“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Silence follows. Now would be a good time to let them know I’m awake, but I’m far too chicken to do that. I’m curious if they are having a staring contest like kids do in elementary school. You know the type that if you smile first you lose. I never lost. Probably because I was never invited to play, but I watched from a distance and wondered how people, especially kids, could hold a straight face for so long.
“Hey, the bus doesn’t pack itself.”
Oh thank god Liam is here. He’ll get the ladies moving and out of the way so I can wake-up.
“Sorry, we were just talking.” I hear lips smacking against each other and cringe internally. Liam is a lucky ass bastard.
“I just need to grab our luggage and we’ll be ready to go.” God damn it. I forgot about her luggage. Instead of helping her, I’m sitting in his chair feeling sorry for my rejected ass. What the hell is wrong with me?
“You can wake-up now, they’re outside.”
Busted. I lift my beanie and look at Liam. He’s shaking his head with a smirk plastered to his face. He forgets that I’m older than him.
“What the hell are you doing?” he asks in a hushed tone.
“Clearly feeling sorry for myself,” I say, rubbing my hands over my face. I readjust my beanie and stand.
“She’ll come around.”
I shake my head. “I honestly don’t think she will. I’m not her type.”
“I’ve seen the way she looks at you and she talks to Josie about you. If you weren’t getting under her skin, she wouldn’t freak out every time I tell her she needs to work with you.”
“You do that shit on purpose?”
“Of course I do. You’re both my best friends and I want to see you happy. I think you’ll make her extremely happy. She just needs to open her eyes.”
Liam slaps me on the back and heads off the bus. I follow and see Katelyn at her car, her arms full. I walk back over, my hands in my pockets, stopping in front of her.
“Can I help?”
She looks at me, her lips turn upward slightly, but it’s enough for me. I reach for her bags, loading them onto my arms and take her stuff to the bus. I’m going to be a gentleman this time, though. I leave her bag on the chair and quietly put the girls’ bags on their top bunk.
When I close their door she’s standing there, close enough to touch. She looks up at me. Her eyes move over my face, down my arms and back again. I can’t tell if she’s happy or not.
She raises her hand. I hold my breath, anxious for what she’s about to do. Her eyes move back and forth over mine, questioningly. I want to nod or tell her yes that she can touch me, but I’m afraid to speak. She drops her hand all too soon for my liking.
“Thank you, Harrison.”
I swallow hard at the way my name rolls off her tongue. “You’re welcome, Katelyn.”
I turn and walk into my small room and throw myself onto the bed and will the instant hard on away.
This is going to be long-ass tour.
"Mason, how did you get here?”
“What do you mean? I walked.”
“Is it a long walk?”
“What are you talking about? I walk from school to home all the time.”
“But you’re...”
“I’m what? What’s going on Katelyn, why are you moving away from me?”
I look at the distance between the both of us and move closer. He extends his arm, his hand reaching for mine. My reaction is automatic, like I’ve done this a million times. I have. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been holding his hand. My palm slips into his, he holds my hand tightly. I look down at them, our wedding rings shine as they reflect off the sun.
Sun? I thought we were inside.
I look around. Flowers and wheat surround us. We weren’t here before.
Mason wraps his arm around me, pressing his lips to my ear. I hold him there, afraid to let go.
“It’s time, Katelyn.”
I’m afraid to know the answer, so I don’t ask. “Stay.”
Mason pulls back and smiles. I’ve missed him so much. The girls will be so happy to know he’s back. That he’s come back to us and everything has just been a nightmare.
He pulls my hand to his mouth and kisses my wedding band and engagement ring.
“I’ll love you no matter what.”
He’s gone just like that.
“Mason, come back.”
“Please. I can’t do this without you.”
I run, looking for wherever he went. I look down. Everything is black. I’m barefoot and bleeding.
“Katelyn?”
I jump when he shakes my arm. I know who it is by his voice. I sit up, adjusting the book I was reading in my lap. I move my matted hair away from my face. I can’t believe he’s standing next to me, staring. I’m a mess.
He hands me a tissue. I look at him questioningly.
“You were crying.”