I slip through the door before she has a chance to walk around the side of the couch, past the kitchen, and right back into my arms.
“Bye,” I say just as I close the door behind me.
The moment I get into the elevator, I clasp my hands behind my head. I know without a doubt that if we would have slept together in that moment, it would not have been fucking or just having sex—we would have made love. I could not let that happen. I showed up to her place wanting to fuck her but also because I wanted to be there for Luca as well. I wasn’t expecting it to turn into something more complex.
Things are shifting, and I cannot let that happen. The emotions that were slowly creeping in tonight were too much for me to handle. Hidden behind the safety of the elevator’s closed walls, I realize that my cock is still fighting with the zipper of my pants.
I’m going to have to rub this one out the minute I get home.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Bailey
His sweet and attentive gestures all evening sent my overactive mind through a world of possibilities that will never occur. Even though I don’t want to admit it, I felt relieved seeing him at my door last weekend. Showing up unannounced to spend time with us sent little flutters through my entire body, and it caused me to second-guess everything that I’ve believed up until that point. These joyful ideas danced across the landscape of my thoughts, like a honeybee floating from flower to flower.
Laying on the couch snuggled between him and Luca felt like a family. But by today, the feelings are more grounded in panic and alarm. I cannot let this go any further. Adding insult to my already injured heart, our interaction after Luca went to bed sent me into an even more confused tailspin.
We were having what I thought was an intimate moment when Mason suddenly shut down and proceeded to run out of the house. He seemed off, maybe even a little confused. Like thinks we were getting too close and he didn’t want that tohappen, so he slammed on the brakes, knowing that’s not what he wanted from this.
Mason said he didn’t come over here to hook up, but if that’s true, which apparently it was, then that means he came over here because he genuinely wanted to spend time with Luca and me. To make matters of his actions even more unclear, he out of the blue asked me about Tyler. And not just any random question—he asked me if I still loved him.
Which is completely out of character for Mason.
Piper, Lina, Avery, and I are going toThe Poppytonight for dinner and drinks. I’m trying to give him some space, which honestly is best for both of us right now. I vaguely remember him saying that he might have to go out of town this weekend, but there is a part of me that hopes we’ll run into him.
I lean over the counter in the bathroom to finish applying my makeup. Besides Harry and Jess’s wedding, we all haven’t been able to get together in over a month and a half. We’ve each had such different flight schedules lately. It’s going to be nice to get together with them tonight.
I’m promising myself that I’m not going to think about Mason and my developing feelings. I guess it would make more sense for us to go to a different restaurant then, but the food is so good, we get a discount, and it’s been so busy lately that it’s been hard for us to get in.
We are only able to go tonight because I called Harry yesterday, demanding that he reserve a table for us on the patio. After he huffed and puffed, he finally gave in and confirmed our reservation.
I slip on some black jeans, heels, and a white cable-knit sweater. Even though the days are getting warmer with spring, the nights are still a little cool this time of the year. I step out of the building into the crisp evening air and head toward my car. I can’t help but notice that Mason’s assigned parking spot isempty, sending me down a rabbit hole of wondering where he is or what he’s doing.
I squeeze my eyes together, shaking my head back and forth.It’s none of your business, Bailey.
A short time later, I pull up to the restaurant. I take out my phone to text the girls that I’m here. After I bring up our group message, I see that Lina and Piper are already seated, and Avery is still a couple of minutes away.
Unintentionally, my finger hovers over Mason’s name at the top of our last text exchange. I have to physically stop myself from texting him. It’s been six days. We haven’t gone that long without some sort of contact since we started sleeping together a few months ago. It’s normal to go a couple of days but never six.
I hate to admit it to myself, but I really miss him.
The restaurant is busy tonight. I have to slip through the groups of people waiting outside to reach the double doors of the entrance. Once inside, I walk through the loud and lively space, quickly making eye contact with my brother behind the bar. I can barely see him in between the sets of people seated at the bar as well as the ones who are standing around—presumably waiting for their table.
He nods in my direction when he sees me walk by. I continue to scan the room, looking for any sign of Mason, but I don’t see him anywhere. Maybe he did go out of town? Harry would know, but I can’t ask him.
By the time my eyes circle the large dining space, they land directly on a set of large blue ones, pinning me from across the room. I smile, but he frowns. Travis throws his palms into the air and shakes his head back and forth before refocusing on the hustle that’s going on in the kitchen.
My forehead quickly creases with confusion. Was he trying to tell me Mason isn’t here? I knew I liked Travis. The two of themare close friends; I’m sure Mason has told him about us, and that’s why he assumed that I was probably looking for him.
After what feels like a lifetime trying to make it through the packed restaurant, I finally spot our table nestled in the corner of the patio next to one of the heat lamps. String lights add a faint orange glow to the outdoor space, and small candles on top of each occupied table flicker in the wind.
I smile, thinking about how proud Mason must feel to own two extremely successful restaurants—and my brother, too, obviously. They’ve talked about this since college. Mason owned one in California, but Harry has always been the general manager, working for someone else. It’s great to see my big brother fulfilling his dream.
Lina gets up from her chair to give me a hug. “Finally, we’re all out together!” she exclaims.
Avery arrives at that moment and hugs me from behind, then exchanges greetings with everyone else.
“I missed you ladies,” Avery says as she takes the seat across the table. We both hang our purses on the backs of our chairs and get settled in with Lina and Piper.
