by Ash, Nikki
Pulling my sweats on, I stalk out of the shower area and into the locker room, making myself known. “She might be a grown woman,” I say, shoving Isaac against the locker, “but if you fuck with her, I will fuck you up.”
Isaac looks shocked at first but quickly composes himself. “What I do with Mila is my business.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.” I shove him harder against the locker. “In less than a week, I’ll be living with her, which makes her and her son my business. So watch your fucking mouth and watch yourself.” I slam him one last time for good measure before I let him go. Grabbing my shit, I stalk out of the gym to find Mila. When I get to the paint studio next door, Charlie is teaching a painting class to a bunch of little kids, but I don’t spot Mila. I look at my phone and see it’s a few minutes after four. She just got off work.
I go to shoot her a text but realize I don’t know her number. Pulling up the dating app, I send her a message.
GetHooked: How did your date go? No messages during it…is that a good sign?
She responds right away.
Looking4Love: It went good! He took me to dinner and was a complete gentleman. Sorry I haven’t messaged you. My best friend/roommate is moving out this weekend and I have another date with the guy. Plus, I got a new job, better hours, but I’m still learning the ropes. Any luck for you meeting anyone?
What the hell…so, either Isaac is playing her or he’s bragging to his friend to make himself sound cool. Either way he’s in the wrong, but can I say something to her without looking like a jealous asshole? No, I need to keep my mouth shut and keep an eye on the situation. Maybe I can mention it to Tristan and he can tell her.
Chapter Eleven
Mila
“If you need anything, please let me know.” I came home from work to find all of Charlie and Georgia’s stuff moved out, and Mason’s stuff moved in. I felt bad that I couldn’t help them move, but with my job being so new and the fact that I’m already taking off a couple days for the wedding next week, I couldn’t take off today as well. Plus, Fridays are always crazy busy.
Alec was ecstatic when he learned Mason would be living with us. When I dropped him off at Gavin’s place after work, he was pouting and begging to stay home, but it’s his father’s weekend. Plus, I have a date tonight with Isaac from the gym and tomorrow night is the bachelor-slash-bachelorette party, so Alec needs to stay with his dad. He’ll have plenty of time to hang out with Mason once he comes home.
“Thanks, Mila,” Mason says as I turn to head back downstairs.
Before I make it out of his doorway, I stop and turn around. “I’m going out tonight. We don’t have to tell each other, right?”
“No, we don’t have to tell each other.” Mason chuckles. He’s lounging on his bed, on his phone. His legs are bent and his feet are planted on the mattress. He’s sporting a white Henley and navy blue sweatpants, and I have no clue how I’m going to live with this sexy as sin man. I need to start looking for a female roommate as soon as possible.
“Okay, cool. Well…I have a date tonight, so I better go get ready. He should be here soon.” I scamper out of his room and down the stairs to mine to jump in the shower. Once I’m out, I blow-dry my hair straight, apply some makeup, and get dressed in a cute teal maxi dress.
Just as I’m putting on my heels, there’s a knock on the door, and before I can get my other heel on, I hear Mason yell, “I got it.”
“It’s my date,” I yell back, thinking he’s upstairs. I grab my cell phone and purse and head down the hall toward the door, but once I make it out to the living room, Mason already has the door open. He must’ve been downstairs.
His muscular arms are up high, his hands latching onto the top of the door frame. His body blocking the doorway, so I can’t see who’s there.
“Mason, who is it?” I walk toward the front door and he moves a tad to the left. Isaac is standing outside on the front porch, his hands in his jean pockets. He’s smirking with one brow raised. “Oh! Hey, Isaac.” I push past Mason and step outside.
“Mila.” Isaac curls his arm around my waist and pulls me into his side, planting a kiss on my lips. I pull back in shock, and that’s when I see the smirk he’s sporting is aimed at Mason. I turn around, and if looks could kill, Isaac would be a dead man. I have no idea what’s going on with these two, but it’s getting awkward.
“Ready?” I squeak out, and Isaac nods in agreement.
“Mila, wait.” Mason approaches me. “Can I talk to you for a second?”
“We’re late,” Isaac answers for me, ushering me away.
“Can we talk when I get home?”
Mason’s jaw ticks, and his hands fist at his side. It’s obvious these two don’t get along. “Yep.”
“Okay.” I give him a small smile before heading down the sidewalk with Isaac.
* * *
We’ve finished dinner and are waiting for the check, and I’m ready to go home. Maybe it’s the way Mason glared at Isaac, or the way Isaac smirked almost cockily at Mason, but it tainted the entire evening. Every comment Isaac makes, I wonder what he’s thinking, what his motives are. Mason doesn’t get mad, like ever. Even when he’s fighting, he views it as one big game. He laughs and smiles, and it pisses his opponent off. So, for him to be mad at Isaac, something is up.
My phone buzzes in my purse, and I pull it out to check it. It’s GetHooked. I feel myself grin. I’ve considered asking him for his name, but I kind of like the anonymity of us keeping our names out of it. He’s sweet and funny, and he’s become like a friend to me. I’ve thought about asking him out or hinting for him to ask me out, but I figure if he wanted to go out with me, he would ask.
GetHooked: How are you?
Just as I’m about to message him back, my phone vibrates with a text message.
Unknown: You’re going to be pissed but I don’t care. I got your number from Charlie. This is Mason. Please let me know you’re okay. Isaac is an asshole and only wants to have sex with you.
All the blood rushes downward, and I immediately feel lightheaded. My heart begins to pound so forcefully, it vibrates throughout my body. I glance up at Isaac who is paying the bill and can feel my hands getting clammy. There’s no way Mason would text me this without having reason to believe what he’s saying is true.
“You ready to go?” Isaac asks, standing up.
“Yes.” I type out a quick message to Mason to let him know I’m fine, then shove my phone back into my purse.
When we’re in Isaac’s car and he’s driving, I say, “I’m not feeling well. I know it’s early, but would it be okay to call it a night?” I’ve taken my phone out of my purse and have it in my lap. I’m not sure why but something doesn’t feel right.
Isaac glances toward me then pulls over on the side of the empty road. I glance around and notice we aren’t in the city. There are no street lights or cars. I have no clue where we are. I’m thinking somewhere near South LA, but I’ve never been in this area before. I should’ve paid attention.
“Are you really not feeling well, or are you messaging with Mason?”
My jaw drops in shock. “I’m not feeling well. And even if I were messaging with Mason, what does it matter?”
Isaac puts the car in park and turns toward me. “The guy has a problem with me for no reason.” He places his hand on my thigh, rubbing his palm up and down my flesh, sending chills up my spine, and not in a good way.
“I don’t know what’s going on with you and Mason, but can you please take me home?”
He leans in to kiss me, his fingers now digging into my skin. I back up and move his hand off me. “Please take me home.”
My phone vibrates, and Isaac glares down at it. I go to grab it, but he snatches it out of my lap first. “Are you fucking serious?” he booms and I jump. “He’s texting you and filling your head with bullshit!”
“No.” I shake my head emphatically.
“Don’t fucking lie to me, Mila! I can read! He wants t
o know if you’re still okay!” He throws the phone back at me. “Why the fuck are you texting with him while you’re on a date with me? Are you fucking him too?”
“Too?” I blurt out before I can stop myself. “I’m not having sex with you.”
“You would’ve been if that fucker wouldn’t have filled your head with whatever shit he’s spewing.”
“Isaac,” I say his name slowly and carefully, “can you please take me home? I’m not looking to have sex with you or anyone.”
“How about you get the fuck out of my car and text fuckboy to take you home? I should’ve known better. All that playing hard to get… you’re just a fucking cock-tease.” He reaches over me and pulls the handle on the door, swinging it open.
“Are you serious?” My eyes dart from the open door to Isaac. “You’re going to leave me here? By myself?”
“I’ve gone two weekends without getting laid thinking you would put out. Fuck this shit. Go call your fuckboy.” His brows raise and I’m not sure if I should demand for him to bring me home or if I should get out. My decision is made when he adds, “Or you can come back to my place to fuck?”
I stumble out of the car, and before I’m barely all the way out, he yanks the door closed and takes off, peeling out and leaving me alone. Not wanting to look like a hooker on a street corner, I pull my google maps app up to see where I am so I can start walking in a direction while I call for a Lyft. Google maps says I’m only ten miles from my house. I see a corner store up ahead so I walk there, get their address, and put in a request for a car. It says it will be an hour! Of course.
My phone vibrates, and it’s Mason again. Instead of texting him back, I call him and he answers on the first ring. “What’s wrong?”
“Long story short, Isaac left me on the side of the road when he saw your text to me. I’m at a quickie mart, and the Lyft will take an hour to get me.”
“Send me your current location, and I’ll be right there.”
“Thank you.”
“Do it while we’re on the phone. We’re not getting off the phone until I pick you up, and wait inside the store. It’s safer than outside.”
I let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you,” I say again.
About five minutes later, Mason’s BMW comes into view. He pulls into the parking lot, and I jet out of the store and into his car. The ride back home is silent, but Mason’s body—stiff and rigid—speaks volumes. He’s pissed. When we get home and inside, I stop him as he reaches the first stair. “I should’ve listened to you.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You tried to…before we left for dinner.”
Mason cuts across the room until he’s less than a foot away from me. “I should’ve stopped the date. He was talking shit in the locker room, and I warned him. I’m sorry, Mila.” His beautiful lips are turned down. He moves a wayward hair out of my face, and I think maybe he’s going to kiss me. My stomach tightens, those crazy butterflies making an appearance just from his touch alone. “I’ll make sure he regrets what he did tonight.” He turns his back on me and stalks up the stairs, leaving me speechless and confused.
When I get to my room, I consider going upstairs to talk to Mason, but decide to give him his space. Instead I message GetHooked.
Looking4Love: Hey
A minute later, the circle lights up and he responds.
GetHooked: Hey
Looking4Love: I’ve had the worst night. Tell me something funny.
A few minutes later, I see him typing.
GetHooked: When people go underwater in movies, I like to hold my breath and see if I would’ve survived that situation. I almost died in Finding Nemo.
I let out a snort and then giggle as I imagine him holding his breath, only it’s hard to do because I don’t know what he looks like.
Looking4Love: Ha ha.
GetHooked: Knock Knock
Looking4Love: Who’s there?
GetHooked: Ivana
Looking4Love: Ivana who?
GetHooked: Ivana do nasty things to you.
Looking4Love: You are so cheesy! Those aren’t even funny!
GetHooked: Did you laugh?
Looking4Love: Yes
GetHooked: Then it worked.
And he’s right. With only a couple cheesy jokes, he turned my mood completely around.
GetHooked: What’s wrong?
I tell him everything, just like I always do these days, about my date and how he called me a cock-tease. I tell him about Mason trying to warn me and then coming to get me. He, of course, tells me it’s not my fault. Eventually our conversation steers away from my horrible date and into easy waters. And like most nights, I fall asleep while messaging him, wishing for the courage to one day ask him if he wants to meet. Hoping one day he’ll ask me to meet him. Wondering if maybe it’s for the best we never meet. The way my life is going, we would meet and whatever this is between us would be ruined, and that would just suck.
Chapter Twelve
Mason
I should’ve stopped her from going out with that motherfucker. I should’ve insisted she not go. I should’ve told her what he said. But I didn’t do any of the above. Just another example of why I’m not in a place to be with someone. I could’ve saved her from ever being in that shitty situation, but I dropped the ball. A better man would’ve prevented it from happening. He would’ve taken care of her before anything happened. She could’ve been raped or killed.
And then, instead of hanging out with her and making sure she was okay, I ran upstairs. I was so pissed at Isaac, at myself, at Mila. Fuck! This is why I stick to no-strings-attached sex. I’m not capable of taking care of someone else. This is exactly why my mom wants nothing to do with me. She knows I’m no better than my dad. I would only fail at taking care of her just like he did.
Of course I wasn’t even upstairs for five minutes before Mila was messaging GetHooked. She asked me to make her laugh, so I found some cheesy as fuck dad jokes online. They got her laughing, and in return got me laughing. She has no idea how amped up I was, and with just her message, she had me calmed down and enjoying our easy banter. I wonder if she looks forward to our nightly messages half as much as I do.
I push the door to the gym open, my gaze darting around for Isaac. I saw Tristan’s truck in the parking lot, which means I have about two minutes to pound the fucker into the ground before Tristan stops me. I zero in on Isaac going to town on the punching bag. Got you, motherfucker.
I stalk toward him, and because I’m not a fucking pussy, I make my presence known. “I warned you, fucker!” I shout. His eyes dart to me, and before he can argue, I cock my fist back and swing, my fist connecting with his jaw. His face jerks to the side, and then he’s coming at me, but he doesn’t stand a fucking chance against me.
I lay into him, punch after punch to his face without giving him a chance to block or retaliate. His back hits the ground and I pounce on him, straddling his waist and bringing my hand around his throat to hold him still. His face is bloody so I don’t bother punching him again. “I warned you, and you didn’t listen!”
“Mason!” Tristan shouts as everyone surrounds Isaac and me. “Get off him!” I ignore him, my hand squeezing hard around his trachea, cutting off his airflow.
“You ever go near Mila again. Look in her direction. Hell, breathe the same air as her. I. Will. Kill. You.” I let go of Isaac’s throat, and stepping over him, make it a point to kick his ribs.
“What the fuck happened?” Tristan demands.
“What happened is”—I point my finger at Isaac, who is now standing, blood still covering his face—“that asshole took Mila out on a date, and when she refused to fuck him, he left her on the side of the road.”
Tristan’s brows crease in anger as he looks around me at Isaac, and without even asking him for confirmation, because he knows damn well I wouldn’t make that shit up, he says, “You’re gone.”
“What the fuck!” Isaac shouts. “You can’t kick me out
without reason! And what I do in my personal life isn’t reason! I’ll sue you.”
Tristan steps toward Isaac. “That’s where you’re wrong. When you sign with my gym, my training camp, you sign a morality clause. It states if you do anything that goes against the morals of the gym, I have the right to remove you, and as the owner of this gym, I’m removing you. Get your shit, and get out.”
Isaac punches the wall, the drywall breaking and crumbling. “Fuck this!” he shouts, and storms off toward the locker room.
“I’m going to make sure he leaves without issue,” Tristan says. “Go hang out in my office until he’s gone.”
* * *
“Mason! Look what I found!” Lexi screams from downstairs as I button my pants. Tonight is the joint bachelor-slash-bachelorette party, and Tristan’s supposed to be dropping the girls off at his parents’ place, so I’m not sure why Lexi is currently here, screaming my name at the top of her lungs.
“Mason!” Lexi yells again.
“I’m coming!” I shout back down. Grabbing my phone and wallet, I shove them into my pockets as I run down the stairs. “What do you have Lexi Girl?”
“This!” She waves my boxset of Harry Potter movies at me. “Didn’t want you to be sad without your favorite wizards!” She giggles, clearly making fun of me. “Poor Uncle Mason can’t live without Harry Potter and Hermione Granger,” Lexi says in her best British accent. I snatch her up—the movies hitting the floor—and flipping her upside down, tickle her sides.
“Stop! I’m going to pee!” she squeals like she always does when I tickle her, knowing I’ll put her down because I’m not about to risk the chance of her peeing all over me.
