my sister?”

  I don’t have the words. My throat feels painful as I swallow and try to say something. I think about her mangled body and feel sick again.

  “Tell me.”

  “She’s . . .” Christ, is this really happening? “She’s dead.”

  She glares at me angrily. “Bullshit. You’re lying.”

  “I’m not.”

  “You’re such a prick. That’s not funny.”

  I think she’s in shock as she stares at me with disdain and disbelief. She doesn’t remove her hands from Liam’s chest. “I’m not lying.”

  She’s panting with rage and shakes her head. “Take over. I’ll find her myself.”

  “No,” Liam and I both say at the same time.

  “Don’t you dare tell me no,” she directs all her fury at me. “She’s my sister. You think I’m going to trust you?”

  “She’s gone, Ev. There’s no way she isn’t. You don’t need to see that.”

  Her lips are parted as she stares at me in horror. “No. You’re wrong.”

  “Ev,” I hear Liam’s strained voice, he’s breathing too heavily, almost gasping for air. She turns to him, and he brushes her cheek with his hand. “Trust him. Please.”

  She shakes her head. “No. I don’t trust him. You know that.”

  His hand remains on her face. “You have to. He’s not lying. I know.” He breathes deep, and it’s clear every breath is a struggle. “I know when he’s lying. Don’t look.”

  He coughs and blood spurts from his mouth.

  Fuck.

  “Liam, stop talking, man,” I say, knowing that won’t help.

  He forces a grin, but it’s more of a grimace. “You two don’t kill each other, okay?”

  “We won’t,” I say, locking eyes with him. “We’ll be taking care of you.”

  He laughs, shaking his head and then winces in pain. “Just be good, okay?”

  I shake my head, the hope leaving me completely as his eyes flutter closed. I’ve been trying to be good like him my whole life.

  “Liam!” Everly screeches, trying to wake him, but he doesn’t regain consciousness.

  He gasps once, and then I see the life draining out of my best friend. There’s nothing I can do for him.

  “No. No. No.” Everly shakes him, and when he doesn’t respond, she pounds on his shoulders, his lifeless body barely moving.

  I grab her hand and try to pull her away, but she slaps me away. “Don’t.”

  “Ev, he’s gone.”

  “Fuck you. He’s not.”

  I look at his pale face, his body covered in blood. No movement. He’s not breathing. He’s not alive. “He is.”

  “Fuck. You.”

  “Ev. Come on. We have to try to find help.”

  I try to grab her hand again, and she pulls away. “No. I’m not leaving them.”

  “They’re dead. If we stay here, we will be too.”

  “I don’t care.”

  Stubborn woman.

  “Everly. Now.” I can’t let her die too.

  She looks at me, her wide eyes full of tears and her face covered in blood. “No. I can’t leave them.”

  I pull open the back seat and gather the bags, knowing we’ll need everything we can get to survive. There’s nothing out here.

  We’re at least thirty miles from a town. Probably closer to sixty. “We need to see if we can find a house. A phone.”
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  She shakes her head. “It’s snowing.”

  “And it’s not going to stop. There are no windows, we’ll freeze to death if we stay.”

  I try to get it across to her, and she turns back to Liam, staring at his body. Her small shoulders shake with her sobs. “I’m so sorry.”

  I don’t know what she’s apologizing for, but I don’t call her on it.

  She kisses his cheek and then climbs out of the SUV, dropping into the snow, but not mentioning the cold or that it nearly goes to her waist.

  I swing as many bags over my good shoulder as I can, and she takes the remaining two, staring wistfully up the hill. “We’re not going to make it through this.”

  I know.

  There’s no way. It’s cold as hell, the snow is deep. We don’t have cellphones, and I don’t remember any houses being out here.

  “But we’re going to try.”

  “I want to see my sister.”

  “No.” My voice doesn’t waver because no one needs to see that.

  She peers up at me, defeated. “Are you sure she’s gone?”

  I give a clipped nod. “Yes.”

  Her small shoulders droop. “Well, let’s get our journey to death over with then.”

  I don’t argue.

  There’s no point.

  This is hopeless.

  Aria is dead.

  Liam is dead.

  And we’re going to die.

  There’s no way we’ll survive this. We’ve been trudging through the snow in the dark for what feels like an eternity. We haven’t seen one house. Not one car. Nothing.

  We’re utterly alone in a blizzard.

  I’m soaked. The snow is up to my waist in most places. My legs are so tired and numb, I don’t think I can take another step.

  “We’re going to freeze to death. What do you think that’s like?” I mumble as I force one leg to move forward through the cold snow.

  “We’re not.”

  I keep my eyes in front of me. “You’re pre-med. Surely you know this.”

  Liam and Cooper were both pre-med. “Yeah, lot of good that did me. I couldn’t save either of them.”

  He knew from the moment he saw that metal rod in Liam’s chest he was going to die. I could see it, but I refused to believe it. My hands are covered in blood from trying to stop Liam from bleeding out.