“We don’t know what’s happening, Mel. And right now, it doesn’t matter because I haven’t talked to him anyway.”
“I’m just worried,” she responded as she reached an arm out to rest her hand on mine. “I don’t want anything to happen.”
“With Mason’s name being thrown all over the news, I highly doubt anything would happen. If something did, they would know exactly who the responsible party would be.”
“Just please, be careful. Okay?”
I nodded to her and grabbed my coffee before getting up. I needed some time alone to think. What was I going to do? All this week, all I’d been thinking about was Mason. I needed to talk to him, but I knew he wouldn’t contact me. He threw the ball in my court. I was the one who needed to take action.
I walked into my room, closing the door behind me, then took a seat at the small, student-sized desk I’d bought for super-cheap at IKEA I stared at my phone lying next to my laptop, like I’d done on many occasions that week, debating on whether or not I’d pick it up to text or call him.
Should I take a chance? Should I follow my heart and not listen to my brain?
I bit my lip and grabbed my phone as nervousness flowed through me. I could text him and not get a reply, or he could tell me to leave him alone. Maybe I’d waited too long.
Taking a deep breath to calm myself, I pulled up his name.
Me: Hey, are you home?
I stared at the text box and waited for an ellipsis to show up, but I knew it was still too soon. I couldn’t expect him to text me back right away. It was only nine in the morning; he could still be sleeping, or not around his phone, or busy.
Ugh. I placed my phone on vibrate and headed out of my room to shower. If he sent a text back that was great; if he didn’t, oh well. I definitely wasn’t going to show up at his house uninvited again.
While in the shower, Mel knocked on the door to let me know she’d be heading out to run some errands. I didn’t bother to ask what they were because at the moment, I didn’t care. I had other things on my mind. Things like Mason and my phone.
I finished up and tried to take my time as I dried off, but it was no use. I was in too much of a hurry to see if he’d texted me back.
Walking back into my room with one towel wrapped around my body and another on my head, I grabbed my phone to see, disappointedly, that he hadn’t texted me back. I knew it didn’t mean anything, but I was still bummed.
In the shower, I’d thought about my conversation with Mel that morning. I’d said some things in Mason’s defense I hadn’t thought of before. He was so young when he was thrown into one hell of a mess. Just a child. He had no mother, no one to guide him, no one to protect him. I knew that was why he had so many issues, but what if it was also the reason why he’d never had a relationship before?
He’d had nothing but a bad experience. Plus, the information he told me about his mother. He blamed himself for pushing her down the stairs, even though it was an accident. In his eyes, he still killed his mother. I can’t even imagine what everything had been like for him. I sympathized for him. I wanted to hold him in my arms and not let go. It made me regret walking out so abruptly on him that night. I should have stayed and talked to him. He was going through all of this alone. And he didn’t have to tell me anything. He could have just let me find out from the papers. That in itself told me there was something there. He wanted me to choose whether or not I could be with him.
He’d asked me if I liked him once I knew his dark past, and the truth was I still did. No matter how many times I’d tried to get him out of my head, I couldn’t do it. He was etched into my brain and permanently in my heart.
Setting my phone down, I finished drying off and dressed before heading back into the bathroom to blow-dry my hair.
After my hair was done and I’d lightly put on some makeup, I went back into my room to grab my phone and call Victoria. I still needed to get some things, and it was always more fun when someone else was shopping with you.
I pressed the home button to wake the phone and my eyes widened as I saw a text reply from Mason.
Mason: Yes. I’ll send Carlos for you. Wear a jacket with a hoodie. Reporters are camped out.
I bit my lip as I thought about that.
Me: I could take a cab.
Mason: No, it’s easier this way. Trust me.
I stared at his words and caved. I did trust him.
Me: I’m ready if you want to have him come now.
Mason: He’s already on his way.
That was very presumptuous of him, but such a Mason move.
Grabbing my purse and a hooded jacket, I walked out into the living room and sat down to wait. I’d just have to go shopping another day. I didn’t want to miss an opportunity to see Mason if I could.
Fifteen minutes later, there was a knock on the door and I opened it with a smile.
“Hello, Carlos.”