Rubbing soothing circles over my shirt, she makes a soft hum of agreement. ‘You don’t have to.’
Reluctantly, I release her and step back, those emerald eyes meeting mine again. God, this girl. I love her. I’ve always loved her.
The one girl I want. The one girl I can’t have.
‘Come on, I’ll get you cleaned up.’ She slides her fingers through mine. ‘No one has to know.’
My eyes close for a brief moment, pain radiating through me to the point where I feel I might pass out. My relief and appreciation for this girl swells in my chest. ‘Thank you,’ I murmur, tightening my hold on her. ‘I don’t know what I would do without you.’
Squeezing my hand, she smiles up at me through her own tears. ‘You’ll never find out because I’ll be here. Always.’
7
ANYA
THE NEXT MORNING,it isn’t until I’m about to open my bedroom door that I remember what happened last night. I danced with Mason. Masonfelt me up. In front of Dylan. And it felt fucking amazing. I hope the betrayal tasted as bad as what he made me feel.
Turning, I lean my back against the door, closing my eyes and letting myself relive the moment when those haunting dark eyes watched me dance, remembering the way his firm hands felt running over my body. I have wanted to feel his hands on me ever since my eighteenth birthday. A part of me is angry with myself for giving in and letting him break down the walls I spent so long building. The other part is floating on cloud nine from the small taste of his attention again.
I have always wanted Mason, and clearly, he still wants me too. But I can’t forget everything that’s happened. We might be older now, but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s my brother’s best friend. If things were to not work out for us – like last time – everything would be difficult. I was okay with pretending the rift never happened when he wasn’t around, but now he’s back and settled in, for at least the next four years of school.
Things have always been complicated when it comes to Mason.
Expelling a breath, I turn, banging the back of my head against the door. I feel a headache forming behind my eyes; it isn’t even eight a.m. yet. Pressing my ear against it, I confirm that there’s no noise coming from the other side. Stepping out of my room, I walk down the hallway and into the kitchen. My shoulders relax when I see that no one is there. I make myself a coffee before hightailing it back to my room.
I’m in such a rush to get back unnoticed, I don’t see Mason walking just as quickly out of the laundry. We collide and I scream when the hot coffee splashes across the front of me. I fly backwards and land in a painful sprawl.
‘Ow,’ I moan.
‘Jesus!’ Mason exclaims, yanking out his AirPod. He pulls me back to my feet and stares down at me. ‘Are you okay?’
‘I just got fucking burned!’ I snap, blinking away the tears that are stinging my eyes.
‘I didn’t hear you, obviously,’ he bites back.
Sighing, I slowly peel my shirt from my skin, whining in pain. I tug it over my head and stare at the red welts across my chest. Mason clears his throat, and it dawns on me that I’m standing in front of him in a lacey white bra that reveals more than it covers. A flush spreads over my cheeks. Swallowing, I look up at him. Those bottomless eyes of his quickly dart away from my chest.
Scowling, I wrap my arms around myself and march into the bathroom. I inspect the damage, wincing as I run my fingertips over the marks.
‘Can I get you anything?’ he calls.
‘No!’ I yell back, hissing as my nail scratches the burn. Huffing, I peel off the rest of my clothes and step into the shower. The cool water helps soothe the burning sensation flaring across my skin. When I return to the hallway, Mason is nowhere to be seen and the mess is cleaned up.
I need to move house. Immediately. I can’t live in a house with him. I feel like so much has happened already, and I haven’t even been here for two days. It’s always been like that between Mason and me. From zero to a hundred. Back and forth, up and down. The flirtation and games may have been exciting and fun when we were teenagers, but we’re adults now, and I don’t have time for this. It’s exhausting.
Dressing quickly, I get ready and basically sprint out the door.
Fifteen minutes later, I’m at the university carpark. Since I’m early, I manage to find a park easily and make my way to the coffee shop. I order myself a large cappuccino, hoping it will magically cure my headache. I head to the courtyard, suddenly experiencing first-day jitters.
Sweat dots my forehead, and I dab the back of my hand across it. Having moved from a coastal town that was more often windy than not, being further north means the weather is a little more tropical than what I’m used to.
The only other person here is a girl who is seated at one of the tables with a kindle in one hand and a takeaway coffee in the other. I squint, trying to read the stickers on the back of her e-reader.
Hot Coffee & Anti-Heroes
Grinning, I walk over to her.
‘I love that sticker,’ I say, pointing to the back of the kindle. ‘My kindle says: “BRB, reading smut”.’
