Nothing.
My shoulders shake, no longer being able to hold back the faucet of tears. I slide down the wall to the floor. My studio is gone. Erin has sold it. I knew it was too good to be true.
My hand covers my mouth as a sob escapes me, and I do nothing to stop it, not the pain, not the tears and not the wails that echo throughout the apartment.
“Why!” My hand hits on the ground in a feeble attempt to free my hurt. “Why couldn’t I just have one thing. One safe space,” I cry.
My head thuds to the floor boards as I curl into myself, my body shaking with each broken cry.
I’ve never felt more alone.
TWENTY-FOUR
Mase
Sold.
That’s what my email told me when I checked this morning. Cara sold the studio overnight, and the locks were changed this morning.
A sick feeling fills my gut all day, knowing there’s no going back.
I’ve sold her studio. To think last night she completely gave herself to me, and I took it.
It’s early afternoon when the call comes. The call I’ve been waiting for, but now that it’s here, and she needs me, I don’t answer. Instead, I watch as it rings out and goes to voicemail.
My body is at war with itself. The need to know where she is and that she is okay is overwhelming, but the coward in me wants to stay far away.
I did what had to be done.
Fuck.
Nina
After calling Mason, Lucy and Megan with no luck, I knew there was only one other person I had left. I breathe out a sigh of relief as Maggie passes me a cup of tea, joining me on her sofa.
As soon as I called, she left work, telling her boss she was leaving for a family emergency whilst I was still on the phone.
Family,she had said.
“What am I going to do, Mags? I barely scrape through each month as it is. I won’t afford my apartment without the studio and the loans. How will I make this month’s payment?”
She reaches over and takes my hand in hers, giving me a look. “Well, that’s enough of that. You know me and John would never see you struggle, darling.”
“I can’t rely on you guys again. You’ve already done too much.”
“We will be the judge of that. Now, where are you with the lease on the apartment? Can you ask for a month’s grace until you find your feet again?”
I worry my lip. I haven’t told Maggie about Mase yet. She knows I have a boyfriend but not how deep I’ve gotten myself involved. I drop my head, staring into my mug. “I’m living with Mason. I haven’t slept in my apartment since I got back from Paris.”
Her hand leaves mine, and she lowers her tea to the coffee table. “You’re living together?” Her smile widens in approval. She looks happy for me.
“Kind of.” I shrug.
“You didn’t say anything! Nina, this is wonderful news. You’re happy?” she questions.
“I’m so happy. He cares for me, maybe more than anyone ever has.”
I look down at my lap as I think about his beautiful face, the way he smiles unashamedly when he’s with me. I know I’m lucky; I get the Mase nobody else gets to see.
