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What was that old saying? Fool me once. Shame on you. Fool me twice… yeah, never going to happen.
But he couldn’t just let me go. He had to kick me while I was down.
“You won’t let this affect your work with Scottie?” he asked.
“Of course, I won’t.” I shoved the door open and shoved my disbelief down as I pinned him with a scathing look. “Because unlike you, Mason Steele, I’m not an asshole.”
I scrambled out of his car, almost tripping over my feet.
But this time, he wasn’t there to catch me.
* * *
The drive back to Lakeshore was miserable. I’d blasted angry girl rock music into the car, hoping it would help me, but it had barely touched the hurt.
Throw in the waves of stomach cramps that suggested I was going to spend the majority of the night wrapped around the toilet bowl, and suffice it to say. I was in pretty bad shape.
I’d made it back in one piece, though, at least in the physical sense.
My heart was another issue. It felt like it had been cracked wide open. But what did I really expect? It was Mason Steele we were talking about.
He’d made it clear where he stood Sunday night, and I’d still let myself hope. All it had taken was a white-knight routine and a heated almost-kiss in his car, and I’d been a puddle at his feet.
I was done. So freaking done.
With a pained groan, I burst into my dorm room and stripped off my hoodie before grabbing a pillow and my cell phone and marching into the bathroom.
I had two missed calls from Mom and a text from Rory.
Rory: Oh my God, are you okay? Mason told Noah what happened.
He had? Lovely.
Harper: Mortified. But I’ll live. Just got back. If you don’t hear from me by lunchtime tomorrow, check in on me.
Rory: Do you need anything?
Harper: I’m good, thanks. What did Mason tell Noah?
Rory: Just that you almost passed out outside of the center, so he and Scottie took you back to their house until you felt better. Why? Did something happen?
Harper: Nope. Pretty much happened that way.
Rory: Why do I feel like you’re not telling me everything?
Harper: There’s nothing to tell. But I am tired and cranky and in for a long night. I’ll update you tomorrow. xo
Rory: Okay. But if you need anything, don’t hesitate to call me. xo
I wouldn’t call, though, just like I wouldn’t tell her or anyone else the truth about Mason.
* * *
I allowed myself one day to wallow. One day to lick my wounds and eat my feelings.
The bakery that made my favorite gluten-free brownies didn’t do same-day delivery, so I had to settle for honey-almond bites. But it didn’t matter. My stomach was still sore after Chad’s lame-assed attempt at cooking something Harper-friendly.
Rory had texted, checking in earlier, but I’d kept it brief.I was fine. Feeling better. And yes, I would be back in class tomorrow.
