November

Chapter Four

-Oliver-

"You ready to go?" I asked, sticking my head around the corner from the bathroom. I frowned when I saw Brad with his laptop out.

"Babe, I'm sorry, but something came up with work and I need to handle it."

"But you're on vacation. Isn't someone else supposed to be handling it?"

He waved me away. "Just go without me. I don't want you to miss out."

"It's one waterfall hike and it's not long. Can't we do this first and then you spend a couple hours working?"

Brad looked up and gave me that cold stare, the one that meant he was starting to get fed up with me. "It's time sensitive. We have plenty of other days to hike together."

"Brad, this is really important to me."

"What's so important about this waterfall?"

"It's about spending time together! I wanted this trip to be just us. No work, no friends or other people. Exploring a new place together, good food, sex, just being together."

"We spend plenty of time together."

"No, we don't. You're always working, or you want to go out with your friends, or you've got some event to go to."

"My career is important to me. My friends are important to me. So are my hobbies and the ways I choose to relax when I'm not working."

"Am I important to you?"

"Oliver, I don't have time for this," he said, his voice hard and growing louder. "I'm tired of having this same argument, over and over. I'm on a trip with you for two weeks. I'm sacrificing all of those other things in order to be with you."

I could feel myself shutting down. I hated when he raised his voice and got angry with me. I hated when he made me feel like I was the one who was wrong, and like he was making a huge sacrifice to spend time with me. Like spending time with me was a chore, just another box he had to check on his to-do list. Just something else he had to fit into his schedule.

"Okay, I'll see you later," I said, grabbing my backpack and walking out of our room. I didn't wait for a reply.

I could go on the hike by myself, but I wasn't as familiar with the area. Or with hiking, since I hadn't done a lot of it in California. And I wanted someone by my side to experience it with me. Frustrated, I stood by our rental car and pulled up a map so I could get directions to the trailhead.

It was then that I remembered Cooper from the plane. He did live around here, and he'd been so friendly. I know we talked about me reaching out, but would it be weird if I did? Deciding that I didn't have any other options, I figured it was at least worth a shot.

"Hey, it's Oliver from the plane. I planned on Marymere Falls today, but Brad can't come with me. Are you interested?"

I sent the text, and then immediately second guessed it. Cooper could be working. Or with family. Or doing anything else. I probably wouldn't even get a response for hours. Even worse, we'd only talked about me reaching out for recommendations. Asking him to hike with me was a lot more than that. Would he remember me? Would he want to meet up with a stranger?

I sighed and leaned against the car, preparing to wait a few minutes before I gave up and took a walk around the harbor instead. I hoped that somehow this day would get better.

-Cooper-

My phone vibrated on my coffee table. When I picked it up to look I didn't recognize the number, but I saw the name 'Oliver' within the text. I smiled, but then that smile faded as I read his message. His douchebag of a boyfriend had already ditched him.