6. Anevae

As I woke on my fourth day in the new home, the stiffness in my muscles screamed at me to take it easy. After my bedroom, the only project left was the greenhouse, and it could wait for the time being.

The monotonous unpacking process had me feeling stir-crazy, which I thoroughly despised. When I was finished with my bedroom, I contemplated exploring my property because it would be helpful to know the land before I started my first experiments outside. But I wasn't worried about starting experiments for several more days and wanted to relax if possible.

As an introvert, being in contact with my family was usually enough to keep my social needs met—it was even draining at times. But the urge to socialize was nagging at me. My mind kept wandering to the neighbor in the small cabin nearby. If anyone were living there, they would have better knowledge of the area and wildlife, so it made sense for me to wander over for a visit.

After breakfast, I jumped in the shower. Then, I wrapped a fluffy towel around me in search of some clothes. I needed something that looked presentable but was easy to move around in, so I pulled a pair of jeans and a T-shirt out of the closet. When I was done, I put a little makeup on before heading downstairs to grab my keys and head toward the neighbor's house.

The other cabin was only about two miles away, but I didn't know anything about the woods yet, so I drove the short distance. Nervousness coiled inside of me during my drive; I was always anxious about meeting new people. Was this someone who didn't want any visitors? Would they send me away rather than invite me in? Or would they be friendly and welcoming?

Pulling into the neighbor's driveway, I joined a black, dirt-covered SUV at the back of the cabin. It looked as if it hadn't been used for a while. Doubt consumed me. Was I wrong about the light being on the other night? Did this neighbor have multiple cars and just not use this one often?

Stop being so anxious and just go knock on the door,I scolded myself. There was no point in speculating. After a few deep breaths, I proceeded to the front door. Knocking loudly, I took a step back and waited for a response. With no answer after a couple of minutes, I knocked again. When there was no answer on the second attempt either, I turned to leave.

I was a few steps away when the door swung open behind me. Spinning on the spot, I found a tall, beautiful woman standing in the doorway. While I stood at five foot five, the woman before me had to be at least four inches taller, with smooth, olive-toned skin. Her pear-shaped body showed off her luscious curves and long legs. She had long, curly, jet-black hair with orange streaks throughout and doe-eyes the color of a bright orange sunrise. Her adorable snub nose was positioned perfectly above her pink, bow-shaped lips. Those heavenly lips instantly beckoned for me to kiss them.

Thankfully, I had some semblance of self-control as I gazed back into her mesmerizing eyes and stuttered, "H-hi there."

One of her thick, black brows raised in confusion. "Hello? Can I help you?" she asked as she peered around me.

I quickly cleared my throat before saying, "My name is Anevae. I just moved into the cabin up the way and wanted to stop by to introduce myself."

She chuckled and offered her slim, dainty hand. "My name is Maeyve. It's nice to meet you, Anevae. Such a beautiful name."

Hearing her honeyed voice say my name sent shivers down my spine. I wanted to get lost in the sound.

Grasping her hand, I felt a tingling sensation travel up my arm. Shocked by the sensation, I tried not to let it show as I shook her hand. "It's very nice to make your acquaintance, Maeyve. And thank you."

Scrunching her nose, she giggled. "You aren't from around here, are you?"

Shaking my head, I stammered, "Well, no, I'm not. I'm actually from the East Coast, but that doesn't explain my formality. I blame that on my mom. She's spoken formally all my life, and it's rubbed off a little."

She smiled brightly as I spoke, flashing her pearly white teeth. "That's sweet. What brings you to the area?"

Clasping my hands together, I fiddled with my thumbs, willing myself to refocus on the conversation. "I moved out here for my work. It's a beautiful place, and I'm excited to explore it. If I may ask, how long have you lived here?"

Maeyve's smile waned as she bit the inside of her cheek. "Well, um, I've been here for quite some time. I'm not really sure exactly how long anymore. The years have blurred together."

"Oh." My brow furrowed. She couldn't have been more than twenty-nine. Unless she inherited this home from a parent, I couldn't imagine she'd lived in the cabin long enough to have forgotten when she moved in. "If it's not too much of a bother, I would love to hear more about the area from someone with firsthand experience. I did some research before moving out here; however, that has only gone so far. Anything you can tell me about what I might run into in these woods would be helpful."

Maeyve's smile returned. "If that's the case, we could be here for a while. There's a lot to tell. Would you like to come inside?"

It took me a moment to answer as I didn't know the woman, but I couldn't deny the pull I felt toward her. A feeling in my gut told me that she'd never hurt me. "That would be great, actually," I responded with a smile.

Maeyve took a step back to open the door wider. Hesitantly, I took a step inside. As I crossed the threshold, warmth engulfed me. The intense aroma of vanilla and berries closely followed. After the initial shock, I moved aside so Maeyve could close the door, kicking my shoes off by the door. She led me down a short hallway that opened up into a large room with a high ceiling. I came to an abrupt stop. From the outside, you would never expect a room this size. The decorations Maeyve chose accentuated the dark ebony wood of the walls perfectly.

Returning my gaze to Maeyve, the light caught one of the orange streaks in her hair. The color matched her strange but mesmerizing eyes. Surely, it was dyed, but it was beautiful either way.

"Please have a seat," she said, motioning toward the large sectional in the middle of the room. "Can I get you anything? Water? Tea? Coffee?"

I nodded and quietly responded, "I'd love some water, please. I appreciate you inviting me inside."

Maeyve smiled widely again. "Of course! I love having visitors. Unfortunately, I don't get many out here." Then, she turned toward the kitchen.

I stood there, admiring the space, until I heard Maeyve return. Turning my attention back to her, she handed me the water I requested. I sat cross-legged at one end of the couch, and she did the same at the other end, putting some space between us. I chuckled at the similarities in our posture.

"Your cabin is breathtaking," I said as I looked around again. Holding her gaze set loose a million butterflies in my belly. She was gorgeous, and I never wanted to look away from her enticing doe-eyes, but I also didn't want to make a fool of myself.

Maeyve chuckled and sat back. "Thank you. It's been a work in progress for a long time."

I quirked my head and worried my lip ring, trying to place just how old she was. How many years could she have really lived here on her own?

She folded her hands in her lap as our eyes met again. "I've tried hard to make this cabin feel like home for so long. My family abandoned me many years ago. I don't go into town often, either."

"I'm sorry to hear about your family. I couldn't imagine. What about the previous tenants of my cabin? Did you ever talk to them?"

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to just dump all of that on you," she said, lowering her gaze to her hands as her cheeks reddened. "There hasn't been anyone in your cabin for several years, and before that, I rarely saw anyone there. I think it was someone's secondary vacation home."

"Interesting. It's in pristine condition. It doesn't seem like it's been vacant at all. Why don't you go into town?"

"Well, um, I'm not really a people person. Big crowds make me nervous and uncomfortable." She took a deep breath and looked back up at me. "That's enough about me for now. Let's get to the real reason you came here. What would you like to know about the area? Exploring the woods is one of my favorite things to do. I've visited every inch of them."

"Honestly, I'd love to hear anything you're willing to share."

"I'd love to tell you all I know, but I have a feeling you'd appreciate it even more if you could experience it. Maybe, once you're feeling settled and rested enough, we can venture out together, and I can introduce you to the area."

"That would be amazing!"

"Perfect! Why did you choose this area to move to?"

"Well, I'm a biological engineer who focuses mainly on agriculture. The cabin was perfect for my needs; with several garden plots outside and a massive greenhouse attached to it, I'll have plenty of space to run my experiments. I was hired by a Colorado-based company—Vision for the Future—to run experiments using a special additive that hasn't yet been released to the public."

"That's interesting. What kind of additive is it?" she asked, head tilted to the side.

"Well, it's a liquid full of nutrients you can add to soil. Soil typically needs several different nutrients—potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus, and manganese, to name a few—to grow plants well. Several of the liquid additives on the market boast their use of the first three, but my company wants to see how well plants grow with higher levels of manganese, too."

"So the nutrients in the additive are already in the soil, just not in the concentrations you're using, right?"

"Correct. I'll be using the additive in controlled environments—the garden plots and pots inside my greenhouse. It shouldn't harm the existing plants or soil, but I don't know for sure yet, so I'm trying to err on the side of caution. I'd also like to keep the animals in the area away from it, just in case."

"That sounds like a great idea. Most of the animals stay away from humans around here, but you can never be too careful."

"Absolutely. What kinds of animals are there around here?"

"We have a lot of rabbits, deer, and foxes running around. There are also some bears and wolves around, too. So just be careful about going out too far."

My heart rate spiked at the thought of running into a bear. They're massive creatures and could easily rip a person to shreds. I shivered at the thought.

"Are there any plants I should be wary of?" I asked.

"Not really. The usual poison ivy, stinging nettle, and poison oak are around, but they're not super common."

"I'll keep an eye out for those. Thank you!"

We sat there for a moment in silence, sipping our drinks. Then she asked, "Where are you moving here from?"

"I've spent my whole life in Connecticut. Most recently, I was living just outside the capital—Hartford. It was beautiful, but way too busy for me. I hate the hustle and bustle of city living; I needed the peace and quiet of the outdoors. That's another reason I chose the cabin."

"That makes sense. I also grew up in a busy area, so I get it."

"Oh. So you didn't grow up around here?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

She stilled, and her eyes grew wide. "Um, no. I didn't, but when I was able to get away, this was my escape. I've always loved it here."

"Well, I'm glad you were able to find your escape. Do you mind sharing it? Because this may very well be my escape, too."

She huffed out a laugh as she rolled her bottom lip into her mouth. When she released it, she said, "I don't think I'd mind sharing it with you."

I took another sip of my water and looked out the window, trying to hide my flushed cheeks. Thunder rumbled in the distance, and splotches of rain dotted the glass. The sky was dark and cloudy. Had the sun already set? How long had we been talking?

"Wow. It doesn't feel like we've been here for long, but it's already dark out. I should get out of your hair, and I'm getting tired." I turned my attention back to her and gave a small smile. "I appreciate your hospitality. It's been great to sit here and talk to you."

"Do you have plans tomorrow?" Maeyve asked.

"I haven't thought that far ahead yet. I'm completely unpacked, save for the greenhouse, and I'd love to see the area before I get it set up. I want to see what I can manage outside versus inside."

"Would you like to go on a little adventure tomorrow? I can show you around a little bit," she said, a hopeful look in her eyes.

"I'd love that, but I don't want to interfere with anything you've got going on."

The corner of her mouth tipped up in a half-smile. "I don't have anything going on. That's why I asked."

"Oh! In that case, I'd love to!" I said, heart racing with excitement.

Her smile grew, and her eyes lit up. "Great! Why don't you come over at about eight tomorrow morning? Make sure to pack lots of snacks and water. We'll probably be out all day."

"Sounds like a plan! I look forward to it."

"I've enjoyed your company and look forward to spending more time with you."

Setting down my glass, I climbed off the couch and stretched again. She did the same. How long had we been sitting there?

After we exchanged goodbyes, she walked me to the door, where I stepped out into the rain and hurried to my car. When I pulled back up to my cabin, I was exhausted mentally and physically. Yet I felt more alive inside than I had at any other time in my life, especially around another person.

Once inside, I shed my wet coat, ate a quick dinner, and headed to my room to finish my nightly routine. While brushing my teeth, I caught sight of myself and took a double-take. My eyes were more vibrant and lively than usual, and I couldn't shake the smile that was now permanently plastered to my face.

When I was done, I changed into my pajamas and set my alarms, not wanting to miss my meeting with Maeyve. Without them, I couldn't trust myself to wake up on time. After crawling into bed, I listened to the steady pitter-pattering of the rain on the windows, lulling me to sleep.