10. The Secrets

Logan

One of the lodge’s two restaurants boasted a contemporary design, featuring expansive, double-sided fireplaces and a fusion of rustic charm, complete with deer antler chandeliers and intimate seating arrangements comprising oversized chairs. The two families finished their hearty meals with dessert. Silence fell over the table uncomfortably, the teens’ lack of engagement apparent. Logan caught Hunter’s glance a moment and then promptly looked away.

“Are you boys still fighting?” Logan’s mother asked, likely realizing that the two hadn’t sat next to each other or spoken a word. “What’s going on? Is it about a woman?” Neither reacted, and continued to eat their meals.

“Logan, think you may do some boarding tonight? Lift is open until ten, lights off at eleven,” Mr. Richardson asked.

Logan’s eyebrows perked up. “Yeah? I might,” he said, feigning excitement. A group of four or five beautiful women walked by, making all the men at the table stop and look for a second. Stacy laughed at her mother’s eyes rolling.

“Stacy, there is a teen event tonight in the East Ballroom—sounds fun,” Mrs. Parker suggested.

Stacy smiled with a shrug, eyes on her phone. “Maybe.” Logan’s anger grew as he noticed her persistent glances at her phone combined with Hunter’s occasional checks, only adding to his frustration.

After what seemed like a long, uneventful dinner, Joanna and Rosemary headed to the cafe for coffee. Meanwhile, Thomas Richardson and Stanley Parker went to the bar.

Logan followed Stacy to the teen mixer. The medium-sized ballroom buzzed with excitement as lights danced across the walls and a DJ pumped up the crowd with infectious beats. Some teenagers danced while others stood around awkwardly. They served a variety of virgin cocktails and finger foods while the DJ played current pop music. He watched from a distance while she socialized with other teens.

Surprisingly enough, people liked Stacy. She was very popular at school and kept fairly good grades, good enough for the Dean’s list. She wasn’t athletic, but in various social clubs and on the student council four years in a row. Logan wondered what she talked to them about.

Stacy

“I’ll give you fifty bucks and some coke if you distract my brother over there,” Stacy said to a pretty blonde teen. She was just his type.

“What?” The girl laughed. “Who are you?”

“He’s over there by the door—cute, college guy in the red hoodie.” She tried not to gesture.

“He is cute,” the blonde said, checking Logan out.

“Yeah, here,” she said, handing the girl a folded fifty and a small bag of cocaine. “I just need five minutes.”

The girl walked over, and Logan did as expected. What an idiot. As soon as Logan turned around, Stacy darted out a side door.

Stacy looked at the number on the hotel card key holder and headed to room 712. It was a standard-sized room with a king bed, workstation, couch, a small kitchenette, and a breathtaking night view of the mountains.

Thirty minutes later, Stacy waited on the bedsheets in black lingerie and knee-high stockings, as she flipped through channels on television. The faint sound of beeping and the door handle turning made her turn off the TV, toss the remote onto a nearby armchair, and extend her legs across the sheets.

“Hello, Goddess.”

Stacy’s hair flipped over her shoulder. “What took you so long?”

“My apologies. Your father can talk forever,” Thomas Richardson said, removing his shoes and undoing the first few buttons of his shirt. “God, you look amazing.”

She smiled coyly and turned to her side to face him. “It’s Goddess.”

A gold Rolex was placed on the nightstand with care and a wedding band soon appeared next to it. “I saw you heading over to the boys’ cabin earlier. You’re not still seeing my son, are you? You looked pretty comfortable with him on the plane today.”

“No. I told you, that ended years ago. Why are you so paranoid?”

“You make me this way. Get rid of your boyfriend,” he said, taking off his shirt.

“I told you, I have to keep up with appearances. Wow, looks like you snuck some extra workouts in,” she said, sitting up on her knees, waiting for him to join her.

“I’m only on this trip for you, you know. I was going to leave her two nights ago.”

“You’re an idiot. Who cares if she’s fucking some dude? Your life is good, you’re rich, you’re hot. Get your own life and let her live hers.” She slid her way to the edge of the bed and planted small kisses on his chest, trailing them down to his stomach while undoing his pants.

“I want to leave her and be with you,” he said, cupping her face with both hands.

She laughed and pulled back from his grip. “You’re ridiculous.”

“I’m serious.”

“Tom, we’ve been through this. We make great lovers, anything else would ruin what we have. Isn’t it fun? Don’t you love being my secret Daddy?” She pulled him down by his neck and kissed him.

“You make me feel so old sometimes,” he said, touching her cheek.

“You’re only forty-eight. Besides, don’t you like being called ‘Daddy’?” She leaned back onto the bed, mindful of the time.

“I do.”

“Well, then, eat my pussy, Daddy,” she whined with pouty lips. He got on his knees and pulled her legs down over the edge of the bed.

“Come with me to Miami this summer,” he said, pulling off her panties.

She bit her bottom lip, eyes smoldering. “Goddess will go anywhere her Daddy wants her to.”

“You should really leave that loser,” he told her, kissing up her inner thighs.

“Get me the car I asked you for last Christmas and I’ll leave him the next day.”

“Deal.”

Logan

Logan couldn’t believe she disappeared, and he was stuck in a conversation with high schoolers.

She has to be with Hunter.

After looking around the main lodge for about an hour, he headed back to his cabin. While walking up the path to the cabin, Hunter walked out in his new red and blue snow gear with his snowboard under his arm, looking like a walking ad for the USA Olympic Snowboard team.

“Have you seen Stacy?” Logan asked him. “Is she with you?”

“Does it look like she’s with me? Listen, I don’t care where your slutty sister is, alright? Don’t ask me,” Hunter snapped, the crunch of his boots on the snowy trail matching his frustration.

The harsh words stopped Logan in his tracks, catching him by surprise. “Fuck you, Hunter.”

“Yeah, fuck you,” Hunter muttered back.

Logan had never bickered this much, this often, with Hunter before. He hated it. He called Stacy, but she didn’t answer. After stirring about the empty cabin for twenty minutes, he headed to his parents’ cabin next door.

“Logan, what’s wrong?” his mother insisted. “I know something’s up.”

“Nothing,” he lied, rummaging through their snacks.

“Do you need eggs for the morning? Where is Hunter?” she asked, clearing the last few items off the kitchen counter.

“No, thanks.”

At a quarter to eleven, Stacy bounced through the wooden front door.

“How was the event?” her mother asked.

“It was great. Glad I went,” she said as she took off her coat.

“Stacy fucked Hunter,” Logan blurted for all to hear.

“Logan!” his mother snapped.

A small grin spread across Stacy’s face. “That’s none of your business.”

“It really isn’t any of your business.” His mother lectured him.

His head snapped towards his mother, eyes wide with surprise. “Mom, but—”

“I don’t care. Stacy is eighteen, and Hunter is an adult who can make his own decisions,” his mother said, wiping down the countertops on autopilot. His father sat on the couch watching TV with his back to them and hadn’t said a word.

Stacy glared at him and curled her lips into a wicked smile. “Look, it’s cute you’re worried about me. Maybe one day Hunter will fuck you, too.”

“Shut up.”

“Stacy, stop that,” Mrs. Parker warned her.

Stacy chuckled, making her way to her room. “What’d you think they were going to do anyway? Ground me? Get me a chastity belt? Besides, they already knew, genius.” Stacy went into her room and shut the door.

“Seriously, Mom?”

His mother sighed and took a seat on the couch beside his father. “Hunter would come by sometimes, and you weren’t home so I, you know … I’ve always wanted to raise sex-positive children who are responsible and polite. I think you, Stacy, and Hunter, can make the right choices on your own. You get good grades, you’re involved in social activities, you don’t do drugs, you keep me informed—what else can a mother ask for?”

He threw his hands up in the air. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“It’s not my business to tell. If this is why you and Hunter aren’t speaking, it’s not worth it. I’m not so sure it’s serious and even if it is, wouldn’t you prefer it to be Hunter?” Logan said nothing and sulked at the counter. “Go find Hunter and apologize. I know it’s not a serious thing and Stacy can be—”

“Easy?”

“Hey! No shaming! You know I don’t like that. Women have the right to do whatever they want with their bodies without judgment. I was going to say persistent,” she corrected him.

When Logan returned to the cabin, he found Hunter on the couch watching television, and sat at the opposite end. “Hey.” Hunter didn’t acknowledge him, eyes glued forward. “I’m sorry about today,” Logan said. “I shouldn’t be in your business.”

Hunter sighed and looked over at him. “I’m sorry, too. I think we need to stop what we’re doing.”

Logan froze, processing Hunter’s words. “What?”

“This whole thing we have going on,” Hunter said and dropped his eyes to his lap. “It’s … weird, and I think it’s causing issues between us.”

Logan felt his heart shatter, and a clump formed in his throat. “Are you sure?”

“I mean, look at us—we’re not usually like this. That’s made things more complicated, and I’d rather us just be friends. Are you good with that? I mean, it makes sense, right?” Hunter asked.

Logan nodded and let out a soft sigh. “I get it. I agree,” Logan lied, nodding his head. He wanted to say that he didn’t care if Hunter fucked Stacy as long as he was his when they were together—alone. Besides, he was with Andrea, and she had done nothing wrong. Andrea was sweet.

“There’s half a pizza left if you want it,” Hunter said, motioning toward the kitchen. Logan grabbed the other half of the small oven-baked pizza that was on the counter and poured himself a drink. After sitting back on the couch, Hunter rose and let out a stretch.

Hunter looked at Logan and smiled. “Alright, I’m going to bed. We’re boarding all day tomorrow, right?”

“Should be a good time.”

“You alright? You seem quiet. We’re good now, right?” Hunter asked.

Logan put on a happy face. “I’m good. I’ll see ya tomorrow.”

Logan tossed and turned in bed. He couldn’t get Hunter off his mind. He texted Andrea a few times that evening after missing several of her calls. The feelings he had for her were suddenly gone. Taking out his phone, he browsed the nudes she sent him—nothing. Frustrated with himself, he wanted nothing more than to go to Hunter’s room and slide into bed with him.