“Is Vinny driving you?”
“Uh, yeah.” I shake my head, distracted, as I scroll through the missed calls. “I’ll text him now.”
“Is everything okay?” He looks at the phone in my hand.
“Yeah, everything is fine.”
I shoot a quick text to Joey.
Nina
I’m out. Everything okay?
“I’ll call Vinny,” Mason tells me, his tone flat as he leaves the room.
My eyes follow him out the door and then fall back to the phone in my hand. I’m pretty sure he would have been able to see the name on the screen from over my shoulder, and I know it will piss him off. I’d ignore Joey for Mason’s benefit, but he never calls me. He texts or waits until he sees me.
Mason is leant against the back of the sofa when I descend the stairs. His glare follows me as I take the last few steps. It’s that glare, his furrowed brow and ticcing jaw that confirms what I already knew. He saw the name on my phone.
“Mase.”
“Save it.” He waves me off, then stands straight and says. “Do younot think that the reason he told you about the pictures the other day was to drive a wedge between us?” He looks to the ceiling, his hands shoving deep into his pockets. “He’s manipulating you, Nina, all to get what he wants from you.”
Stay calm. Stay calm. Stay fucking calm. “Which is?” I ask.
He cocks his head to the side. “What do you think?”
“Joey is my friend, Mason. He hasn’t so much as looked at me in another way sincewefirst got together. And, it’s all well and good putting the blame for the pictures on Joey, but it was you who offered up the money. Joey only told me whatyoudid.”
“So I fucked up because I wanted to buy some photos of you?” he scoffs, his pointer finger touching his chest before he lifts it and scrubs at his face.
“No. But I won’t cut him off because you don’t like him. He’s my friend.”
His stare is fixed on me, his eyes dark. “I won’t apologise for wanting what’s mine. Joey is a prize prick, and I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him.”
“How can you be so judgemental? You don’t even know him!” I yell the words at him and internally slap myself the second they pass my lips. I don’t want to do it like this. “Mason. Joey would have given them to you if you’d just asked. They’re?—”
“No, he wouldn’t.”
I tilt my head to the side, knowing he won’t get it and that I have to let it go. Tonight has been too good to spoil, and Ineed this man more than I need my pride. “Okay, maybe you’re right.”
“I am,” he states, so sure of himself.
I shake my head, ready to drop it. “You should know though…” I swallow thickly, meaning every word that leaves me. “You could be the poorest man on earth, and I’d still love you.”
He tips his chin. “Then you’re a fool.”
“And you’re a jackass,” I counter, trying my hardest to stay calm.
Talk about prize pricks.
He pops a dark brow. “A jackass who’s at the centre of all your fantasies?”
“Don’t flatter yourself, pretty boy.”
His laugh is scornful as he steps up to me, chest to chest. “Prettyboy?” he questions.
Goose bumps pebble along my arms, the air in the room quickly taking on a different vibe entirely. If I don’t leave now, I know exactly where this will end up.
