And I would sleep here for now, to make sure Nora and the kids were fine. But I had every intention of coming up with a plan to cut my ties to her once and forever.
Maria drove me to work since she had to go into town anyway. She parked in front of the office and looked at me with sad eyes.
“Muchas graciasfor driving me. I’ll get my car and drive myself back tonight,” I said.
“Don’t be late for dinner, you know how she gets.”
And did I ever. I would make sure to be there on time.
“I know. And I promise I’ll be there.”
She gave me one last sorrowful look; I knew she wanted better for me. And I wanted better for me, but that wasn’t something I could change at the moment. I had to concentrate on the things I could control. Like getting my butt inside, so I wouldn’t lose my only source of income and way out of here.
Because if there was one thing last night had shown me, it was the only person I could rely on was myself. And I had to make sure I had enough money behind me to finally leave this town behind.
The office was quiet, the only noise the hustle and bustle from the workshop. I had to talk to Mason, but as soon as I sat down at my desk the phone rang and didn’t stop until it was past lunch. I was starving and made myself a sandwich from the meager supplies. There was an old fridge in the kitchen where the guys kept their lunch and usually a few things to make a sandwich. But it looked like it hadn’t been stocked in a while.
I texted Willa while I waited for the coffee machine to heat up.
Me: Code Red. Call me.
The big machine was amazing, but so complicated I usually made myself an espresso instead of a cappuccino. I’d also broken it twice already, but lucky for me the repair guy was a good customer and didn’t charge us to fix it.
When I was finished making my sandwich, she still hadn’t responded. I took a bite and nearly spat it back out. It tasted like sawdust and I grimaced. But then again, what did I expect from stale bread and old ham. There was no butter, and we were out of cheese.
I threw it in the garbage after a few bites, not hungry enough to choke it down. I didn’t want to wait any longer to talk to Mason. I was hurt he hadn’t come to the office to speak to me. I needed to know why he left last night.
The guys were all working on cars, the music was blaring and Landon was shaking his hips to the beat. I smiled at his bad dancing and stopped in front of Mason’s bay. He was bent over a motorbike, his overalls rolled down to his waist, his muscular arms on full display.
I stared for a few seconds, hoping he would hear me out. Seeing me kiss another man was probably the nail in the coffin of our short relationship. But I had to try to make things right.
“Mason,” I called over the music. He looked up and his eyes were as cold as ice. His face didn’t give anything away, the only indication that he wasn’t altogether unaffected by my appearance was the tight grip he had on his wrench and the tick in his jaw.
He didn’t say anything, just looked at me, his gaze growing angrier the longer I stood there.
“Why—” I started and had to clear my throat when my voice was breaking. “Why did you leave last night?”
“Really Stella?”
“What do you mean? I thought we were at least friends. And friends don’t leave each other behind.”
“You seemed just fine up on that stage. I’m sure your fiancé could have taken you home,” he spat turning back to the motorcycle he was working on.
“It’s not what it looked like.”
He turned his head. “Princess, you are delusional if you think I’ll buy that line. You looked right at home on that stage, and I didn’t exactly see you put up a fight when he kissed you.”
I used to like it when he called me that. But when he said it like he’d tasted something bad, I hated it.
“If you’d just let me explain—“
“Explain what? How you let another guy kiss you the same day you woke up in my bed? How you pretended to hate having to go to the dinner party but once you were there you were all smiles and queenly waves?”
Now it was my turn to get mad and as usual my temper got the best of me. “I didn’t want him to kiss me and I knew nothing of an engagement,” I yelled. “What the hell is your problem?”
“My problem? My fucking problem,” he roared, his voice carrying loud enough over the music that Landon and Clay poked their heads up, “is that you are a spoiled little princess who thinks she can use everyone as if they don’t matter. My problem is that you play the victim card so well, when in reality, it was a game to you all along. My problem, princess, is you.”
I stumbled back, stunned by his anger. I understood that the kiss might have seemed like more than what it was, but he just needed to listen to me. Helpless to stop the tears from streaming down my face I wiped at them furiously.
