“It’s so good, Travis, thank you!” Lina’s response is muffled as her mouth is full of food.
I glance up to my left. “It’s always good, thank you,” I say. He flashes me a smile but lets it linger for a minute.He definitely knows.And now my friends know. I can’t believe it’s a real thing like people are aware of us. When it was just us, sometimes I imagined it not being real like I was living in this secret sex fantasy with my arch nemesis.
“Well, please tell me if you need anything else tonight, and I will make sure I personally get it for you,” he says, bringing his hands together before quickly heading back into the restaurant.
“He is so nice, and I love coming here because we always get VIP service thanks to your annoying brother,” Avery says before popping another egg roll into her mouth.
“That’s true.” Piper nods her head.
“No, we’re not changing the conversation. I require more information. Like how this even happened to begin with?” Lina prods, forcing the rest of the group to refocus their inquisitive eyes back on me.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Bailey
After dinner atThe Poppy, we all walked down the street to listen to live music in a small, well-known dive bar. I get home sometime around midnight, then take a quick shower and crawl into bed. I didn’t end up drinking much tonight because I’d been a little shaken up by my conversation with Claire. Why was she here a week ago? Mason never mentioned it. I do trust that he’d tell me if he was going to be intimate with anyone else, but I can’t find another explanation why I haven’t heard from him.
A short time later, I’m dozing in and out of sleep when I hear a light knock at my front door. I don’t have a text from Mason, but that’s the only person it could be. Anyone else would have texted me to tell me they’re here. I spring out of bed, hoping that it’s him. Closing one eye, I peer through the peephole.
I knew it. I smile to myself. My chest is light and free as relief washes over me. I’ve actually missed him this week, but I’ll never admit it to him.
As soon as I answer it, I see Mason standing away from the door with his head down and the hood of his black sweaterpulled up. Both of his hands are tucked into the front pockets of his jeans.
“Hi. I thought you were out of town this weekend. I was at the restaurant for dinner and didn’t see you,” I say, opening the door wider, allowing him to come in.
He stumbles inside, barely able to balance on his two feet. “Is Luca here?” he slurs just as I close the door behind him.
“No, he wanted to stay at my parents’ house with Penelope since it’s not a school night.”
“That’s good. I wouldn’t want him to see me like this.” Mason slowly walks toward my bedroom. “Do you mind if I stay here with you tonight?” he asks without turning to look at me.
“Sure, of course you can.”
I cautiously follow behind him, unsure of what’s going on. He seems drunk, even though I know he doesn’t drink that often and never to the point of getting drunk. “Is everything okay?” I ask.
“No. Not really,” he answers.
“You seem like you’ve had a lot to drink.” I walk closer to him, trying to get a better look at his face. His eyes are swollen and bloodshot.
“I have.” Mason steps closer, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and bringing me in close. When my chest meets his, I feel the air leave his lungs. He buries his head in the crook of my neck, and I can feel the moisture from his tears on my skin.
Something is wrong.
For a few moments, I hold him while he quietly cries into my shoulder. I remain perfectly still, afraid to move and disturb this moment. I reach one of my arms around to the back of his neck, running my fingers through his hair, attempting to soothe him.
After a few minutes, his body begins to settle. He steps away from our embrace and starts heading toward my bedroom. I sprint into the kitchen and grab three water bottles from thefridge. By the time I get to my room, Mason’s sitting on the foot of the bed with his head buried in his hands.
“Did something happen?” My words come out low and timid.
“My dad found out this morning that he has lung cancer.” His face still remains hidden underneath his black hoodie.
“Damn,” I say more to myself. “Mason, I am so sorry.” I extend my arm and rest a hand on top of his shoulder but keep some distance from him. I’m not really sure what to do at this moment. I badly need to comfort him and have to fight the urge to wrap my arms around his body. Am I a girlfriend? A friend? It stings seeing him this upset.
“When the restaurant closed down tonight, I sat at the bar demanding that Travis pour me one after another until I wasn’t sad anymore. He finally told me that I’d probably had enough and offered to give me a ride home. When I got to my floor, I turned around, got back into the elevator to come here instead. Right now, the only place I want to be is with you. So, I came to your condo, hoping you’d be home,” he says.
My heart free falls in my chest hearing that he’d wanted to come to me for comfort.Fuck it.I don’t care if this crosses the invisible boundaries of our stupid arrangement. At this moment, all I want to do is hold close someone who I’ve grown to deeply care about.
“I’m glad you did.” I slowly climb onto the bed, adjusting my body so that both my legs fall to either side of him. I scoot close so my chest is flush with his back. He stiffens but doesn’t turn around. Wrapping my arms around him, I clasp my hands on his stomach and let my head rest between his shoulder blades. Burying my face into the fabric of his sweater, I inhale deeply, breathing in his familiar scent.
