Lol
What?
Dante
No, just… that’s kind of funny. I was so hot you had to make a deal to keep your hands off of me?
You are delusional and insane
Also I’m straight
Dante
Everyone’s a little bit gay
What’s that mean
Dante
It means… enjoy your time with Mason. Maybe you’ll figure stuff out.
How did you know you liked Reid?
Dante
When I saw him dancing at the club, I knew I needed to have him, then he puked on my shoes and sealed thedeal.
Weirdo
Dante
Maybe but I’d kill for Reid, in fact I have killed for Reid, and he’d chew through someone’s arm to protect me.
Weirdo(s)
Dante
Bye
Tell Hayden to call me when he has a chance
Dante
Fine. Bye.
I lift my head from where it’s been buried in my phone to find Mason standing uneasily at the stove, patiently waiting for the kettle to finish. There’s a tension in his shoulders I hate, that I wish would disappear, but I don’t know how to put him at ease in my presence besides doing what I’ve been doing. I knew how to calm him last night; it’s easy when he’s too far gone—just talk to him like a skittish horse. But when he’s in between too far gone and happy as a clam, it’s difficult to find the right thing to say or do to bring him back. I’m always worried I’ll misstep somehow and hurt him further.
“What are you worried about?” I ask him softly. Taking a seat at the table, Mason ignores my question to pour the water into mugs, finally dunking tea bags into each cup.
He lets out a pained sigh and slumps down into the chair opposite me, his hands carefully cupped around the mug. “I’m still trying to build those boxes in my head.”
Ah. “It gets easier with practice.”
I take a sip of the scalding hot tea, then grab the honey that sits in the middle of the dark oak table. Mason watchescuriously as I add honey to the tea, and his mouth lifts at the corners slightly in amusement.
“So what’s the plan if you have one of your secret missions? Can I stay here alone?”
“Yes, but Hayden will watch the cameras.”
