The Loner

The Invitation

After I took Riley back to her house, I asked her if she would like to come to the cabin I am staying sometime. She said

"What? For a booty call?"

"Nah nah just to watch a movie"

"You do know I have a masters in psychology and a woman who is intelligent in general enough to know what is implied here."

"Aye, we can just watch the movie....if we happen to have sex during or afterwards then thats just an extra win."

"Ahh and what was the first win?"

"Having you over my place."

She laughed but then agreed. Only under the condition that it wait until the weekend because she has her clients.

The next few days I just focused on reading and sleeping. I decided I'd try my hand at fishing. I hadn't fished since I was about 10 with my dad and uncle. 

The cabin had a canoe and some fishing gear in the garage. I hooked the canoe to the back of my jeep and got on the road. I got on the same road that Riley took me just the other day. The trail shows a dock at the end of it. 

I took the lining along with some worms while I was sitting in the canoe just like my dad taught me.  When I pushed myself off the dock it was as if silence just became louder. There was an area I was reaching slowly where I saw a lot of fish swimming. 

I paddled lightly then sat my boat slightly to the side. I put my fishing pole to the water and let it sit.I sat and just waited. For sometime, the majority of all my anxiety about work and life had been drained away since I met Riley. However in this moment it all came flooding back. 

The news stories of the last few cases. The deaths. The lost children. Issac's stupid remarks everyday. Losing the love of my life to a wanna-be rapper. Its funny how things change in an instant. I was ready to settle down and get married a beautiful woman. I'm making enough money to be stable and have a family yet I'm here out in the woods to figure out my life. To get away from everything and everyone. Like Riley.

What is it about being out here that makes someone move here? Its quiet for one... theres a lot beautiful scenery and oh Shit BEARS. There's Bears and there's a fucking bear on the other side of the lake. 

Okay Tai, don't make any sudden movements. The bear hasn't even noticed you. It's fishing just like you are. Just take your pole nice and easy out of the water. Oh no not now. Fuck now I have a bite, and shit it's a big one. 

The bear looks up as I'm pulling the pole out of the water. It growls at me , but doesn't move any closer. I pull the fish out of the water and put into the net and row as fast as possible back up the opposite side of the lake. Shit  Now I'm very far from my jeep. The bear continues catching and eating its fish and I got away for now. Luckily there is another dock on the other side and I am able to snatch my canoe and fish and run back to my jeep as fast as I can. I didn't see the bear again thankfully, but my heart was hammering in my chest the whole way back to the cabin. 

After I got myself back to the cabin, I immediately thought of Riley. I texted her to see if she was done with her clients today.

"You available?"

She and I both have the pretentious Iphone so a blue bubble popped up then went away. Normally I don't really care about these things, but I really wanted to talk to her. 

"With my last client, give me 10"

I looked at the clock. It was close to 6pm

 I turned on the tv to try to calm down. I still was a little shaky. I mean I know that there was wild life here, but I was hoping the chances of me seeing a bear was slim to none. I didn't even have my gun with me so anything could have happened just now.