It hurt to know that she refused to see how bad Mason was for her. I wanted to believe that he treated her differently, thatthatwas the reason she hadn’t broken up with him … but coming to see me, sending me these messages showed me that he was the same old Mason. Refusing to take responsibility for his actions. Cheating on Melissa. Being a damn prick.
For the first time in a long time, I tapped on Melissa’s name in my messages and attached the screenshots without any message. My finger hovered over the Send button, my heart pounding against my chest.
Please, Melissa, believe me. Get out of this relationship for your own sake.
After I gathered all my courage, I hit the Send button, praying that she’d read them, that she hadn’t blocked me, that she’d realize something wasn’t right.
I waited a few moments and watched the Delivered message turn into Read.Three little bubbles popped up on the screen, signaling that she was responding to me. But they disappeared almost as quickly as they’d appeared.
Five minutes passed. Then ten.
The bubbles appeared again—this time for longer—then they disappeared completely.
My heart sank in my chest. Sure, our friendship was on the rocks right now, but I wanted what was best for her. And it wasn’t Mason … I was sure of that.
Another message from Mason popped up on the phone.
Mason: I’ll do anything to get you back, Mia. Anything at all. You’ll see.
There was an undertone to his message that gave me the chills. After scrunching my nose, I tapped onto the message. There were three tiny bubbles, showing me that he was typing still. Why couldn’t he get the damn hint and leave me alone? I hadn’t responded to any of his messages.
I navigated to his contact information, deciding not to wait for his message to come through before I hit the block button and locked him out of my life for good. All his messages disappeared, and I didn’t have to deal with his ass anymore unless he started to show up at Serena’s house again.
I was done with him for good.
At least, that was what I told myself.
But in the pit of my stomach, I knew that wouldn’t be the last time I heard from Mason.
He’d be back.
CHAPTER25
MICHAEL
Me: Meet me at Rattlesnake’s Bar. 5 p.m. We need to talk.
I stared down at the phone on the bar, tapping my foot against the ground and waiting for Melissa to show. She’d read the message three hours ago and not responded. I wondered if she’d even show up tonight.
The bartender leaned over the counter toward me and handed me my second drink. “Drinking alone tonight, babe?”
After sliding the phone into my pocket, I grimaced at her. “Waiting for someone.”
She raised her brows and nodded toward the other side of the bar. “Wouldn’t be that pretty lady, would it?” There was a woman sitting at the other side, her blonde hair cascading down her shoulders in curls, brown eyes fixed on me. The bartender slid me a piece of paper. “She wanted me to give you this.”
I glanced down at the woman’s number and pushed it back across the bar toward her. “I’m taken,” I said.
“I don’t see any ring on your finger,” she said.
My lips pressed together. Damn, did nobody respect relationships these days? I took a deep breath and tried to think clearly because when Melissa walked through the door, I needed to try to talk some sense into her. It’d be hopeless if I started the conversation angry.
“There’s about to be.” I turned back to my phone and sipped on my whiskey, letting it burn the back of my throat.
The bartender disappeared and struck up a conversation with the woman who looked to be her friend. I took another deep breath.
Come on, Melissa. Where are you?
The door opened, and Melissa walked into the room. Bags under her eyes. Hair in knots. Makeup drawn on in an attempt to look like she had everything put together.
