Page 46 of Yours To Hold
I roll my eyes. “I don’t think you’ll seem uncool, but try me.”
Resting his elbow on the pillow and his head in his hand, Mason stares down at me. His brown eyes are clear as they focus on me.
I love that he gives me his full attention. It’s not wandering or looking at his phone.
It’s all on me.
“I’ve wanted this to happen for a while.”
“You have?” That gets my attention.
I’ve had a crush on Mason for as long as I can remember. I never did anything about it because he always seemed so out of reach. Unattainable.
And now he tells me he’s wanted this to happen for a while?
My mind is blown.
“Since when?”
“It was your twenty-first birthday.”
I suck in a breath. I remember that day so vividly. Both my parents were in town to celebrate and got into a screaming match about something so mundane at dinner, I can’t even remember what it was.
What I do remember?
Mason being outside the restaurant when I was crying about it. All I had wanted was one dinner where they could be civil with each other. It was my birthday, right? They couldn’t even give me that.
I felt that hangover for a week after all the shots I did. I’ve never been a big drinker, but I wanted to forget that night and how they acted and made me feel.
“I hated how sad you looked.” He tucks a lock of hair behind my ear. “But you were also so fucking beautiful, that I couldn’t piece it together in my head. Why anyone would make you cry like that was so fucked-up.”
“You took me inside, bought me a shot, and told me that eventually it’d be okay.”
Mason rubs a nervous hand over the back of his neck. “Honestly, I had no fucking clue what to say. I figured the shot couldn’t hurt.”
My laugh comes out a bit watery, not quite sad. “I think that’s why you made me feel better. Not that I’d be fine, but eventually.”
Mason’s strong hand cups my cheek, his thumb brushing over my lips. “And are you?”
I shift closer into his touch. One night with this man and I’m already yearning for his touch. His warmth. “Am I what?”
“Okay?”
“Yeah, Mason. I’m okay.”
So much better than okay. His words, the way he remembers that night, send butterflies exploding through my stomach.
To hear that the man I’ve always wanted wants me back? It makes me want to curl up with him and not leave the cocoon we have in his room.
I know it’s not possible, but I want it. I want to burrow myself in with this man and never leave.
One night and I’m hooked. One night, and I don’t know if it’ll ever be enough.
But it’ll have to be. I’ll have to make the most of this summer with Mason. With one night here and there.
Because it’s all we’ll get before I leave.
I’ll just need to make the most of them with what little time we have.
