I sighed. “It was just a little weird,” I admitted. “Everyone was looking at me a bit differently. But by the end of the day, it was almost back to normal.”
“I’m sorry,” he replied sincerely. “I didn’t think about how coming to your office would affect your work. That was thoughtless of me.”
“I’m glad you did,” I assured him. “Don’t apologize. I can handle it.”
“God, I hope so,” he sighed. “Because I really want to keep seeing you.”
“Me too.” I smiled.
“I can hear you smiling.”
“So?” I replied, blushing profusely.
“And I know you’re blushing,” he added, his tone full of affection. “So about Wednesday,” he began, and I was grateful he was changing the subject. “Can I pick you up?” he asked.
“I’d like that, but I promised to go with Lily. How about you guys meet us there?”
“We can do that,” he agreed, though he sounded slightly disappointed.
“So, you’re a phone guy, huh?” I asked curiously. I couldn’t remember the last time anyone other than Lily—when she was desperate—or my parents called me as opposed to texting.
“With you I am,” he replied smoothly. “Wanted to hear your voice.”
I couldn’t formulate a response to that and managed a quiet. “Ah.”
“You don’t take compliments well, do you?”
“Just not used to them, I guess,” I replied quietly.
“We’ll have to work on that then.”
“I guess so,” I agreed. “Night, Mason,” I murmured.
“Night, Ellie. Sleep well.”
And with that, I fell just a little harder for Mason Jackson.
* * *
“Let’s get a drink!” Lily hollered over the music Wednesday night. The venue was packed as the opening band began to play. Lily looked gorgeous in her tight jeans and sequined top. Though she always claimed to be jealous of my curves, she had an amazing figure with her petite frame. Her long blond hair hung just to her shoulders, with her bangs swept perfectly across her forehead highlighting her big blue eyes.
I’d chosen to wear my fitted black jeans, ankle boots, and green silk tank that Lily claimed made my eyes pop.
I nodded as she took my hand, pulling me through the crowd. The guys were due to arrive any minute; Mason said he’d text when they got there. We got our drinks and made our way to a table that had miraculously opened up.
It only took a moment before two guys approached, clearly on the hunt. I rolled my eyes at Lily.
“Get you a drink?” the dark-haired guy called into my ear, standing entirely too close.
I shook my head, stepping out of his reach as Lily displayed similar body language across the table.
“A dance then?” He tried again.
That’s when I felt it: the heat at my back. An electricity I could only attribute to Mason, since I’d never felt it before I’d met him.
“She’s with me,” he growled as he came to stand alongside me.
The guy looked up, and up, his eyes wide before he immediately backed away. I saw out of the corner of my eye that Ryan held a similar stance alongside Lily.
