Page 165 of Please Open Me
I was in a healthy relationship. I was loved. Alex shouldn’t have had any pull on me anymore—but he did.
Every word he’d ever said to me still itched under my skin like glass dust.
“You’re lucky anyone loves you, let alone me.”
“After everything I’ve done for you, the least you can do is put out.”
“Do you think anyone else is fucked up enough to love you? I’m the best you’ll ever get.”Alex never loved me, he just saw a vulnerable boy he could manipulate into being what he wanted. He was likely doing the same for the blonde boy at the diner, and should’ve stood up for him. I should’ve said something, done something, anything to stop Alex from doing to him what he’d done to me. But I didn’t. Because deep down, I was still a coward.
By the time we pulled into the driveway, the house lights glowing soft and golden against the dusk, I already knew what I needed. Not food, not conversation—silence.
I mumbled something to Cameron about needing to find something in my office. And, before anyone could argue, I bolted.
The soles of the sneakers I’d neglected to remove thunder against my wooden floors with frantic, uncharacteristically heavy steps as I moved with purpose until reaching my destination.
The knob beneath my hand was just cool enough to ground me, to stop the nervous trembling infesting my system. I pushed it open, already mentally rehearsing what I’d say later. You know becausesorry, I needed to play with legos to hide from my emotions—but look how cool this lighthouse is, wouldn’t cut it.
But, the moment I stepped inside, my heart fell directly out of my asshole and onto the floor.
The lights were on, and I wasn’t alone.
Mason sat at my desk, dressed in one of my old hoodies, wet hair sticking up in every direction, heat flushing her cheeks. In front of her was an opened textbook I’d forgotten I owned, a plate of chicken nuggets with ketchup, and a fork.
Her mismatched attention snared me in place, and I think my sudden appearance did the same for her.
“I can explain,” she mumbled, pushing the plate away as if I’d caught her eating a bowl of crack.
Clearing my throat, I stepped forward before laying back against the door to seal it. Slowly I started toward her and stole one of her nuggets. I swiped it though the remnants of her ketchup and popped it in my mouth.
There was a slight burn on my tongue, and while I knew my spice tolerance was abysmal, ketchup wasn’t spicy.
“Did you mix hot sauce with this?” I asked, still chewing.
She nodded.
Definitely pregnant. The only other time Mason liked spice was when Rosie made her crave salsa.
I forced the food down and pretended I wasn’t sweating.
“I have dairy free ranch in the fridge. These are better with that,” I said casually before pushing the plate back to her. “If you’re hungry, you should eat.”
Mason nodded and pushed the chair back, the wheels sounded against the floor. She then stood, smoothing the hoodie down.
“Where are you going?” I asked.
Mason froze just in front of the desk.
“To give you space, I kind of invaded your office without permission.”
“Well, now you have permission.” I shrugged, stealing another nugget before crashing into the office chair. “Sit on my lap?”
Mason tilted her head, eyes narrowing like she couldn’t tell if I was serious or not.
“Come on,” I said, patting my thighs. “You’re in my office, you stole my hoodie, you’re reading my text book for some fucking reason—just give me this.”
“I’ve gotten…heavierrecently,” she admitted, hand pressed to her stomach in a way thattotallydidn’t scream that she was holding her baby bump.
But, I just ignored it, like I was supposed to.
