I knew him better than anyone else on the planet. Sex didn’t mean anything to him. Time and time again, he’d said it was only about two people getting off. Why would I think it would be any different with me? Just because he’d fucked me face-to-face and had forgotten to use a condom once? Holy shit, did I really think that meant something?

I did. God, I really had thought I meant more.

“Hon,” the bartender said. “I’m really sorry.”

Without saying another word, I turned and headed out of the large room. I started for the door, but stopped and backtracked to the main lodge. “Can I use the phone?” I didn’t recognize my own voice as I put my helmet on the counter.

The lady behind the desk nodded and placed the handset by me. I almost called Andrea, but I couldn’t talk to her. She’d know the moment she heard my voice. It rang twice before it was picked up.

“Mom?”

There was a static-filled pause. “Sydney? Is that you?”

Unless there was another child I was unaware of… “Yeah, it’s me.”

“Oh, thank God. I’ve been worried with this storm and all and you haven’t answered your phone. Kyler’s mom said you did something to it and you two were okay and I knew you’d be fine with him, but…”

I winced at the sound of his name and almost lost it right then. “Mom, how are the roads back home?”

“Main roads are pretty much clear. Your father said the highways are fine.”

“Okay.” I squeezed my eyes shut against the burn. “Do you…do you think you guys can come get me?”

“Yes. Of course, but what about Kyler? Is he staying up there longer? Or is something wrong with his car?”

My mom, the queen of questions I couldn’t even begin to answer. “His car is fine. I just…I just want to come home. Please.”

There was another pause and I swore I heard my mom’s sharp inhale. “Are you okay, honey?”

“Yeah,” I croaked out, forcing my eyes open. The lady behind the desk was staring at me like I was a deranged mental patient. “I think I’m coming down with something.”

Mom said something about being sick for Christmas, and then got off the phone in search of Dad. I felt terrible for asking them to drive more than an hour to come get me, but I couldn’t be in the house with Kyler after this. I didn’t think I could be anywhere near him ever again.