A night with my best friend's arrogant brother

The cabin was exactly as advertised in the listing—rustic, charming, and mercifully spacious. Three bedrooms meant I wouldn't have to share, which was the only good thing about the situation. The drive had been long, and by the time we'd arrived around midnight, I was exhausted and ready to collapse into bed.

Sarah had gone straight upstairs to claim the master bedroom, leaving me and Marcus to figure out the logistics of the remaining two rooms. I grabbed my bags and headed for the smaller bedroom down the hall, as far from everything as possible.

I'd just finished unpacking the essentials when Sarah knocked on my door, holding a bottle of wine.

"Peace offering?" she asked, smiling apologetically. "I know you're annoyed about Marcus."

I took the bottle from her and pulled her inside. "I'm annoyed about the situation, not you."

"I know," she said, settling on the edge of my bed. "But I also know I kind of sprung this on you, and that wasn't fair."

"It really wasn't," I agreed, but I was already softening. Sarah had always had that effect on me—she was genuinely good-natured, and it was hard to stay angry at someone who actually cared.

We found glasses in the kitchen and settled on the cabin's porch, overlooking the dark forest. The air was cool and crisp, and for a moment, I felt some of my tension ease. The wine was cold and smooth, the kind of wine that made you forget to pace yourself.

"So, what do you plan to do with Derek?" Sarah asked quietly. "He's getting worse"

"I know, right?," I said, taking another sip. "He thinks every man on earth wants to get under my pants, I don't know what gives him that impression."

"Well, I wouldn't blame him," she replied, winking her eyes, "you're too hot to not put a rein on you, I wouldn't hesitate to make a move if I was a man"

I took another sip, laughing at her words, "you can still make a move, you know I'm not biased" I jabbed her shoulder "maybe we should give it a try"

She burst into laughter and I followed, "No, no, I don't swing that way, and we're better off as friends"

We clinked our glasses taking a sip at the same time and I leaned on the porch railing, taking in the view, "I think he's planning to propose" I said suddenly, sighing a little

Sarah leaned on th other side of the railing facing me "why do I feel you are not happy?"

"I don't know" I replied, conflicted. "We've only been together for a while, and I can't see myself settling down with him, with his whole...you know. I mean, we're not even married, and he acts like I'm his property and all. You know how I almost lost a client few months ago because of him"

Sarah nodded, "so what do you do? Break up? I don't think he'll let you go that easily, I don't even know how you got together with him in the first place...the only good thing about him is his face"

I knew Sarah wasn't really a fan of Derek, which was something considering she liked everybody. But apart from his possessiveness, Derek was ok, he was hot, and most importantly...he was good in bed, that was the reason I got together with him in the beginning.

But getting married, that was whole story entirely, I couldn't even imagine a life with him...or anyone else, maybe I wasn't cut out for marriage.

"He hasn't really brought it up though" I replied, "as long as he doesn't, we're good. It's not too late to end it if he has intentions of taking it further. At worse I'll relocate and find a hotter man with a bigger dick"

"Evie!!"

"What? It's true, that's the only important thing"

"Whatever, as long as you're ok. Just be careful, insecure men like him sometimes get violent. We don't want him caving in your beautiful face"

"He'd be long dead before that" I laughed downing the rest of my drink and pouring another, "at least I have one week away from him, and I'm going to ignore the one variable and have the best week of my life" I raised my glass and she clinked hers against it.

"For what it's worth," Sarah said, "Marcus isn't a bad person, he's more bark than bite. I know he's insufferable, but you don't have to like him. You just have to not kill him this week."

"I'll try," I said. "But no promises."

We finished the bottle as the night deepened, talking about everything and nothing. Sarah was my only safe space, I can't even remember how my life looked like before her, two contrasting personalities that didn't seem possible, but we made it work.

We went inside eventually, both of us tipsy and laughing at things that weren't particularly funny. Sarah headed upstairs to the master bedroom, and I collapsed into mine, still in my clothes, the wine making the room spin pleasantly.

I was almost asleep when I heard footsteps in the hallway, then the sound of Marcus's bedroom door closing.

I would try to pretend he wasn't around and try my best not to react to his snide remarks and superiority complex.

I would do this not just for Sarah but also for my perfect week off.