When I didn’t immediately respond, she said, “I’m sorry. It’s too much. I’m overwhelming you. My family says I always do this. I get so excited about something and run with it.” She sighed. “It’s your life, and I’m butting my nosy head in.”
“No. Not at all. I think it’s wonderful that you took the time to do all this for me. Honestly, I’m a bit speechless. In a good way.”
“Well, think it all over. If you have any questions, call me. And I’d love to put you in contact with my friend if you’d like more information about their art program.”
“Thank you. Like really. I don’t know what to say.”
After we hung up, I plopped onto the couch and stared at my phone.
Could I really do this? Of course I could. But should I?
I had the day off and knew I needed to get my thoughts straight before Mason got back. Which meant I needed some girl time with Isla.
—
“I’ll help you pack.” Isla leaned forward, resting her arms on the small bistro-style table we sat at in Lucy’s Café.
“I’m serious, Isla. What should I do?” My head fell forward into my palms, and I groaned. “I need a crystal ball.”
“You need to get your shit together and jump on this opportunity.” She slammed her hand onto the table. “That’s it. I’ve made the decision for you. You’re moving.”
I peeked at her between my fingers. “And how exactly will I afford that?”
“You said you had some money saved. And you can do an apartment rent split like Mason. C’mon, you’ve answered all your own questions in the last half hour we’ve sat here talking about it. It’s time to leap.”
“What if I fall on my face?”
“You get back up.” She crossed her arms. “Stop being stubborn. Come by my place tomorrow before work. We will look into apartments. See how you go about applying to that school.”
“And when do we break the news to my family?”
She grinned. “So it’s a yes?”
“What? No. I’m saying if I did this, how do I tell them?”
“I guess it’d go something like, your adult daughter wishes to pursue her future.”
I rolled my eyes. “I know, I know. They won’t stop me, but they’ll be sad. My whole family is here.”
“So you visit.” She released an annoyed huff. “Stop making up excuses. We are going to make this work. If it doesn’t, then I guess it wasn’t meant to be. But this negativity stops now. Got it?”
I waved my hand in defeat. “Yeah. Whatever.”
“C’mon. I have to be at work in half an hour, and you have Mason to talk to.”
I dragged my hands down my face. “What am I getting myself into?”
“What do you mean?” She headed toward the exit and I followed.
“If things don’t work out, I’ll be working for his aunt. It’ll be awkward.”
“You’re getting ahead of yourself. And anyway, your relationship with Mason is great. It’ll work out.”
I raised an eyebrow in question. “A tad overconfident, aren’t we?”
“Oh, what? Are we still going with the whole he’s-just-a-fling crap? C’mon, we both know that boy has you turned so upside down, inside out, you don’t know if you’re coming or going.”
“He does not.” I walked around to the driver seat of her car, and she tossed me her keys.
“You sure about that?”
I rolled my eyes and muttered, “No.”
Chapter 26
Mason
Within about twenty minutes of the last of the crew leaving for the day, I was at Felicity’s door, with damp hair and a smile.
“Well?” I asked as she plopped down on the couch. “You talked to her, right?” I settled beside her.
“Yeah, we discussed the position a bit more.”
“And…what do you think?”
“I think it’s an opportunity I can’t refuse.” She toyed with a loose curl hanging over her shoulder. She twirled it around her finger again and again. “But really, Mason, how in the world do I just up and move?”
I tugged her into my lap. “The same way everyone else does.”
She rested her head on my shoulder and traced the collar of my shirt with her fingertip. “It’s a really big decision and I’m scared, no, terrified I’m going to screw up.”
“Screw up how?”
“I’ll get evicted, if I ever find a place. Fail out of school, if I actually get accepted. I’ll let your aunt down. I don’t know. Everything.”
“Aunt Elise handpicked you. You won’t let her down. You’ll get accepted into school and love your classes so much, you’ll pass with flying colors. And you won’t have to worry about getting evicted, because you can stay with me.” I’d been thinking about it all day and really, it made the most sense. But I also knew she’d freak if I suggested it, so I just threw it out there with no lead-in.
But nothing slipped past her and she shot upright. “What?”
“Which part?” I shifted my gaze. “I said a lot.”
She made a face that translated into “you know exactly which part” then sighed. “I can’t move in with you, Mason.”
But something about the way she said it didn’t really sound like a firm no, more like an I shouldn’t that could be swayed in my direction. “It’ll be temporary. And how is it any different than what we have going on now? I spend every night here. We’re always together.”
“Because you have a place to go. If something happens, you walk, like, five feet and you’re home.”
“So that’s it? You think something will happen and you’ll have no place to go?”
“I don’t want to think that, but, c’mon, we both need to be realistic.”
“Hey.” I waited until her gaze met mine so she wouldn’t only hear my words but see the truth behind them, as well. “I’d never abandon you. You know that, right?”
She studied me and just as I thought a smile would emerge, she frowned. “I’d hope not.” She shook her head. “And anyway, I’m sure your roommate doesn’t want some random girl bumming around the place.”
“He practically lives with his girlfriend. He won’t care.” I tucked her hair behind her ear. “It’s temporary. Until you find a place. Or whatever.”
“I don’t know.”
“Think about it?” I asked, still not feeling as if she’d closed the door on the possibility.
She grabbed my face in her hands and kissed me. “I will.”
I smiled back and shifted so we were lying on the little couch. “That’s all I ask for.”
“So did you ever find a binder?” she teased.
And I laughed, mostly because she was cute when she joked like this. But all kidding aside, I needed some serious relief. “Nah. I figured now that everyone knows we’re a thing, they can’t really blame me for walking around at half-mast.”
She laughed then paused. “Wait, they know? How did they find out?”
“Was I not supposed to say anything?”
“You can tell everyone for all I care, but as of yesterday no one knew. Just wondering when that changed.”
“Your ex straight up asked what the deal was.”
She gasped. “He did not.”
“Yeah. He did. I told him we’d been dating for a while.”
“What did he say?”
“To take care of you.”
“That sounds exactly like something Brody would say,” she grumbled.
I ran my finger down her cheek and under her chin, then lightly brushed my thumb across her bottom lip. “But, as I told him, the Felicity I know doesn’t need anyone to take care of her, but I do care a whole hell of a lot about her.”
With a smile, she pulled my mouth back to hers.
I kissed her then pulled back and stared down at her. Sometimes I wondered if she even realized exactly how much she meant to me. “But you know I want to, right?” I lowered my lips to her cheek, slowly brushing them up her jawline to her ear
. “Let me take care of you, Felicity. Not because you need it…but because I want it.” The warmth of her sigh caused my skin to prickle as it brushed over my neck. I nipped at her earlobe then whispered, “Every morning.” I slipped my hand under her dress. “Every night.” Then I pushed her legs apart. “Always.” My fingers glided over her. “Move in with me.”
Her body puttied underneath me, just as I’d hoped it would.
A simple “okay” slipped out with her sigh.
I almost couldn’t believe I’d heard it. But I had, and knowing that she’d willingly given me a piece of her control…well, that did something to me. Like a blow straight to my chest. But not in a bad way. No, it felt fucking awesome. Like for once, I had it all. Physically, emotionally, she’d given herself to me and, damn, it felt good.
Chapter 27
Felicity
Two weeks later, with all my clothes packed into a giant suitcase and my photography equipment in a box in the passenger seat, I was on the road to Mason’s apartment.
He’d left town several days before me and considering the number of text messages and phone calls I’d received from him, I was starting to think he expected me to flake out. But I was going to do this. Fear wouldn’t hold me back. Even if this move was super scary.
My life had gone from dragging to warp speed, and I’d accomplished more in the last fourteen days than I had in the entire fourteen months since high school graduation. Ten days ago—after giving my family ample time to digest the news—I officially accepted my position with his aunt. Three days later, I filled out my online application for school. And two days after that, I managed to get on an apartment waiting list.
Of course, that still left a lot of unknown variables in my life, like would I get accepted into school? Would an apartment open up before school started? And, Mason…How in the world would living with him go? But I couldn’t think about that stuff. Every time the questions arose so did the worry and doubt. So I shoved it all away and stayed positive. This would work.
My phone rang and without looking, I knew who it was. The only person who’d already called me three times today.
“Hello, Mason.”
“Hey. You on the road yet?”
“I’m actually almost to your place.”
“No shit?”
“According to my GPS I’m about fifteen minutes away.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you’d left?”
“I told you I was about to leave the last time we talked.”
“Yeah but, well…”
“You didn’t think I’d actually do it?”
“I’d hoped you would.”
“But?”
He sighed and admitted, “I thought you’d get cold feet or something.”
I laughed. “It’s okay. I kind of thought I would too. But here I am.”
“I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“You know what I mean.”
Though I tried to be a smart-ass, I was proud of me too. And I loved hearing those words from Mason. “Yeah, yeah.”
“I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
“ ’Kay, ’bye.”
I hung up and let the GPS guide me the rest of the way, while I tried paying attention to landmarks and street names. After all, this place was home now.
Mason must have been watching for me because as I pulled into a parking space, he came trotting downstairs. I turned off my car and stepped out.
With a huge grin, Mason wrapped me in a hug. “Miss me?”
“Not as much as you missed me.” Which was a lie. I’d missed him like crazy.
“You’re probably right.” He pressed a kiss to my forehead.
I smiled up at him.
He ran his finger across my cheek then tucked my hair behind my ear. “I haven’t had anyone to cook for me.”
I playfully punched him in the gut.
Completely unfazed, he grinned. “You hit like a girl.”
“I do a lot of things like a girl. And if you keep this up, this girl won’t be doing any of those things with you.”
He smirked. “Point taken. I’ll help with your suitcases.”
Mason lugged my suitcase into his place while I carried the box with the camera.
“So I have a key for you.” He pointed to the kitchen table then gestured for me to follow him down the hall. “And I left those two drawers open for you, as well as plenty of room in the closet.”
I tried to hide my nervousness behind a smile. “Thanks.”
“Did you want to unpack now, or we can grab a bite to eat if you’re hungry.” He tossed my suitcase on his bed.
“I’ll unpack real quick.”
Mason sat on his bed. “Need help?”
“I’ve got it.” I unzipped my luggage while Mason scooted back then lay across his bed, arms tucked behind his head.
As I moved my clothes into an empty drawer, I sensed his gaze on me. “Quit staring at me.” I tossed a shirt at his head.
He pulled it off his face and laughed. “I’m happy you’re here. It feels kind of surreal.”
I plopped down beside him. “I know. I’m trying not to think too much about it because then I’ll freak out all over again.”
“Are you happy though?” He rolled onto his side and stared into my eyes.
“Yeah. I am. Just scared. But what’s new?” I smiled. “You know me. I like my rules and order. No surprises.”
“Hmm, okay. Well, let’s give you some new rules. Rule number one: If you’re unhappy or scared, you talk to me. We’ll figure things out together. Okay?”
I nodded. “I like that one.”
“Rule number two: Surprises are a part of life, but we’ll try to avoid as many as possible by being honest with each other. You tell me what’s going on, and I’ll do the same. Deal?”
“I can handle that.”
“Good. Last rule: We should have sex no less than three times a day.”
I laughed. “Hmm, for a math genius, those numbers seem a bit off.”
Trying hard not to grin, he raised an eyebrow. “You think we should go higher?”
“And when will we find time for everything else? Like work and school, sleep, food, you know, the basics.”
“Sleep is overrated and the way I see it, if we can find time to eat three meals a day we can find time for sex.”
“Hmm, okay. Let’s not write that rule in the books just yet, but I’ll definitely see what I can do.”
“That’s all I ask.” He flipped me over and settled on top. “But we should probably start now.”
With a laugh, I draped my arms over his shoulders, letting them cross behind his neck. “Whatever you say, Mr. Mathematician.”
—
The following Monday, I went to meet Elise at her studio to fill out some paperwork. But when I arrived, she was on the phone.
“Yes. I’ll pass the message along. I’m excited about this too.” She twirled around in her desk chair, smiled and gestured for me to sit. “It will be great. Okay, ’bye.” She hung up, set her phone down and walked over to me. “So technically you aren’t supposed to know until tomorrow but you got in!” Her smile widened.
“In?”
“To school.” She sat in the chair across from me. “That was Amy, my friend in the art department. We’re coordinating a fundraiser together, but while we were talking I mentioned you’d turned in your admission paperwork. Well, she checked the system and everything has processed and been approved. You should get an official acceptance email tomorrow.”
“Seriously?” I pressed my hand to my chest. “That’s awesome. I—I can’t believe I’ll be in school.”
“Isn’t it great?” She patted my knee. “What do you say we get your employment paperwork filled out and then we check out the course schedule? And if you have time tomorrow, Amy said you are welcome to meet with her. She’s not sure which academic adviser you’ll be paired with, but with classes starting soon, she’d be happy to hel
p you get set up in the system and enrolled in classes.”
Enrolled in classes? Who would have thought this day would come? “Okay. That sounds good.” My chest tightened with a mixture of fear and happiness, and I desperately wanted to call Mason.
—
When I left the studio, my head was spinning with information. Good and bad. Exciting and scary.
It seemed that I had no choice but to start with classes that held little appeal to me, but thankfully Elise found a history of photography class that also doubled as a writing component. Unfortunately, the math and science courses terrified me.
I was so thankful to find Mason already home when I got back.
“How’d it go?” He lowered the volume on the TV and shifted toward me. His expression turned serious as he studied me. “You okay?”
“Um, rule number one?”
He looked thoughtful, probably trying to recall the rules then said, “Unhappy or scared?”
“Scared.”
His shoulders relaxed. “Come sit down.”
I made my way around the couch but as I passed Mason, he grabbed my waist and pulled me into his lap. “So what happened?”
“I got into school.”
“That’s a good thing.” He tucked my hair behind my ear.
I sighed. “I know, but we started looking at the course schedule and I don’t know, Mason. I’m not good at school. I thought it would be all about art and photography, but it’s math and science and history and a whole bunch of other stuff I’m not sure I can handle.”
“It’s just some basics. It won’t always be like that. You get through them and then you get to move on to the fun stuff.”
I frowned. “Math and science are the fun stuff to you, aren’t they?”
He grinned. “I don’t hate math, but it depends on the science. Biology, anatomy, stuff like that doesn’t interest me. Physics and chemistry, I can deal with.”
“Do you hear yourself? Physics?” I buried my face in my hands and groaned. “I’m so screwed.”
He pulled my hands down. “No, you’re not. The secret is you take one hard class at a time. You don’t like math or science, so you’ll never take them both in one semester. You can add in English or history and an elective. A foreign language or psychology, something you find less challenging. I promise you, it won’t be that bad. I’ll help you get through math. Brinley is a biology major and when the time comes, she can help you with that.”
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