Mason’s grip around me tightened, hard as steel as he muttered, “I’ll fucking kill him.”
“No,” I whispered, my heart hurting inside my chest, “it’s for the best. I knew I’d never…I’d never be able to keep him.” I snaked a hand between us, and though it was the hardest thing I’d ever had to do, I pushed his chest away from me, meeting his eyes as I added, “Or you.”
“Me?” he asked, shaking his head once. “I’m not going anywhere, Bree.”
I started to take off his hoodie, my intent to give it back to him and send him off—we’d still have to work on the project, but I could do the rest of it myself and just share the presentation notecards with him—but he stopped me.
“I mean it,” Mason said. “I’m not going anywhere, no matter what you say. Do you understand? I’m here, and I’m staying—I’m not going to let you push me away.”
I burst into tears at that, wanting to believe him, but at the same time knowing he had to be lying. He had to. I wasn’t worth it. I really wasn’t worth it. There were so many other girls out there, girls who were prettier and more normal, girls who weren’t broken like me. Why would he want to stick around my side when there were so many other better options out there?
Mason hugged me close, murmuring, “It’s okay, Bree. I’m here. I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.”
The stupid thing was, I believed him.
I closed my eyes, my tears slowly drying as I found my strength inside Mason. So collected, so calm, even when I was falling apart. Why couldn’t I be more like him? He seemed so sure of himself, too.
God, I was pretty sure I loved him.
What made that statement so strange was the fact that I was also pretty sure that I loved Calum.
Eventually, Mason and I sunk to the steps, sitting on them, leaning on them as he held onto me, refusing to let me go. I felt at home in his arms, like I could temporarily push away all of my worries, all of my doubts. I never wanted to be anywhere else, never wanted to feel anything else.
My feet were cold, but the rest of me was oh so warm as his arms held onto me, as he rested his chin on my head. We sat there in silence for what felt like ever, the moon slowly inching its way across the night sky.
I was calmed down, about to fall asleep in his arms even though the position was uncomfortable, but without warning, we weren’t alone.
Another car pulled up, this one parking on the street since there was no more room in the driveway. I felt Mason shift under me, and he whispered, “Bree…” There was something in his tone I didn’t like, and I pulled away from his chest to look at the newcomer.
It wasn’t a newcomer. It was Calum.
He did not look too happy, either.
Mason released me, allowing me to get to my feet. “What—” I couldn’t get any other words out, because of the storm that was Calum.
He said nothing, walking up to me with fury in his gaze. His blonde hair appeared almost silver, and before anything else could be said, he grabbed the sides of my head and kissed me with a fire that nearly burned me, a passion that almost fried my very soul. All anger and heat and lust, all rolled up into one.
“You,” he whispered as he pulled his lips off mine, “are so…infuriating, Bree.” His hands still held onto my head, forcing me to stare up into his eyes. “Hilary came to get me to take her back, and I sent her packing. I don’t want her. I want you.”
He wanted…me? That just didn’t sound right.
Calum was slow to drop his hands, watching as Mason moved to stand beside me. The two men glared at each other for a moment, while I was stuck in the middle. Literally—I was in the middle, caught between two handsome men who each, for whatever reason, refused to give me up.
Hmm. Maybe if I tell them the truth, they’d make this easier on all of us.
“Stop it,” I said, stepping out from between them, causing them both to look to me. “I don’t…I can’t. I can’t do this anymore.”
It was Mason who asked, “Can’t do what?”
Calum stayed quiet, his blue eyes heavy on me.
I gestured between them. “This. You. Both of you. I can’t—I just can’t do it anymore.” I fumbled over my words like an expert, sounding ridiculous and stupid, and I hated it, just like I hated what I was about to say. “I like you both, and I know you’ll both want me to choose. I can’t.”
Uh-oh. Here come the tears again. I tried to bite them back, tried to stave them off before they started to fall again. I needed to say this, and I needed both guys to believe me when I said it. This was me being one hundred percent serious; this wasn’t me exaggerating or trying to see what the guys would say in response.
This was me giving up.
“I won’t,” I said, taking a step away from them as I wriggled my way out of Mason’s hoodie. I tossed it at him, and he caught it, looking at me like I was insane. “So I think it’s best if I just…stop seeing you both.”
“Bree—” Mason started, and Calum was much the same, for he spoke, “No—”
But I was having none of it. I held up my hand, turned on my heel, and hurried back to the house, before the cool night air could swallow me whole. Saying goodbye to them both had been the hardest thing I’d
