“And now,” he says, turning fully to face me, “the guy I used to trust is the same one I have towatch.”
That hits harder than I expected.
“Mase, I’m not perfect. Half the time, I don’t know what I’m doing, but I swear to God I care about her. Maddie’s not just some girl I’m dating. She’s…everything.”
He exhales hard, like my words land somewhere in his chest, whether he wants them to or not.
“She’s already changing, you know?” he says. “She’s getting more confident. More outspoken. I see it happening, and part of me is proud. But the other part’s scared shitless.”
“Scared of what?”
He shrugs. “That it’s all because of you. And if it is, then it can all disappear the second you’re gone.”
I shake my head. “Her confidence? It was always in her. I just told her the truth until she started to believe it. Butyouwere the one who raised her up first. You’ve been her safety net since the beginning.” Mason doesn’t answer, but his jaw relaxes a little. “And for what it’s worth,” I add, “I’m not planning on going anywhere.”
He raises a skeptical brow. “You’re moving to LA.”
“Yeah, and I’ll drive across the damn country if I have to. Distance doesn’t mean I disappear.”
He snorts, but it’s the closest thing to a laugh I’ve gotten out of him in weeks. “You’re actually serious.”
“Dead serious.”
Mason sighs, running a hand through his hair. “You know I’m never gonna like this, right?”
“Yeah. I’m not expecting you to throw us a party or anything.”
“But, I guess if someone had to be her first boyfriend, I’m glad it’s someone who gives a shit.”
I smile. “That’s about the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”What I really want to say is I’ll be her only boyfriend.
He hesitates. “Don’t get used to it.”
“What?”
He rubs the back of his neck, and I can tell he’s uncomfortable as the red creeps up to his ears. “This feels weird to even talk about, but she’s innocent, man. You know my parents are super strict with her?—”
I hold up my hand, cutting him off so he doesn’t have to embarrass himself more.
“I respect her more than you give me credit for. We’ve only kissed.”
He stills, and I know he’s trying to work out whether he believes me, because it’s been two weeks. To most, that’s not long, but to people like Mase, who have a new girl hanging off their arm every other week, it’s a lifetime.
I went into this relationship knowing exactly what I was doing,or not doing. I’m not with Maddie only for that. I genuinely love spending time with her, and that’s how you know it’s really freaking serious.
Don’t get me wrong, I’d love nothing more than to take our relationship to the next level, but respecting Maddie is more important than anything else.
We sit there for a few beats. The distant sound of someone singing off-key drifts from the amphitheater fills the awkwardness.
Then Mason stands. “Let’s go before all the food is gone.”
I get up too, bumping his shoulder, grinning, and follow him back toward the cafeteria, lighter than I’ve felt all week.
Maddie spots us from the cafeteria steps. Her gaze tracks Mason as he heads straight for the buffet line and then flicks to me. Her eyes are full of worry, practically vibrating with nerves.
I barely sit beside her before she blurts, “So?”
“It’s going to be okay,” I say. “He’s good.”
