Page 131 of Please Open Me
“Okay, scratch that, you didn’t let that affect you, right?” I pushed, my voice sharp, like maybe I could force the answer I wanted.
Mason cleared her throat and rubbed her stomach.
“Mattie, I’ve lived through worse than a few shitty comments. I’m fine.” It sounded like Mason read the words off a script.
And my jaw clenched. She was fine, my ass.
“Bullshit,” I muttered, flicking my blinker as we merged left. “You’re pregnant, if I find out you’re starving yourself—”
“Andyouaren’t my girlfriend,” she sang with a shrug. “you don’t get to worry about me like that.”
Oh, I was going to kick her little bratty ass. And, my lips parted to tell her as much, then her phone vibrated and she held up a finger.
“My mom’s calling,” she explained.
“Your mom’s dead,” I grumbled.
She cut me a glare. “It’s hard to explain.”
That’s all she offered before swiping a finger across the screen and turning her phone on speaker.
“Mija, you were supposed to call me when the plane landed,” someone scolded her.
My lips sealed shut, and my brow raised.
“Sorry, Leo. Things got crazy when the plane landed.”
“I do not care if things get crazy. I practically raised you, and I deserve to know when you’re safe.”
Mason flinched, her hand curling protectively against her stomach. She sounded small when she spoke again. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I’ll do better next time.”
A long sigh crackled through the speaker. “I don’t need promises, I need proof. Are you eating?”
Mason’s jaw tensed. “Yes, Leo.”
“Real food, mija. Not just crackers and protein shakes. And don’t lie to me—I can hear it when you lie.”
“No, you can’t,” Mason shot back, her voice climbing into something bratty that almost made me smile. “you just called my assistant and caught me lying last week.”
Leona made a sound halfway between a scoff and a laugh. “Exactly. Because Iknew youwere lying, and I proved it. That is the difference. Donottest me, Mason. I will win every time.”
“Fine,” Mason groaned. “no, I’m not eating, but—”
I reached over Mason and blindly tapped her phone screen until the call ended.
Her head whipped toward me, sunglasses sliding off her collar. “Did you seriously just hang up onLeona?”
“I’ve never met Leona, I don’t give a fuck about Leona. Did youseriouslyjust admit you haven’t been eating?”
Mason blinked at me like I’d spoken another language, her mouth opening and closing before she snapped, “That’s none of your business.”
“Well, it is now.” I clicked my tongue and shook my head. “If all you wanted to do was box me out, why did you ask me to pick you up?”
Mason folded her arms, practically burying herself in that oversized hoodie. “Because you’re the only one dumb enough to still show up when I tell you not to.”
“Cute,” I muttered, the car sliding onto the exit ramp.
Her head jerked toward me. “Where are you going?”
