Okay. Yeah, whatever. You caught me. I might have decided to forgive, but revenge is still calling my name like a siren’s song. I’ll show him exactly what he missed out on…
A black Toyota Tundra rolls up and stops in front of me. I can’t make out the driver through the tinted windows, but I’m positive this is Mason. He would own a suited up truck like this, lifted to high heaven. Swinging my backpack over one shoulder, I approach the vehicle. Mason walks around the front of the truck and reaches for the passenger door handle. Our hands brush, and that old, electric feeling zings through my body.
I yank my hand away and let Mason open the door for me as he greets me with a shaky “hello” and an unsure smile.
I try my best to offer a smile of reassurance, but the way it feels across my face and watching Mason’s smile fall tells me that I managed a grimace over a smile.
Oh, well.
Tossing my water bottle and backpack onto the seat and reaching for theoh, shoot!handle, I climb into his truck—literally. I might be taller than your average girl at five-foot-seven, but I still have to climb his truck like I’m scaling Everest.
Once I’m in the seat, my backpack sitting at my feet and water bottle in my lap, Mason softly presses the door closed and jogs around the front to get in on the driver’s side. Admittedly, he looks good wearing clothes I’ve seen him in a million times—black athletic shorts that sit right above his knees and a lightgray sweatshirt. His dark brown hair is tucked behind his ears, though a few front strands fall in front of his face. The urge to run my hands through his hair is strong, but I resist.
Barely.
My hand twitches like it’s going to act on its own accord, but I grip my water bottle tighter.
“Thanks for agreeing to hike today,” Mason says as he clicks his seatbelt on. We meet each other’s eyes and a thousand memories and emotions swirl through my thoughts. He clears his throat. “You should put your seatbelt on.”
Oh, right.I hastily grab it and buckle myself in.
“Do you hike often?” I ask, trying to make light conversation so this day isn’t completely awkward. I already know he wants to apologize, but I’m not going to bring it up. I’ll let him do whatever he needs to do whenever he needs to do it. Then I’ll accept it and move on. Maybe this will finally allow me to let go of him for good…
“Not really. I’ve gone on a few when visiting different states, but the tour over the past year has kept me on a pretty tight schedule.”
“Ah, yes. How did your tour go? I mean, I saw various news articles stating you had packed out shows and all, but how was it for you?”
He merges onto the interstate, heading south towards the Bluffs. He removes one hand from the wheel and leans against the driver’s side window, a reminiscent smile playing at his lips. “It was everything I’ve dreamed of. The energy while you’re on stage is special. I don’t think there’s a word to describe it other than exhilarating. Hearing thousands of people chanting your name, singing your songs, and having the time of their lives, well, there’s nothing like it.”
Despite myself, I grin at him. “It truly is everything you wanted, huh? We were hoping that song would get noticed whenwe recorded it, and…” I drift off, not wanting to speak of what happened when his phone began to blow up with notifications that night in the diner after he drunk-kissed me.
“It comes close,” he replies. Then with a sad smile, he glances at me. “I guess I have you to thank for everything.”
I don’t respond. Instead, I settle in for the two hour ride. Before I realize it, I’m back at Dallas Junction Diner, sitting in a booth, watching Mason shove the swing doors open as he barrels through the exit.
Chapter Thirteen
Karoline - Three Years Ago
Against his lips, Ihiss, “Get off me, Mason!” Using all my strength, I place my hands on his chest and push. The taste of beer mingled with chocolate from his saliva churns my stomach as I grab a napkin and wipe my mouth and tongue off. I take a quick sip of my shake hoping the strawberry flavor will erase the disgusting taste.
Mason, who’s now standing at the open end of the table, looks down at me with confusion.
“What, Karoline? I thought you wanted to kiss me.”
“I did, but I didn’t realize you’ve been drinking. I should have known by the hollering coming from your place earlier, but…”
“So what?” He cocks an eyebrow.
Fury wafts over me in waves. “What do you mean, ‘so what’? I just laid my heart bare for you and you kiss me without saying a word in return. And then I realize you’re actually drunk!”
“I’m not drunk,” he says, but as if his body wants to tell the truth, he stumbles sideways, placing his hands on the table to steady himself. “Okay, maybe just a little. But it’s fine. I do this all the time.”
With a snort of disbelief, I stand up to face him. “Yeah, I guess you do, which is why I shouldn’t love you, but I guess I have a thing for the bad ones.”
He steps closer to me. “Oh, you think you’re better than me just because you don’t know how to lighten up and have a good time every now and then?”
“I’m eighteen, you idiot!” My fists clench at my side.
