“What are you smiling at?” Mason asked, walking out of the hallway.
“You. Us. What we just did.”
“I hope that means we can do it again.”
“Is that a real question?” I asked and stood up, unable to be in the same room with him and not touch him.
I snuggled under his arm and he pulled me close. My cheek was resting on one of his pecks, and I could have happily stayed like this for hours.
“Wanna grab some dinner?” Mason asked into my hair.
“Can’t. I have plans with David.”
I felt Mason’s body tense up and his arm dropped from around me.
“Okay. Then what about tomorrow?”
I looked at his chest, unable to meet his eyes. “I don’t think we should go out anywhere.”
“Excuse me?”
“You know, since I’m engaged to David.”
“You told me it was a business arrangement.”
“And it is. But that doesn’t mean I can just publicly hook up with someone else.”
“Ah, that’s where she’s hiding. I was wondering when your bitch would come out. But at least she’s honest. I guess I know where I stand. Good for a quick fuck, but not good enough to spend time with.”
“What? No, that’s not what I meant at all.”
“Save it.” His shoulders were slumped, and he looked defeated. I hated seeing him this way and hated it even more that it was me who made him look like that.
“Please don’t do that.”
“Don’t do what? Tell the truth? I’m just glad I came to my senses before this thing could go any further.”
“Please,” I whispered.
“If you go back, then that’s it. We’re done.”
My heart broke all over again at his words. “Mason, don’t do this. I can’t back out.”
He looked at me one last time, his eyes dull, his mouth drawn tight. And then he left the office, the door closing softly behind him. I think I would have preferred his wrath.
What I was doing wasn’t fair to Mason, but I lost my head every time he was close. And when he showed the slightest bit of interest, I lost all self-control. Today was the perfect example.
What was I going to do now? I thought I was finally taking charge of my life but in the process had managed to screw it up even worse.
The next two weeks were torture. Mason ignored my existence, only talking to me through email. And that could hardly be called communication. He just sent through lists of parts that he needed me to order.
I think I had really pushed him away for good this time. I missed him, even though he was working just on the other side of my office door.
Things with David weren’t much better. He insisted on having dinner at a restaurant almost every night. That wouldn’t have been so bad if the restaurants weren’t all strategically chosen for maximum exposure or a two-hour drive away. Humptulips wasn’t exactly a bustling metropolis and the nearest city was Denver. The only reason David was back here was the influence and money my mother had. He was ambitious and smart, not letting any opportunities go to waste. If he could get someone like my mother to back his campaign he could start campaigning as soon as he got back to D.C. And he was making sure to lay the groundwork. And it looked like I was going to get out of Humptulips after all.
“Okay, that’s it, time for an intervention,” Willa announced and walked into David’s guest bedroom where I was buried under the covers.
It was Saturday afternoon and I hadn’t left the bed since I got home from work yesterday. At first I thought I was hallucinating when I heard Willa’s voice but as soon as she jumped on the bed and pulled the blankets back I shot up and hugged her. She pulled me close and I was so relieved she was back she had to pry my arms open to get me to let go of her.
“Someone’s happy to see me,” she said and put her arm around me.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, my eyes blurry from sleeping for pretty much the past twenty-four hours. I couldn’t look at her, feeling guilty for forgetting that she got back this morning.
“The how isn’t important. What’s important is that you’re wallowing in self-pity and have been a wreck. I don’t even know you anymore.”
“I’m so happy you’re back but don’t take this the wrong way when I tell you to get out,” I groaned and pulled the covers over my head.
“Nope. Not happening. You and Maisie were there for me when I lost my shit when things happened with Jameson. Now I’m going to be here for you. And I’m sure if Maisie would ever answer her phone for more than a quick I’m alive message she would be here too. But we’ll just pretend that she’s standing next to me, ready to kick your ass.”
Willa ripped the blankets off me and jumped on the bed. “Now what’s it gonna be, missy? Cold shower? Drink? Exercise. Tell me what you need.”
“Sleep.”
“Except that. And no crying. There is definitely not going to be more of that. If you start crying, I’ll be forced to join you and I have makeup on. So don’t you dare screw my face up the one time I look presentable.”
I looked at her and noticed not only her flawless makeup but evenly curled hair. That was so unlike Willa that I sat up in surprise.
“What’s going on? Why are you so dressed up?”
“Nothing’s going on. I just wanted to look nice.”
Now I got suspicious. “You never dress up.”
“It’s nothing. Just felt like dressing up.”
“You hate dressing up,” I pointed out and all my spidey senses were now on high alert.
She fiddled with the hem of her dress and didn’t look at me. Okay, now I definitely knew that something was wrong.
“Willa, talk to me.”
“I see what
