“When will you realize that you don’t have a choice in the matter? You are coming with me. Either you walk yourself or I’ll carry you. But the end result will be the same; you sitting in my truck.”
“Not happening.”
“Oh, princess, this is definitely happening. Stop underestimating me.”
“It’s impossible to underestimate you,” I whisper-hissed, done with this conversation and resigned to the fact that in order to avoid waking up Nora and the kids I had to go with him.
I stomped back to the couch and grabbed my discarded sweatshirt. My shoes were still near the door, and I stalked over, ignoring Mason, who followed me. I slipped into my boots that thankfully didn’t need to be tied up and opened the front door.
We made our way to his truck in tense silence and a lot of boot stomping on my part. I turned into a tantrum-throwing toddler every time I was around him. I hated it as much as I was unable to stop myself.
The drive back to his farm was just as uncomfortable, and neither one of us said a word. He opened my door for me but didn’t help me down this time. Which was just fine by me. It was likely I’d explode if he touched me again.
Loki greeted us when we walked up the porch steps, and I patted him when he nudged me with his wet nose. Once inside I went straight to the guest room and closed and locked the door behind me. I sat down on my bed and sent Nora a message to which she responded immediately, even though it was the middle of the night.
Me: I’m sorry for what I said. I didn’t mean it.
Nora: I know. And thanks for putting the cabinet together.
Me: That was the least I could do. But still, why Mason?
Nora: He is great with the kids.
Me: You said that before.
Nora: And I meant it then just as much as I do now.
Me: Traitor.
Nora: Try and get some sleep. I’ll see you tomorrow.
Me: Fine.
At least staying with Mason meant my mother didn’t know where I was. It didn’t mean I wouldn’t hear from her again. Her election campaign needed an intact family. Not only had she married again last year for exactly that reason—and to someone only five years older than me—but she made the world believe that I still lived at home. Apparently, we were a wholesome, loving family. Which was so far from the truth, I felt like I was starring in my own scripted reality show.
I didn’t sleep much that night, just tossed and turned and cursed my poor choices and shitty behavior. I was a grown woman who let her mother dictate to her what she could and couldn’t do.
I was slow getting out of bed the next morning, and it took me longer than usual to put my clothes on. I took care to apply some makeup, expecting Mason to knock on the door at any moment. The interruption never came and there was even time to do my hair. I managed to put a few hairpins in and was pretty proud of my efforts. My arm was feeling better but if I didn’t have to use it I wouldn’t. Building a dresser for Nora was a good reason to suck it up. Doing my hair wasn’t.
I left the safety of the bathroom, ready to face the world. What I wasn’t ready for was a sleepy Mason who stumbled out of his room, wearing only his pants. I froze in the hallway, my eyes taking in all that was him. His hair was a mess, but it looked better than ever. My eyes swept over his defined stomach down. He was pulling a T-shirt on as he walked, blocking my view.
He grunted at me in passing about his alarm clock not working and I hid my grin behind my hand.
I went downstairs and fed Loki, then started the coffee. Mason joined me in the kitchen ten minutes later, looking a lot more awake and put together.
“You ready to go?” he asked while he poured his coffee into a travel mug.
“Yup,” I said and held up my own travel mug.
The drive to the garage was once again quiet, but thankfully less charged than last night. He opened my door but didn’t help me down. He went one way, I went the other, and I didn’t see him for the rest of the day.
I had a few invoices to catch up on, so I didn’t notice how late it had gotten until I checked the time. It was nearly seven, and I was surprised Mason hadn’t come and gotten me. He was usually ready to leave by six.
Shutting down the computer I packed up my stuff and walked out into the garage to his workspace.
“That’s it, baby, right there,” a hoarse voice moaned.
I stopped dead in my tracks and my eyes went wide. Hell no, he didn’t. He knew I was still in the office. He also knew I would eventually come looking for him.
I turned on my heels and left. I didn’t need this. He could go get fucked. Which apparently he was already doing.
Once I made it outside, I took a deep breath, clenching and unclenching my fists. Once I had my anger under control, I called a taxi and waited on the sidewalk.
It was a weekday in Humptulips, so the taxi arrived in a few minutes. Luckily the driver wasn’t anyone I knew, so I didn’t have to make painful small talk.
I directed him toward one of the two motels in town and checked in. This time I wouldn’t take any chances of Mason finding me again. I needed a night off. I was ready to wallow in self-pity and eat copious amounts of snacks from the vending machine. By myself.
The small room was covered in rose wallpaper, the bed clean, and the shower mold free. I had stayed
