“It’s time, Mason. I can’t hide here forever. Besides, I wasn’t the one who did anything wrong.”
“Come on then. At least let me drive you home.” Mason sighed.
It wasn’t until we were halfway there that I asked him if he was going to tell her. “Not a chance in hell. I’ll say you must’ve skipped out while I was at training.”
“Mase?”
“Yeah?”
“You don’t have training today,” I reminded him.
“Shit! Well, you better make up the couch ’cause I might need somewhere to sleep tonight.” Somehow, he managed to get the words out and still keep a straight face.
Mason pulled up out the front of my apartment and I was shaking. Even though it was my apartment, my name on the lease and I was the one who paid the bills, I wasn’t sure what I was walking into. I might not have completely imploded, but I couldn’t guarantee that if I unlocked that door and found Todd and his whore inside there wouldn’t be blood on the carpet.
“You ready for this?” Mason asked softly.
“No.”
“I’m coming with you,” he stated.
Feeling guilty I’d already taken up enough of his time, I waved away his offer. “You don’t have to. Thanks though. I’m just going to go upstairs …”
“It wasn’t a question, Charlotte.”
The way he said it had my argument dying on my lips. Granted, part of me didn’t want to go up there alone - a big part if I was being honest, but on the other hand, I’d already put Mason and Hannah out so much and I didn’t want to be that needy, whiny friend that takes advantage of someone’s good nature.
Taking a deep breath, I unclicked my belt and jumped out of Mason’s oversized truck. When he lifted my suitcase effortlessly from the backseat, I reached for it only to have a look shot in my direction saying, ‘don’t even think about it.’
Stalling, I dug through my purse trying to find my keys.
It was strange.
A week ago, I’d walked in on the man I was going to marry only to catch him and his ho bag prancing around my apartment and since then, I hadn’t heard from him. Not a peep. Not a call. Not a message. Nothing. Complete and utter radio silence. And I wasn’t saying I planned on taking his calls or listening to his voicemails, but it would’ve been nice to know he was at least a bit remorseful.
In the elevator I was jittery.
Like so jittery, I dropped my purse, twice and could barely stand still.
When it dinged, announcing our arrival on my floor, Mason put his hand on the small of my back and nudged me through the gap before following me out into the silent hallway.
Every step felt like I was trudging through quicksand.
Arriving at my door, I stood there staring at the number not making any efforts to put the key in the lock.
“You got this, Charlotte. And I got you. Open the door,” Mason said calmly, setting my suitcase against the wall.
I was glad he was there.
I thought I was big and tough and could face this on my own, and if I’d had to I would, but knowing Mason was there, knowing no matter what happened next he had my back had me unlocking the door and stepping inside.
The squelching sound beneath my feet had me looking down and finding last week’s Thai still splattered on the floor where it’d fallen. And the stench, ugh. I wanted to gag.
“What the fuck?” Mason growled as he pushed past me and into my home.
Finally, I looked up and saw what had him growling. Or didn’t see what had him growling as the case may be.
It was gone.
