Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 73094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
And sorry that I’d wasted my time with him.
The front door of the Hard Spot swung open a moment later, and Mason found me as I leaned back again on the cool brick of the building.
A sight for fuckin’ sore eyes.
My head was spinning as Mason came up beside me. He leaned on the wall, too, looking out at the street the same way I was, his gaze dancing over the trees that were lit by twinkly lights strung throughout the branches.
My heart pounded like a drum. There was so much I wanted to say to Mason, but I hesitated, knowing that my words might come out like a demand. I didn’t want to pressure him.
All I wanted was to live in truth.
To feel free.
To actually know what it was like to date somebody and not have it be a secret.
“You, uh, doing okay?” Mason asked gingerly. “I don’t know why I’m asking, because I’m pretty sure you’re not, but I’m really worried I said something wrong.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong. Of course not, Mason.”
I let out a long breath and then turned toward him. I reached out, just barely brushing the back of my hand against the side of his jaw.
“Didn’t seem like you enjoyed trying to act like we were just friends in front of Kane,” he said. His blue eyes had never looked more raw and soulful, and it felt like it was cracking my heart into pieces.
“It’s okay. It’s my fault. A few minutes into my own little plan and I wanted to crawl out of my skin. But… I can handle it.”
Mason caught my gaze for a moment, the glow of a street lamp reflecting in his eyes. “Then let’s tell him.”
God, you are too good to me.
I shook my head. “I know that’s not the right idea.”
“Or maybe it is,” he said. “If Kane wants to disown me as a friend, let him go right ahead. But I don’t think he’s ever going to stop talking to you again.”
I set my jaw. “I don’t know if that’s true.”
A buzz of fear set through my whole body.
Seeing Elliot around here again only reminded me of how much I’d hated not being able to talk to Kane for the past two years.
Kane shouldn’t have cut me off.
But now, I at least understood why he did. I was as lost and foolish as Elliot’s new guy was. I should have trusted Kane.
And instead, I’d lost two years to my own naive decisions.
Mason lifted an eyebrow. “I’m never going to make you live a lie. And I’m certainly never going to take you away from your studies. Fuck, if anything, I’ll be pissed if you ever prioritize me over your school.”
I puffed out a feeble laugh.
Fuck, Mason was already better to me than Elliot ever was, and he wasn’t even my boyfriend.
I sighed, looking up at the evening sky. “Sometimes I really do think it would be easier for me to go full lone wolf again. Cut everybody else out, only visit you, and raise my middle finger to the rest of the world and their endless opinions.”
Mason hummed, reaching out and squeezing my forearm. “I don’t think you really want that.”
I grumbled. “No. I guess I don’t.”
“Do you want to tell your brother?” Mason asked, point blank. “If there were no other considerations to worry about, would you want him to know?”
“Yes,” I said. “A million times, yes.”
“Then let’s tell him.”
“You sure about that?”
“Let him judge me. He’s not unreasonable. He’s just… unafraid to express his opinions, and can be headstrong. Does that remind you of anyone else you know?”
I reached out to give Mason a quick tap on the shoulder. “You.”
“I was going to say you,” he protested.
“Fuck off.”
“I’m going to tell him tonight,” Mason said. “End of his shift. He always has a wheat beer and half of a chicken sandwich right before he counts the registers at the end of the night, and I swear that’s when he’s happiest. So I’m going to do it then.”
I grabbed Mason’s arm and gently pulled him in toward me. I wrapped my arms around him, burying my face in his hair. He kissed me again, this time with an urgency behind it. I knew Kane was busy behind the bar inside, but it still felt like I was breaking a rule to stand out here kissing Mason deeply, knowing there was at least a possibility of being seen.
But when my lips were on his, all other logic seemed to float away.
I pulled him in as close as I could, letting my tongue slide out against his.
When I saw someone walking up to the front of the building, a cold flash went through me. I only saw him come out from my peripheral vision.
Wait.
That’s not—
The moment I turned, Elliot was there again.