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When we emerged from the basement and sat down for dinner with his family, to say I was flustered is putting it mildly. With my mind still reeling from that kiss, I suddenly forgot how to act around them, and I don’t remember the last time I felt that awkward at a dinner table.
Mason, on the other hand, wasn’t feeling awkward at all. In fact, he looked pretty pleased with himself and kept trying to play footsies with me under the table throughout the entire meal.
I swear the guy has ‘Go Go Gadget’ legs. No matter how far out of reach I put my feet, he still managed to catch them every time and would flash me a cocky grin in triumph.
Once dinner was over, I couldn’t get out of there fast enough, and knowing I would be seeing him today has had my stomach twisted into knots all morning. I’m going to have thetalkwith him today. It’s the talk no one wants to have. I’m going to have to let him down, and as much as I’m at war with myself over it, I know it’s the right thing to do. I can’t jump into another relationship right now, and I really hope we can go back to being friends. I love spending time with him, and I honestly never should have crossed that line. Though in my defense, when I walked into his basement yesterday and took in the sight of his muscular body attacking that punching bag, I temporarily lost my mind. It was the hottest thing I had ever seen.
His baggy clothes were gone, and in their place was a white T-shirt that hugged his broad shoulders and wide chest. The muscles in his arms were flexing as he hit blow after powerful blow into the punching bag, and when the sleeve of his shirt rode up, I was sure I caught a glimpse of some ink.
Has Mason Reynolds seriously got a tattoo?
The guy is definitely full of surprises. There is something to be said for not judging a book by its cover. And Mason Reynolds is one of those books that, once you start reading, you just can’t put down. You want to keep turning those pages to find out more. And the more I discover about him, the more that curiosity is turning into something else entirely.
As I continue to sip on my liquid gold, I lean back against the headrest and glance out the window, watching the houses pass by as Lyndsey drives us to school. My girls are having their usual morning debrief before we hit the battlefield known as school, but my mind can’t seem to switch off that image of Mason’s strong body on top of mine.
When we hit that mat, and his large body engulfed mine, his plump lips mere inches from my own, I snapped. I had to know what they felt like, and the moment my lips touched his, it was as if my whole world had been turned upside down.
I reach up and trace my fingers over my lips, convinced I can still feel the lingering effect his kiss left on me. I have never been kissed like that before. It was raw and intense. It was completely out of control and had we not been interrupted, I have no doubt it would have gone further.
My daydreamingsoon comes to an end when we pull into the parking lot at school and exit the car. As we head toward the entrance, I scan the courtyard over to the park bench, where I usually find Mason most mornings but notice he’s not there. And at this point, I don’t know if I feel disappointed or relieved.
“Health hazard alert ten o’clock,” Cadence announces. I look in the direction she is pointing, spotting Hadley all over Logan like a bitch in heat.
“Are you okay, babe?” Lyndsey asks, looking at me with concern as we continue toward the door.
“Yeah.” I nod solemnly. “I think I am.”
Hadley’s public displays of affection toward Logan have become a regular occurrence lately, and there is something to be said for time healing all wounds. The knife that constantly drove into my chest every time I witnessed their interactions has finally retreated, and all that’s left now is a dull ache.
A dull ache is something I can handle, and as each day passes, the pain lessens even more.
When we step into the hall, we go our separate ways and head straight for our lockers. I spot my daily pink flower inside when I open it, and a smile instantly forms on my face. I pick it up and bring it to my nose, inhaling the sweet fragrance and feeling my mood lift.
“Good morning, Flower.” Mason appears, leaning against the locker beside me with a cocky grin on his gorgeous face. My stomach flutters as I look up at his luscious lips glistening with moisture as if he just ran his tongue over them.
Water pools in my mouth as the overwhelming urge to run my tongue along his lips tantalizes my tastebuds, and I quickly avert my gaze feeling heat rise to my cheeks.
Jesus Christ. I really need to get my shit together. I’m supposed to be friend-zoning him today, and if I don’t somehow get a handle on my hormones, I’m going to end up kissing him again.
“You look beautiful today,” he continues, his smile growing wider as he drinks in my body, and I swear if he doesn’t stop looking at me like that, I’m going to burst into flames.
Looking for a diversion, I pick up the flower and wave it in front of him. “Thanks for the flower.”
“Don’t know what you are talking about.” He shrugs, feigning innocence, and I cock my head at him.
“So I was thinking”—he changes the subject and blows off my knowing look—“seeing as my house is more chaotic than the zoo on a Saturday, do you want to meet at your house instead and go over those last two chapters?”
“Um…” I mumble, biting my bottom lip. He has been suggesting this more often than not lately but there is no way in hell I’m ready to expose him to that shit show also known as my mother. Offering to help Ali train for cheerleading tryouts has been my saving grace as of late. “I promised Ali I would teach her how to do a side aerial this week, so I will be at your house anyway.”
“Are you coming over today?”
“Actually, no.” I grab my books out and close the door. “I’m catching up with Eric after school. He has been complaining that I’ve been neglecting him lately and made me promise I would hang out with him today.”
It’s not a lie. All of my friends have been on my case lately about the lack of time I’ve spent with them. And getting tired of their constant whining, I’ve been forced to make time.
Mason’s face drops, and his lips press into a tight line, making me feel a pang of guilt. “But I can meet with you in the library today?” I suggest, and his face lights up again, that incredible smile of his returning and melting my insides into mush. How the hell am I supposed to friend-zone this guy when he smiles at me like that? All I want to do is kiss him again.
“Sounds good.” He continues to smile. “I will see you then, Flower.”
