Contract law. This was Mel’s specialty. Maybe I should just wait until she comes home and have her go over some of the things I don’t understand. Then I could binge watch House of Cards on Netflix since I was so behind.
Deciding that would be the best way to spend the rest of my afternoon, I tossed my notebook back onto the table and grabbed the remote. I turned on the TV with built-in Netflix, an awesome feature, and pulled up my show. Just as I clicked to start an episode, my phone chimed with a text.
Mason: I believe a sexy, auburn-haired beauty was going to come over and show me something.
Me: Oh, yeah? You must be pretty lucky.
I replied with a smile.
Mason: I’d say I hit the jackpot.
Me: And what exactly is this beauty supposed to show you?
Mason: I’m sure it had to do with taking off her clothes.
I giggled at his response. Mason wasn’t much of a flirt. He was too intense to be flirty, but I could definitely get used to a few texts along those lines.
Me: Well, it sounds to me like you have a promising night ahead of you.
Mason: Indeed, I do.
Mason: 8pm. Be ready.
I smiled to myself and bit my lip as I held the phone to my chest. I was glad I’d decided not to study just yet, because my mind was going a mile a minute thinking about all the things that would happen that evening.
Setting the phone down, I laid back on the couch and watched my show. I was sure catching up on all of the episodes would take up most of the afternoon and time would go by faster.
Seventeen
Mason
“Are you telling me you’re pussy-whipped?”
I shook my head at Luke.
“That’s not what I said, asshole.”
Luke laughed before taking a swig of his beer. I’d come to his house a few hours before to talk some things out. I needed to talk to someone who’d had experience in the relationship department. Even though Luke hadn’t had one in a long time, he’d still had a serious one back in college.
“Look, Mase, I don’t know what to tell you. It’s been a long time for me, but I do know girls love attention and affection. You do those two things and you can’t go wrong.”
I stared at the wall and chugged my beer.
“I’m pretty sure that’s the problem.”
“What? The attention or affection part.”
“Affection. I’m not an affectionate guy.”
Luke laughed. “Of course you are. You like to fuck, don’t you?”
That was probably why Luke hadn’t had very many relationships.
“There’s a big difference between fucking and cuddling.”
"No, that's where you're wrong, my friend. You cuddle while you fuck. Kill two birds with one stone."
"I have a feeling this is why your relationships don't last."
Luke laughed.
"I'm pretty sure that’s because I'm not a monogamous kind of guy."
Monogamous. Fucking one girl for a long period of time. The idea never seemed to appeal to me until the thought of Emma fucking another man sent rage through my core.
"Oh, man. You've got it bad, don't you?" I looked up to see Luke smiling at me, and I furrowed my brow at him. "You just got lost in la la land. So, when do I get to meet this girl who has you wrapped around her finger?"
I placed my empty beer bottle on the table and flipped Luke the bird, causing him to laugh. He was out of his mind if he thought I was whipped, but I had to admit the sound of it didn't make me cringe.
"You're the last person I'd ever want her to meet."
Luke threw his head back in laughter that time. "Are you afraid she'd see the error of her ways and realize she went after the wrong guy?"
"Not likely, asshole."
Luke rose from the couch and headed to the kitchen. "You want another beer?" he shouted to me.
"Sure."
He came back and handed me a bottle before taking a seat. "Honestly, man, all bullshitting aside, I'm happy for you. It's good to see you smiling. I was beginning to think that crease between your eyes was the only expression your face could display."
I chuckled. I needed his nonsense to get my brain on track.
"Is it crazy that she makes me feel like I can open up to her? I don't even know her, and yet I'm so drawn to her. I'm like a moth to her flame, and it doesn't exactly make me feel light and fluffy."
"You need that man, seriously. With everything you hold inside, getting things out would be best for you. But as your friend, I'll only say one thing: be cautious. I know how callous these women can be. I'm not saying she is, but you have a lot of shit going on inside that head of yours. Shit she'd probably never understand. Shit that would probably scare her away. Just make sure you really want your shit out there before you open your mouth."
I leaned forward and placed my head in my hands. I didn't have to open my mouth and tell her anything. She'd seen it. There was no need to explain anything.
"She's already seen my scars."
I dropped my hands and looked up to meet Luke's gaze. He seemed surprised because he knew my sexual preferences. He was the only one who had seen my scars.