ROWAN
I sat on my bed still holding my phone.
Serena had finally given up pretending she wasn’t listening and left the room dramatically like she was offended by my emotional development.
I should’ve been working on my portfolio.
Instead I was staring at Mason’s messages.
Mason:
Don’t do that again.
I frowned.
Rowan:
Do what?
Three dots.
Stopped.
Started again.
Mason:
Make me think you didn’t get home safe.
That one made my stomach tighten slightly.
Not in a dramatic way.
Just noticeable.
I leaned back against the wall.
Rowan:
You’re not my dad.
Almost instantly:
Mason:
Thank God.
I actually laughed.
Then stopped.
Because why did that feel… comfortable?
That was the problem lately.
Everything with him was starting to feel weirdly normal.
Like it had always been there.
