I stared for a few seconds, hoping he would hear me out. Seeing me kiss another man was probably the nail in the coffin of our short relationship. But I had to try to make things right.
“Mason,” I called over the music. He looked up and his eyes were as cold as ice. His face didn’t give anything away, the only indication that he wasn’t altogether unaffected by my appearance was the tight grip he had on his wrench and the tick in his jaw.
He didn’t say anything, just looked at me, his gaze growing angrier the longer I stood there.
“Why—” I started and had to clear my throat when my voice was breaking. “Why did you leave last night?”
“Really Stella?”
“What do you mean? I thought we were at least friends. And friends don’t leave each other behind.”
“You seemed just fine up on that stage. I’m sure your fiancé could have taken you home,” he spat turning back to the motorcycle he was working on.
“It’s not what it looked like.”
He turned his head. “Princess, you are delusional if you think I’ll buy that line. You looked right at home on that stage, and I didn’t exactly see you put up a fight when he kissed you.”
I used to like it when he called me that. But when he said it like he’d tasted something bad, I hated it.
“If you’d just let me explain—“
“Explain what? How you let another guy kiss you the same day you woke up in my bed? How you pretended to hate having to go to the dinner party but once you were there you were all smiles and queenly waves?”
Now it was my turn to get mad and as usual my temper got the best of me. “I didn’t want him to kiss me and I knew nothing of an engagement,” I yelled. “What the hell is your problem?”
“My problem? My fucking problem,” he roared, his voice carrying loud enough over the music that Landon and Clay poked their heads up, “is that you are a spoiled little princess who thinks she can use everyone as if they don’t matter. My problem is that you play the victim card so well, when in reality, it was a game to you all along. My problem, princess, is you.”
I stumbled back, stunned by his anger. I understood that the kiss might have seemed like more than what it was, but he just needed to listen to me. Helpless to stop the tears from streaming down my face I wiped at them furiously.
“Stop calling me that,” I whispered. He must have heard me because he turned toward me again, delivering his last blow.
“Since this is where we part ways, that won’t be a problem.”
“Are you firing me?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
“You can’t fire me,” I said, stumbling over the words.
He laughed a humorless laugh. “Watch me.”
With that he turned his back on me and continued working on the motorbike in his bay. A loud sob escaped me, but I slapped my hand over my mouth.
Landon stepped forward and put his arm around me.
“Come on, sugarpie, let’s let the fire-breathing dragon stew in his own misery,” he said and led me out of the workshop.
He walked me through the office and I grabbed my things, unable to process what just happened. Way to go Stella, losing Mason and your job all in one day. You always were an overachiever.
“Can you take me to get my car?”
“Of course, just let me grab my keys and we can get out of here.”
He made good on his word and was back a few seconds later. We silently made our way to his Dodge Charger and got in. The engine purred to life, and we shot out of the parking lot. My breath hitched and I held onto the seat, hoping this car had airbags. Because I was pretty sure I was going to die if it didn’t.
“He didn’t mean it,” Landon said. I was too petrified to take my eyes off the road, so I talked to him keeping my eyes forward.
“I’m pretty sure he did.”
“He has a short temper. Give him a few hours and he’ll regret being such a dick.”
“Right. So it’s okay that he just treated me like I was less than the oil stain on the floor of his work bay?”
Landon put a hand on my arm, which almost caused me to look over to him. “Put your hand back on the steering wheel,” I told the windscreen instead. Mercifully he took his hand back.
“Of course, it’s not. I just don’t want you to give up on him. He’s a good guy.”
“He can’t just treat people like they’re disposable.”
Landon sighed and turned into the street Willa’s apartment was on. “I know, sugarplum. But don’t take it personal.”
“Landon, I know you’re his friend and therefore feel required to defend him, but sometimes people don’t need a reason for the things they do. I lived with a lunatic control freak for most of my life, and she certainly had no good reason for the things she did. I’m done making excuses, let alone accepting shitty explanations.”
Landon parked the car outside the apartment. “Stella, just don’t….”
I opened the door, shaking my head. “Stop, Landon. I’m done.”
He looked at his lap and sighed. “Okay. I get it. But please think about coming back tomorrow. I promise you, he’ll feel like shit about what he said to you.”
I didn’t answer, just got out and closed the door. Landon was still parked outside when I went up the flight of stairs to my apartment. I only heard the noise of his car engine fade once I was safely inside.
I don’t know if it was the snot running down my face, thanks to a ten-minute crying jag, or the vodka
