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The door at the end of the hallway opens and Leo appears. He leans against the frame. “Hey, Lucy. He is in his room.” He nods toward a closed door in the center of the hallway. “He’s alone. He doesn’t bring anyone into his room since we moved here. Go ahead.”
He hasn’t brought anyone to his room since he started college. That isn’t like Mason. Colton opens his door wider, and a short blonde with her bag clutched tight to her chest adjusts her skirt to do the walk of shame down the hallway.
“Have a nice day, Melinda.”
“It’s Tiffany,” she counters.
“Oh, sorry. Tiffany.” Colton winks at me.
I roll my eyes. “Gross. Hope you wrapped it.”
Pointing toward his crotch, he grins. “Always.”
“You are such a pig.”
“Oink.” He closes his door.
Colton is such a man whore. He is funny and easy going, but there is something not right with the way he has meaningless sex. He doesn’t even remember their name unless they are one of his regulars. It is like he is trying to get over something… or maybe someone.
I cross to Mason’s door and hesitate with my hand on the handle.
Before I turn it, I glance at Leo. “Can you do something for me, Leo?”
He angles his head and scratches his brow with his finger. “Anything. You know you are like the sister I never had. We’re family.”
I swallow. “When I leave out that front door, promise me you will be there for Mase.”
Leo nods. “Okay. I promise.”
“Thank you,” I say softly. “He’s going to need it.”
I open the door and Mase sits up on the bed.
“I thought it was you, but I wasn’t sure,” he says, his eyes softening. He looks so handsome with his black hair swept to the side on top and the bottom faded short.
His muscles flex. His body is carved like a statue. The veins protruding from his biceps remind me how he was holding me close last night. Funny how being in his arms is the safest and most dangerous place at the same time.
“I’m sorry to have interrupted you. I need to leave something with you, but I need it back. I also need you not to open it until I leave your room. Got it?”
“What is it?” he asks, seeming surprised that I want to share something with him.
“Um, it’s something I tried to tell you a long time ago…” I trail off. “See it for yourself, and you will understand. It is all there, but I need it back. It’s all I have.”
“Is everything okay, Lucy?” he asks with a worried frown.
“I hope so. I’m so sorry, Mason. The lines have been blurred with things not said. Truths not spoken.” I sigh and take a deep breath. “I know it doesn’t make sense right now but the moment I tell you my truth, is the moment you can see the real me.” I take out the unmarked book with the sonogram picture of our little one and all the love that was in my heart.
He watches me place it on the bed. He glances at it but stays frozen as I walk back toward the bedroom door and leave.
Chapter Twenty-One
Mason
I’m curious what the book has inside that Lucy doesn’t want me to read it in front of her and made clear she wants it back. I hold the thick book in my hand and test its weight. I exhale and open it…
To My Little Angel,
The first time I heard your heartbeat was the day there was an extra beat in my heart. It was beautiful and so real. That there was this tiny person growing inside of me. For every second that you were living inside of me, I promise I will love you every second of mine. I promise you, my little angel, that no matter how heartbroken I am, the beat you left inside of me will always be there until my last breath.
