I lean back, propping myself up on my elbow. Her body is facing mine. I scoot in a little closer to her, place my hand between her shoulder blades, and slowly rub in a circular motion.
One night back in college, her brother asked me to keep an eye on her, since she and Avery were headed to their first fraternity party. He was out of town and received a text from her about where she planned on going that night. Even though Harry knew that I was one of those guys who shouldn’t be trusted, he knew that I’d never mess around with his sister.
Until now, that is.
I had shown up at the beer-soaked house, which happened to be crawling with my fellow fraternity brothers. The music was blaring as I made my way through the bottom level and tried not to get distracted by people that I knew, as they kept stopping to say hello to me. I was there for Bailey. I walked through the kitchen and squeezed through a line of partyers waiting for their turn at the beer bong. Then I briefly peeked my head out the back door to see only a few people outside chatting, each had a red solo cup in their hands.
But no Bailey. I had hoped to god that she wasn’t upstairs.
I’d made my way up the two short flights of stairs and dragged my eyes around the bonus room before they landed right on the back of her head. She was sitting on the floor playing drunk-opoly with a group of people, and apparently, it was her turn because she proceeded to move her piece, then chugged a red cup filled with who knows what. I walked behindher and crouched down with my knees on either side of her small frame. Avery was seated next to Bailey. Her eyes darted up to mine like she knew I was about to ruin their night.
“Okay, Bailey, let’s go,” I said.
Her hair whipped around. “I’m not leaving yet.”
“Yes, you are.”
“Did my brother send you?” she snapped and cocked her head to the side.
I lowered my voice to answer. “Yes, he did. These guys are sleazy. Let’s go.”
“Are you sure you’re not referring to yourself?”
I rubbed my lips together, not in the mood to go back and forth with her. “Not with you, I’m not. Stop being so jealous. We’re leaving.”
She rolled her eyes, breathed in deeply, and let out a sigh. “Come on, Avery,” she said and rose to her feet.
“Fine.” Avery followed quickly behind as I led them both out of the house.
After they said a brief goodbye, Avery continued to walk down the hall to her dorm room. By the time we got back to Bailey’s, she had started to sober up a bit, but I still didn’t leave.
“Are you going to babysit me until I’m actually in bed?” She smirked.
I ignored her comment and took a seat at the edge of her bed as she headed into the adjoining bathroom that she shared with three other roommates who were gone at that moment. I’m sure they had been out partying as well. I removed my phone from my pocket to send her brother a quick text and told him that she was safely back in her dorm. Bailey came out of the bathroom a few minutes later, still a little wobbly on her feet. She’d changed into light pink boy shorts and a white T-shirt. It looked like she had washed her makeup off, and her almond-brown hair was thrown up into a bun. Without saying a word,she walked right past me, hopped onto her bed, and crawled under the covers.
“You can go now.” Her voice was muffled under the heavy comforter.
I didn’t leave. She had had a lot to drink.
“I’m staying until you fall asleep,” I told her. By the time I turned to face her, she’d already passed out. Her body was curled into the side of the bed with her face tucked under the blankets. I leaned down and quickly slipped off my shoes, then climbed on top of her bed, and settled into the space between where she was lying and the wall. Within no time, I started to doze off.
I’m not sure how long we’d been sleeping, but I suddenly felt her turn into me and snuggled into my chest. “Mason?” she whispered.
“Yes, it’s me, Bailey,” I answered as I wrapped my arm around her.
Her face was still buried in my chest. “Why are you still here with me?”
“I’ll always be here for you, even if I’m not always around.”
Chapter Twelve
Mason
That flashback reminds me that there has always been something between Bailey and me. I just tried hard to deny it. She was never the girl you fuck and ditch. She’s the type of girl you marry. One that you keep forever. Something that I’ll never be able to do. I knew it that night—and I know it now.
The benefit of what we have going on is that I can be with her withoutactually being with her.When the time comes that she meets someone else, I’ll painfully bow out.
But until then, I can pretend she’s mine.
