Paper Bride ✔️ (Book 4 - DP Series - COMPLETE)

23. Toilet of Doom

We're standing in front of a small cabin, trees crowding its edges and vines running over the front deck railings. It's perfect. Absolutely perfect. But, for some reason, I just can't find it in me to be excited about this moment. This is what I've been planning for weeks. Seth's special birthday getaway. And yet, it doesn't feel quite as spectacular as I'd first envisioned.

I'm typically more creative than this. My younger self would have planned a getaway in a luxurious treehouse—they really exist. I found one during my research and they're amazing—or, a road trip to a legit cave hotel. From the website, I guess it's somewhat of a climb to get to, but once you reach the cave, it's like a real-life Flintstone home. It's jam-packed with food supplies and entertainment. You literally wouldn't have to leave at all. It's just a bummer that it'd take us nine hours to drive to.

So, deciding that simple was best—especially considering the possibility that Seth wouldn't even enjoy our time together anyway—I settled for a simple cabin just three hours from home. It's quaint and cozy.

Stepping inside, I immediately take note of the rustic decor. Small, breezy curtains dangle from the windows in a mix of blues and yellows; an overstuffed couch sits at an angle in front of a toasty fire, blankets draped over the back; and a wood table fills a room that was practically built just for its size. The place is perfect and even though I'm not in the mood, I can't help but feel a trickle of anticipation seep into my chest.

The cabin is small with just one bedroom and a loft overlooking the entire layout of the home. The only rooms that are separated from the open-floor concept are the kitchen and dining room, which sit on the other side of the wall from the fireplace.

Slinging my bag off my arm, I drop it next to the entrance, anxious to tour the small home before I unpack. The kitchen is stocked with every pot, pan, and utensil we could possibly need; cupboards in the living room are filled with quilts and board games; and music is tickling the air with its faint, welcoming melodies. They definitely had this place ready for our arrival—though, the burning fire is a bit much considering the heat outside.

I hear Seth call me from another room and I quickly exit from where I've been snooping around in the bedroom and make my way through the kitchen. He's peering out of the swinging screen door that leads to the backyard and when he hears me approach he turns with a smile on his face. It's the first smile I've seen since we left home. After our heated conversation earlier, we'd barely even glanced at each other. I get the sense that Seth is either ticked off, or he's biting his tongue in fear of saying the wrong thing and setting me off again.

"Did you know about that?" he asks, pointing to something off to the left.

I sidle up beside him so I can peer outside, and I can feel a warm smile touching my lips when I glimpse the hot tub.

"Yep," I say. "That's why I picked this cabin. Getting a cabin that doesn't have a hot tub is just stupid."

He nods, clearly appreciative of my choice.

Without another word, we both scamper back to our room where we hurry to unload our bags. We work in silence, side-by-side, until I spot my swimming suit squished in the corner of my suitcase. I pull it out slowly, dangling the stringy material in front of Seth.

"Wanna try out the hot tub?" I tempt, an evil smile on my face.

I've decided at this very moment that I'm done being angry—at least for this weekend anyway. I want to make the most of our time together. Maybe we can even get some things figured out. I chose this cabin for two main reasons: no internet, and no TV. If we wanted to prevent ourselves from going mad with boredom, we'd have to do it together.