AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He shakes his head. “That’s okay. We can share this solitude.”
He walks over, and the small amount of porch light illuminates his face. His eyes are the brightest green I’ve ever seen and his half-long brown hair looks roguish instead of douchy. I have to admit he’s sort of handsome.
The green-eyed stranger sinks down to the floor next to me and extends his legs, crossing his ankles as he leans back against the wall. I follow his lead and sit down beside him.
I stare at the sky. I came here with such grand ambitions. I was going to take the first step toward getting over Carter… yet here I am.
“You look so sullen. What’s wrong?”
I shake my head and smile. “You don’t want to know.”
“I’ve had a spectacularly shitty day. Humor me.”
I turn to look at him and inhale deeply. “I’m still in love with a guy that got over me years ago. We sort of got together a few days ago, but to him it was nothing more than a drunken hook-up. I can see him falling for someone that’s far better for him than I could ever be, but I can’t let go. I actually came here tonight determined to hook up with someone and finally start getting over him, but I can’t even make myself walk through the door.”
I draw in a shaky breath and swallow hard.
“I’m not much better,” the guy says. “I’m in love with my brother’s girlfriend, and the worst thing is… I think she feels something for me too. No matter how hard I try to push her away, she won’t go. I’m tired of hurting her. I’m tired of wanting her.”
I drop my head back against the wall. “We’re both fucked.”
He starts laughing and turns to look at me, a cute smile on his face. “I’m Mason,” he says.
His name rings a bell, but I can’t quite place him. “Are you in one of my lectures? Your name sounds familiar.”
Mason shakes his head and grins. “Nah, there’s no way I’d forget a girl as beautiful as you. I’d have introduced myself long ago.”
I giggle and look away shyly. When is the last time someone called me beautiful? Someone other than Helen or Kate.
“Will you tell me your name?”
I smile. “It’s Emilia.”
Mason rises and grabs my hand. “Come on, Emilia. Let’s try to make the most of tonight. You made it this far, might as well go in.”
I nod and clench Mason’s hand as we walk into the house, my heart beating wildly. It’s clear that he’s popular because almost everyone nods at him and some of the guys fist bump him, but he doesn’t stop walking, and he doesn’t let go of my hand.
“First, drinks. There’s no way either of us is getting through tonight without them.”
I laugh and nod in agreement. Mason hands me a shot of tequila and I’m instantly reminded of Carter. I have a feeling tequila is always going to remind me of him, and what likely was the last night I ever spent with him.
“What’s wrong?” Mason asks. He brushes the hair out of my face and I shake my head before I take my shot of tequila.
“You’ve got it bad, huh, Emilia?”
Mason grabs my hand, and I cling to him happily. “I warned you. I’m a freaking mess. Even the tequila reminds me of him. How dumb is that?”
Mason raises our joint hands to his lips and kisses my knuckles gently. “Not dumb at all. Just for tonight, though, I’ll make you forget all about him.”
I blink, caught off guard, and Mason chuckles. “No expectations, Emilia. I meant we can just hang out and have a good time. If it leads to more, then it does. If it doesn’t, then that’s fine too.”
I nod and take the vodka mixer Mason is handing me. He tenses suddenly, and when I follow his line of sight, I follow suit.
Lisa and Carter just walked into the kitchen, their hands entwined the way Mason and mine are. Lisa is dragging Carter along and walks up to us. She glares at me before looking at Mason.
“Mason,” she says, and it finally clicks. Mason is the guy she was crying about? Shit. I glance over at Carter and he looks furious, probably on Lisa’s behalf.
Lisa looks at me and frowns. “Why are you with Mason, Emilia?”
