Page 23 of Breathe Like Hell

“You’re actually the most annoying person on the face of the planet.”

“I know. And I know he’s like an asshole for real, so it’s fine if you genuinely don’t want me to meet him. I can let you have this part of your life separate from me if you need,” she sighed. “Also your location is shared with me now.”

“It’s fine. You can see him. No conversing, though.”

“Got it.” Mila nodded and gave me two thumbs up.

I finished zipping up my boots, then grabbed all my shit off the floor. Mila stuffed her feet into some sneakers and left the apartment with me after promising Ivan she would only be gone for a minute. My stomach was twisting with nerves—maybe a little excitement, too—but mostly nerves. Yeah, Mason was hot.

But he also liked to hurt me.

I didn’t want Mila to know that.

We skipped down the stairs together and the sight of Mason’s dark gray 4Runner idling at the curb made me want to vomit, but I just gritted my teeth and breathed through my nose. Everything switched to slow motion as he got out of the car and walked around the hood to the passenger door, every second that ticked forward combining parts of my life that probably should’ve stayed separate. His eyes flicked past my face, landing on Mila’s, then came back.

“Hey,” I said, time speeding up again.

“Hey.”

“This is my friend, Mila. She just wanted to say hi,” I explained, feeling jittery. Mason looked at her again. I turned my head to see her expression, which was some combination of shock and nervousness. I understood it completely. It’d taken me a while to get used to seeing him up close. I wondered if she could sense his darkness the way I could.

“Hi,” he said.

“Hi,” Mila responded.

He opened the door and I moved to get in the car, but Mila grabbed my arm, holding me firmly as she leaned in to whisper in my ear. “Please be safe, Kota. Text me if you need me. Okay?”

I pressed my lips together and nodded. “Love you.”

“Love you more.” She released her death grip on my forearm after another moment, then started walking back towards her apartment, thumbs already flying over her phone screen. I felt my own phone buzz in my pocket with each incoming notification from her.

Mason drew my attention to his face, cupping my cheek with his hand.

“That’s your friend, baby?”

“Yes. My best friend.”

“You seem nervous. Don’t be nervous. I do know how to behave sometimes.”

“I don’t believe you,” I grumbled as I hopped into the passenger seat and grabbed the handle, trying to yank the door shut—but Mason held it open. He leaned in and grabbed my chin, pressing his mouth to mine. The second I softened to him though, he pulled away and shut the door. I crossed my arms, irritated as he climbed in the driver’s side.

“What the fuck is your problem?” I asked.

“We’re in public. I’m behaving. Like I just told you I was capable of.”

I stared at him, unamused. He seemed different, in some way. There was some new air about him, a shift in his expression I didn’t recognize.

What are you hiding from me now?

“Where are you taking me?”

“My place. Well—yours first, then mine. So you can get some shit to wear tomorrow, and your swim suit,” he explained as he navigated to the exit of Mila’s apartment parking lot.

“I seriously do not want to go to the beach right now, Mason.”

“Good thing we’re not going to the beach.” He sped onto the two-lane road, darkness swallowing the sky above us, the moon hanging low over the road. The tinted window glass was cool on my temple when I leaned my head to the side, grabbing my phone to read Mila’s texts.

“Then why do I need a swim suit?” I questioned, eyes skimming my notifications.