“Mason?”
His gaze landed on me. “Hey, sorry to come over unannounced, but I figured you wouldn’t talk to me otherwise.”
“You got that right.” Kassie chuckled and arched an eyebrow at me. “She’s a pistol.” Kassie tilted her head up, gazing at me. “You hadn’t mentioned you had made some friends.”
She meant hot guys. I wasn’t dumb. “Well, it’s because no one should know where we live.” I crossed my arms and leaned against the wall. “Stalker much?”
“Please ignore her.” Mona waved him in. “Come in and visit. She has poor manners. I had thought we raised her better than that.”
“Well, in all fairness, I deserve it.” He entered the house and went straight to the couch. “I’ve been a jerk to her.”
“So, you’re the reason why she came in all in a panic last night.” Kassie punched Mona in the shoulder. “We should’ve known it was due to a guy.”
“Will you two be quiet?” They were purposely embarrassing me and encouraging him. “Why don’t we go talk outside?” I made my way down the rest of the stairs and headed toward the kitchen.
His footsteps followed mine as I walked out the back door.
When he stepped outside, he laughed. “No wonder you kicked that guy’s ass.” His eyes were on our little training station.
“Uh… yeah.” Damn him. His voice caused a shiver. “So what do you want to say? I figured we said everything yesterday and that you had to make up with blondie.” It hurt to say the words, but I prevented myself from flinching. I had to get used to the idea of him with someone else.
“Who? Bridgette?” His focus landed back on me. “She and I are nothing. I told you I fucked up and I didn’t sleep with her last night. You hurt me, so I lashed out in retaliation. I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have to explain yourself to me.” He needed to go, but I wasn’t sure how that was possible. He came to my house, and if I went back to my room, there was no telling what Mona and Kassie would do.
“Yeah, I do.” He huffed and scratched the top of his head. “Can we sit down for a minute?” He pointed to the two plastic chairs that were on the back porch.
“Okay.” I was going to ask how he found me, but we both knew that answer. Ella was getting yelled at as soon as I saw her. “I thought you had a fight tonight.’
“I do.” He huffed and gave me a small grin. “This is fucking ridiculous.”
“Then feel free to leave.” I waved him on. “You found me, not the other way around.”
“That’s not what I meant.” He rubbed a hand down his face. “Damn, you’re impossible.”
“Sorry if I’m not one of the girls throwing themselves at your feet.” I would never be that for him or anyone. I was my own person and strong enough to make it on my own.
“I’m not, but damn, you’re making me work for it.” He sighed. “Look, my life is… complicated. I’m not ready to tell you why, but there is a very good reason for me to try to stay away from you. However, Wednesday when Bridgette said what she did… the pain on your face…” He ran his hand through his short hair and growled. “It made me realize that I never wanted to make you look that way again.”
He was shattering every wall I’d ever put in place with this one conversation. “This could lead to both of us getting hurt.” I had to warn him just like he had me.
“You’ve got some dark secret that you don’t want to share with me either?” He laughed until he looked at the expression on my face. “Oh, hell, you do.”
“It’s something that I don’t tell anyone.” He deserved to know it had nothing to do with him.
“So Ella doesn’t know either?” His forehead creased, and he frowned.
“The only two people who know are in that house.” I pointed in the direction of Kassie and Mona. “And the only reason they know is because they were there.”
“We can try to keep fighting this between us, but I don’t think we’re making much ground.” He sighed and tentatively held his hand out for mine. “I know being a jackass to you has been making me sick.”
Yeah, it wasn’t fun for me either. “I don’t know what the right answer is.”
“How about we just start with this?” He took a deep breath and gently placed my hand in his. “Will you please come to my fight tonight?”
“What?” That was probably the last thing I expected him to say. “Are you serious?”
“Yeah, I am.” He squeezed my hand ever so gently. “I haven’t been able to get you out of my head for weeks now. I need you to be there for me and Ella.”
“You and Ella?” Crap, his sister was going to be pissed. She thrived on the fact that I wasn’t interested in him. “She won’t like this.”
“She knows what’s going on.” He licked his bottom lip and sighed. “I got her permission before coming here.”
“And she’s okay with this?” I wasn’t, but our bond had already kicked in. The buzzing was stronger now with our joined hands. Even though we both hadn’t meant to kick start it, fate was intervening once again.
“If you don’t come tonight, I’m going to get my ass kicked. Having you near me helps me stay focused.” He snorted and shook his head. “All these years, and you just waltzed in and turned my life upside down.”
“It wasn’t on purpose.” I’d rather we hadn’t met either. It would make things easier on both of us.
“Oh, I know.” He met my gaze. “And you protected my sister way better than Alec ever could. Please come so both Ella and I make it out in one piece.”
The next words that I spoke were going to change my life forever. I knew better. I’d been fighting this hard,
