I’m working in Ledger’s home office the next morning when my phone rings with a number I don’t recognize.
I almost don’t answer. But curiosity makes me pick up. “Hello?”
“Savannah.” Mason’s voice is rough. “Please don’t hang up.”
“How did you get this number?”
“I just need five minutes. Please. Just five minutes, and I’ll never bother you again.”
“I don’t have anything to say to you.”
“Then just listen.” His voice breaks. “I haven’t slept in three days. Can’t eat. Can’t focus on anything except the fact that I destroyed the best thing in my life.”
“You did. And now you have to live with it.”
“I keep replaying that day. Seeing your face when you walked in. The way you looked at me.” He’s crying now. “I need to understand why. Why you chose him over me. Why you married a stranger instead of giving me another chance.”
“You killed whatever I felt for you. That’s why.”
“But we had two years together. Two years of history and?—”
“And you threw it away for three months with my best friend.”
“I know. God, I know. And I hate myself for it.” He takes a shaky breath. “I’ve been having these thoughts. Dark thoughts. About ending it. Because what’s the point of living if I destroyed everything?”
My stomach twists. “Mason, if you’re having suicidal thoughts, you need to talk to someone, a professional, not me.”
“I don’t need a professional. I need closure. I need to understand so I can move on.” His desperation bleeds through the phone. “Please. Just meet me once. Let me say what I need to say, and then I’ll leave you alone forever. I swear.”
“I can’t meet you.”
“One hour. At a restaurant. Public place. Busy. Safe. Just so we can talk and end this properly.”
“Ledger would never allow it.”
“Then don’t tell him. Just you and me, one last conversation, and then I’m gone from your life.”
I want to say no, but there’s something in Mason’s voice that tugs at old guilt.
My mother liked him. We had two years together. I did love him once.
And maybe if I give him this closure, he’ll finally stop.
“Where?” I hear myself ask.
“Marelli’s. It’s busy, lots of people. You’ll be safe.” He sounds desperate, hopeful. “Tomorrow. Lunch. Please, Savannah.”
“Thirty minutes,” I say. “And then you leave me alone. Forever.”
“Yes. I promise. Thank you.”
I hang up before he can say anything else.
My hands are shaking. What did I just agree to?
The next day, I wait until the guard rotation changes at noon. Pedro is off duty, replaced by Marcus and another guard I don’t know well. They’re less strict, less familiar with Ledger’s specific instructions.
I tell Alexi I’m going shopping for nursery furniture.
