“Stella,” David said, his tone louder. “You know what’s on the line.”
I did know but couldn’t get myself to move. Turned out the decision was taken out of my hands when Mason turned around and put his hands on my waist, nudging me backward. I stumbled in the direction he guided me, confused as to what he was doing.
I heard David storm out and watched him slam the font door.
My eyes wandered back to Mason, admiring his beautiful face, trying to commit it to memory. Who knew when I had a chance to see him again after I stopped working at the garage. We stopped just when the back of my feet hit the stairs.
“What are you doing?” I asked when he turned me around and led me up the stairs.
“I tried staying away. But turns out you are more than worth it, and I hope I haven’t screwed things up yet and still get a chance at saving you.”
“I don’t need saving. I told you that this isn’t as easy as telling David to go to hell.”
“And I told you to talk to me. Tell me what else is in the damn contract and we’ll find a way out of it.”
I sighed in defeat and considered his offer. We were now in his bedroom and he led me to his bed. I didn’t get a chance to debate whether or not I should sit down when he swept me off my feet and laid me on the bed, coming down on top of me.
“What are you doing?” I asked, my body squirming underneath him, the heat already spreading like wildfire.
“Trying to get you to see reason.”
“All I can see right now is your head.”
“What else is in the contract Stella?” he tried again.
Maybe it was the alcohol or maybe it was the realization that I needed help, but I spilled the cheese like I had a lactose deficiency. I should have told him everything when he first asked me about it. But misplaced pride and my inability to trust prevented me from doing so. I fixed my eyes on Mason’s right eyebrow, too scared to look him in his eyes.
“I signed a contract that said I had to marry David and stay married for five years. If I don’t, then I have to leave the state to make sure it’s not going to turn into a media circus. And my mom threatened to get Nora evicted if I didn’t play along. There is no way I can let that happen. I’ll move if it gets me out of the contact, but Nora is drowning. She needs a break. And she is busting her ass for her kids. No way is she going to survive an eviction.”
Mason was quiet for so long it gave me a chance to glance at his face. His jaw was ticking and his eyes were focused on me.
“You should have told me before now.”
“I know. But I thought I could do this on my own.”
“What changed that you told me now?”
It was time to put all my cards on the table. “I fell in love with you.”
“Fucking hell, woman, do you know how long I have been waiting for you to say that to me?”
“Don’t you have something to say to me too?” I asked, my body tense, waiting for his answer.
He raised a brow and leaned closer, bringing our noses a hair width apart. “Fine. You can move back in.”
I struggled underneath him, trying to sit up. “You are a bastard, you know that?”
He put his mouth to my ear and bit my lobe gently. “I love you too.”
He grinned at me, and I melted into him. Our mouths met and I put my legs around his waist and my arm around his neck. It would take some serious work to pry me off him.
Turned out the only thing it took to pry me off was a knock on Mason’s door.
“It’s my wedding, and you guys have been up here for almost an hour. Get your asses back downstairs or I’ll be forced to come inside,” Willa yelled, a slight slur to her voice.
There was a shuffle, and then I heard muffled voices before Willa started yelling again. “It’s my wedding and I do what I want. And I want Stella by my side for my first dance. Get your skinny ass downstairs, or I’ll show everyone the photo of you dancing in a drag show.”
Mason buried his head in my neck and his body shook from laughter. I put my hand in his hair, playing with his soft strands. “We should do what she says. It’s her wedding after all,” I said.
