“Did your piercings hurt?”
“Oh my god, Mason.” I sigh, then grab the top handle to pull myself up into the cab.
“Well, if I’m the shortest in height, maybe I’m the shortest in other areas. I need to maximise my game.”
“Mason. Women don’t care how big you are, just that you know what you’re doing. That you’re not a selfish lover in bed.” I sigh.
He tosses the crutches in the back, then joins me from the driver’s side, but doesn’t start the car.
I lean back against the headrest, then roll my head, looking at my brother.
“Tell me more about this selfish lover thing.”
I grimace and shake my head. “What do you want, a fucking sex lesson?”
“No! I know what I’m doing.” Mason crosses his arms over his chest.
Silence fills the cab. “Do you really?”
“I don’t know!” My brother looks at me in a panic before he starts the car.
It takes no more than thirty seconds before Mason starts rambling on about his sexual prowess. He goes back and forth between confidence and self-doubt until I can’t take it anymore.
“Why don’t you just ask the next woman you’re with what she wants. What she likes. I can assure you, she’s gonna have much better knowledge to help you with that than I am. And far more interest.”
“I guess I can do that.” He nods as we pull into the rehab clinic. “I’ll keep you posted.”
“Please don’t trouble yourself.”
“No trouble at all, brother.”
“Okay, then please, just don’t.”
***
Once I’m done getting checked with the doctor, Mason drops me at Tuck’s tattoo shop, which isn’t far from Caleb’s office. Cale will drive me back to Grams’s house once he’s finished at work.
Since I lost August, I’ve filled my days with routine to distract my mind. The little tasks I’m still able to do with this fucking cast on my leg are nowhere near enough to distract my mind from Isabelle.
My every waking thought is devoted to her. Wanting to makesure she’s okay. Needing to hold her in my arms to reassure myself that she’s still here, and not some beautiful fragment of my imagination.
Every time I’m on the brink of caving and texting her, I have to remind myself that she’s better off without me. That my heart couldn’t handle the thought of losing her. Hurting her. I just don’t think I’m strong enough to love her the way she deserves. There’s someone out there who will make her life so full of happiness every day. I hate that thought just as much, but I know with time, pulling back won’t feel like the biggest mistake of my life.
I drop into the seat in Tuck’s office, throwing my phone on the desk with a sigh, only for it to immediately light up with a call.
“What?” I sigh.
“Just checking in,” says Caleb. “How are you today?”Fucking shit. Is that a good enough answer?
“Mase just took me for a check-up with the doc. He showed me some exercises to do to keep mobility.”
“But he’s happy with how it looks so far?”
“Yeah,” I grumble.
“How’s Keeley handling the bar?”
I run a hand through my hair, pushing the messy strands back. “Fine.”
