Page 34 of The Golden Hour

That summer was also when they lost their virginity to each other, in her parents’ basement while they were out at work. It was rushed, it was frantic, and he finished way too fast. But he didn’t want to do it with anyone but Honey.

He was sure of her even then as a dumbass sixteen-year-old.

Honey didn’t pay much attention to the attention she was getting, but Mason couldn’t help but notice how most of the guys in their grade, and the grade above, were leering at Honey or saying hello when they walked by.

She was well-liked by pretty much everyone because of how sweet she was, but boys were looking at her in a way that made Mason’s chest feel hot and tight. He would wrap his arm around her shoulders as they sat at the lunch table, and she would lean into him, smiling up at him sweetly and none the wiser.

It was after the homecoming dance that Eric Preston took notice of Honey, and he spent the entire time between then and Christmas break trying to get her attention.

“Nice tits.”

“Do you taste like Honey? I’m dying to know, babe.”

“Let me know when you get tired of Carpenter; I’ll show you a real man.”

Honey ignored it, thinking that by not feeding into his delusions, he would move on.

But Eric did not like to be ignored.

Mason still remembers the day vividly.

They were in P.E. The boys and girls were separated on opposite ends of the gym. Mason was hanging out with his guy friends, and he could see Honey hanging out with a couple of her girl friends. Because they couldn’t resist, they would meet each other’s eyes sometimes and smile.

Honey’s cheeks would flush every time, and all of her friends would giggle and tease her.

Mason’s chest would feel like he was experiencing a wonderful cardiac event as his friends ribbed him.

When he tried to meet her eyes again, he found her figure blocked by Eric Preston looming over her. Mason was already moving, but when Eric’s meaty hand boldly reached out and grabbed Honey’s breast, he started sprinting.

Honey had always been non-confrontational, and her response was either to freeze or to fawn. She hated it about herself, but any conflict made her anxious and sick.

She went completely still with Eric’s hand on her chest, and Eric—despite Honey’s friends yelling at him and yelling for a teacher—thought her frozen body meant she liked it.

Mason knew Honey better than anyone. He knew that the wide-eyed, mouth-parted, pale expression on her face meant she was terrified.

He hit Eric’s back like a fucking rocket and tackled him to the ground. Unfortunately, Eric was bigger and stronger, and quickly overpowered Mason, catching him with punches to the nose and mouth that made him see stars.

Whistles blew from the teachers, feet pounding against the floor, students yelling in chaos all around them.

All he could hear was Honey’s terrified voice screaming at Eric, “No! Leave him alone! Get off of him!”

It startled him a bit, hearing her scream like that. And that was a mistake, because Honey was grabbing at Eric, trying to pull him off Mason.

Eric turned with two strong arms and shoved Honey.

All the noise died for a brief second in shock as Honey slammed to the ground, her ankle twisting at a wrong angle. She shrieked, the sound so sharp it felt like a knife straight to Mason’s chest.

The noise restarted abruptly. People yelled in outrage and shock as teachers tried to make their way through the entire junior class to reach the fight.

And Mason felt rage like he had never felt before. He slammed his head forward, and felt Eric’s nose break under his forehead.

But he didn’t hit him again, because Honey needed him.

He leaped off the ground, sprinting over to her where her girl friends were trying to help her. Once they saw the look on Mason’s face, they leaped back in fright.

“Baby,” he said, dropping to his knees beside her. His hands cradled her face, thumbs brushing away the tears falling. Her eyes were squeezed close in pain. “Look at me, pretty girl—look at me. Where does it hurt?”

Honey’s eyes snapped open, and she gasped, her warm hand going to his cheek.