Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

MASON

When Leo dropped the surprise that we were taking a trip to celebrate our anniversary, I envisioned soaring above the clouds on a flight to the Bahamas. I was imagining feeling the warm sun on my skin and listening to the sound of waves crashing against the shore. Instead, I was met with the harsh reality of us embarking on a road trip in a rented car, navigating the sweltering country roads of the UK during a relentless heatwave. The thermometer outside read a scorching 31 degrees, and the air was thick with humidity. The tarmac seemed to shimmer like a mirage as we drove, and the usually lush green landscapes were now parched and brown. I was sticky and sweaty just sitting in the car, and I couldn't help but feel disappointed that our anniversary celebration wasn't going to be the relaxing beach vacation I had been dreaming of.

Despite my initial disappointment, I can't help but be swept up in Leo's infectious excitement. It's not often that I see him this thrilled, and I find myself caught up in his enthusiasm, even though I'm secretly mourning the loss of my tropical getaway.

Leo attempts to placate me with a dismissive, "Stop pouting, we'll have a good time." He removes one hand from the steering wheel and pulls the brochure out from the centre compartment, flaunting exciting outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, and birdwatching. But his enthusiasm sounds forced, and I'm struck by the thought that it's not really his cup of tea either.

I nod half-heartedly, before grabbing the brochure from his grasp and using it to fan the sweat beading down my face. "Are you going to fuck me under the stars?" I ask, my tone a mix of hopefulness and desperation.

Leo's silence is a heavy weight, a familiar ache that settles in my chest like a cold draft. It's a reminder that our desires are as mismatched as the stars in the night sky. I've come to accept that our love is a dance of compromise, where I move one step ahead and he lingers behind, his feet rooted to the floor.

I've lost count of the moments I've wondered what went wrong. Ten years ago, our bodies seemed to combust with each other's touch. We'd tumble into bed, fuelled by a love that burned bright and fierce. But now, our passion has dwindled to a smoulder, a gentle warmth that no longer sets my soul on fire.

Leo's workaholic tendencies often leave me feeling neglected, but he tries to make up for it in other ways. He pays for our lavish lifestyle, meaning I get to focus on my dream of becoming an artist. It's hard to hold onto resentment, when I know deep down, he loves me. Still, I can't help but feel a pang of disappointment. Our anniversary should conjure up images of sultry nights and whispered promises, not hiking boots and sweaty socks.

When Leo never answers my question, I relax further into my seat and let my eyes drift close. The odd bump in the road makes me bump my head against the slightly steamed glass. I try to ignore it and focus on all the fun we're going to have this weekend. It's only when I hear Leo mutter, "Oh shit," under his breath, do I open my eyes.

"What's wrong?" I ask and then a second later I spot the steam flowing from the front of the car, massive clouds pouring up into the air. Well, that can't be good.

I don't know much about cars, or well, I don't know anything about cars, but when we come to a sudden stop in the middle of the road, I figure things are about to get worse for us.

Leo is the first one to climb out of the car, and I groan when the hot stuffy air slaps me straight in the face. "Why the fuck is it so hot? We're in the UK! The place is known for being cold and wet ninety percent of the bloody time."

My bitching is cut off when Leo opens the hood and more smoke continues to bellow up into the air. "I'm guessing that's not supposed to happen?"

"No, it's not," Leo responds, a deadpan look on his face.

"Well, now what do we do? Do you know how to fix this?" By the grumpy look on my boyfriend's face, I'm guessing his answer is a no. "Oh, well how about we call someone?" And then I remember Leo's brilliant plan of bringing no phones with us – apparently, he thought it was a good idea to cut off our connection to the outside world, in the name of romance.

I don't know what we're going to do. I don't know how to fix a smoking car. Leo doesn't know how to fix it. We can't call anyone to come and help us. It's so fucking hot, I fear I'm going to melt into a puddle of disappointed gloop.

This so wouldn't be happening if we were on a plane to the Bahamas. "We should have gone abroad like I wanted. You insisted on coming out here, and now look at what's happening."

Leo's face twists in frustration, "You're the one who's always harping on at me for never being present enough. I would have been happy just staying at home!"

"You're blaming me for this? You're the one who was so set on camping, who didn't even want to pack our phones. You're the one who thought it would be a good idea to leave us cut off from civilization," I snap at him.

"It was supposed to be romantic!"

I take a step forward, my voice rising. "Romantic? Are you kidding me? This is just stupid. We're stuck in the middle of nowhere with a broken-down car and no way to communicate. What's romantic about that?"

Leo crosses his arms, his jaw clenched, and I can see the anger simmering beneath the surface. "You're just mad because I didn't want to spend more money on you!"

Oh no, he didn't! "I'm mad because we're stuck here, alone, with no way to get help. I'm mad because we could be sipping pi?a coladas on the beach right now if you hadn't been so stupid by making us go camping! You hate camping!"

Leo's voice drops to a low growl, "You never listen to me, never compromise. You always get what you want and then complain about it later. It's like I can't do enough for you!"

"Because you're never fucking here!" I scream at him, my voice booming out into the open road. "And when you are here, you make it seem like a chore to be around me! Do you know what it's like to offer yourself to someone and knowing they are only going to reject you, every single time?"

"Unbelievable." The air is stifling, heavy with the weight of a suffocating heatwave, as we stand there, the only sound is our harsh breathing and the creaking of the car's engine. The tarmac seems to shimmer like a wave, and I can feel the sweat trickling down my back as I march to the back of the car and yank open the boot. The heat radiates off the metal, making my skin prickle with discomfort as I grab my backpack and sling it over my shoulder.

"Where are you going?" Leo snaps, his arms folded across his chest.

"Far away from you, before I end up saying something that I can't take back," I snarl, my fists clenched at my sides. We don't argue a lot, but when we do, it can get nasty. Nothing physical, but after spending ten years together, you know the right words to cut each other pretty deep.

Leo's eyes narrow, his jaw clenched in anger. "We're in the middle of nowhere, Mason," he growls.

"I'll figure it out. Happy anniversary, babe ," I spit at him, my eyes blazing with fury.

I storm away from the car, my feet pounding against the tarmac in a reckless, furious rhythm. The sun beats down on my skin like a wicked force, making every step harder than it needs to be. My sweat-drenched clothes cling to my body like a wet blanket, and I can feel my skin burning beneath the glare.

I'm not even sure where I'm going – anywhere away from him will do, but as I trudge through the blistering heat, I can feel my body beginning to shut down. My vision starts to blur and my head spins with dizziness.

After a while, I stumble to a stop beneath a scorching oak tree, my breath coming in ragged gasps. The leaves above me seem to writhe and twist in agony, as if they too are suffering from the heatwave's cruel grasp.

And yet...I'm not just mad at him. I'm mad at myself for letting this go on for so long. We've been happy for ten long years, or happy enough. But I'm getting tired of being rejected. Leo is the man I want to spend my forever with, but can I really go the rest of my life feeling this way?

I don't think I can continue walking while the sun is still up, I don't physically have the strength to keep going. Maybe I should wait until night time, but on the other hand, waiting until nightfall might just be the plot to a horror film come true - you know, the one where I'm forced to flee from a murderous machete-wielder through a dark forest while trying not to trip on roots or scream too loudly and give away my position. Yeah, no thanks.

Do I just go back to Leo? How long have I been gone? I can't imagine the car has been fixed yet? So maybe I should just go back to him with my tail tucked between my legs.

No, that would make me look weak. Why should I be the one who fixes this? I'm always the one who apologises first, the one to get us back on track after an argument and I'm not doing it this time.

If Leo wants to find me, he can either walk through the blistering sun, get sunburned, and risk heat stroke - or I can just die here alone and spare him the trouble.