I turn to him as much as I can, considering I’m chair-bound, and grit through a tiny wave of nausea the movement causes. “What is it with men? You guys get your fucking panties in a bunch, and you’re totally justified in being complete assholes. I was in a hit-and-run accident that put my best friend and her baby in the hospital, my head feels like it’s being squeezed between The Rock’s thighs, my face looks like I was attacked by zombies, and my ribs are constantly on fire, and you want to know what the fuck is up with me?”
The orderly clears his throat and—is he laughing? I’m about to whirl around and ask him when the elevator stops and the doors slide open. Probably best since I can’t move without doubling over in pain. A couple enters, and they must sense the tension because they move as far away from us as they can in the small space.
The doors slide closed and I lean toward Mason to be heard, even though I have no intention of whispering. “You were a total dick to me at The Blackout, Mase. You didn’t see me climbing up your ass, asking you why. Show me the same courtesy.”
I expected he’d be angry at me for airing his assholeness in front of strangers, and it’s confirmed when his glare tightens. “Oh, excuse me for not jumping for joy over your new relationship status with my fucking boss. My boss who you met when you were on a date with me.” He shakes his head, looks around, and then swings his gaze back to mine. “I mean fuck. I can’t even beat his ass for the cockblock because he’s—ta-da—my boss!”
“Oh yeah, and did Frankie pull your hair and wipe a booger on your homework, Mase?” I shove my finger into his chest. “Grow the hell up!”
“So I’m good enough to take you out, but not good enough to be exclusive.”
“We went out on one date. One. And you knew. You fucking knew I wasn’t interested in you like that.”
“Oh yeah, I knew, Eve. I fucking knew because I’ve been after you for months and you don’t give me the time of day. Cam just looks at you, and you’re all over his shit.”
Is he right? I mean, yeah, Mason’s been flirting and asking me out for a while now. I turned him down a lot, not because he’s unattractive, but because . . . he’s so nice.
But Cameron. He was a dickhead the first night we met. Taking my drink, giving me shit about not buying my own drinks and I . . . Damn. I slept with him.
The elevator door pings again, and the couple scurries from the car. My head gets light and I rub my temples.
“Shit, I’m sorry, Eve.” Mason’s hand comes to the nape of my neck and rubs small but firm circles there. The elevator opens to our floor. “Let me get you home.”
I want to protest, to tell him “fuck no” and jog home to prove I don’t need him or Cameron or anyone for that matter. But shit, I’m exhausted and my head spins.
I’m wheeled out into the lobby to Mason’s waiting truck. Once inside, he turns the truck toward Jonah and Raven’s, and I drop my head back and close my eyes with the hopes of falling asleep and avoiding any more conversation with him, especially if it’s going to involve Cameron.
Thankfully, he takes my not-so-subtle hint and remains silent the entire drive. He pulls the truck up to the front door.
“Eve, listen. I’m sorry about the way I treated you at The Blackout. I’ve always been a jealous guy, and seeing you two together turned out to be harder than I thought.”
Now he’s back to sweet. Jekyll and Hyde much?
“It’s funny, you know. I always thought it would be easy to walk away from a woman who doesn’t want me. I mean why waste time on a girl who isn’t interested?” He moves his gaze from me to out the front windshield, his tan skin and sun-kissed hair making him almost look like a boy rather than the man that his biceps and bulging chest give him away to be. “Not as easy as I thought.”
Warmth blooms in my chest. I’ve always known that Mason was a good guy, but I’m starting to realize that we have more in common than I thought: pining after people who don’t want us.
“I know what you mean. If only it were that easy to turn it off.” If only we could all learn from Cameron, who doesn’t seem to have a problem shutting people out.
Specifically me.
D’lilah on the other hand . . . shit.
He nods, looks to his lap, and when he brings his eyes back to mine, he seems different: less weighed down. “Let’s get you inside.” He slides from the truck then moves around to help me out.
Yeah, he’s a good guy. And what is it about good guys that I seem to find so irritating? I mean I don’t deserve a man who’ll open doors, hold onto crushes, and be willing to piss off his own boss just because he can’t stand to see me with someone else.
Mase and I have never even kissed.
He deserves a woman who’ll be that, do all that, for him.
Once inside, I go straight to the couch while he walks through, turning on lights and checking things out. Dog, the cat, stands from his curled-up spot on the end of the couch and crawls onto my lap, purring.
“Everything looks good. You need anything before I take off?”
I shake my head, so ashamed at taking advantage of Jonah and Raven’s kindness by staying here in their home combined with the guilt of not being able to give Mason what he wants after all he’s done for me.
“Eve.”