Page 9 of Housekeeping

“Sure,” she said, pushing herself off the couch. “Come on, I’ll walk you out. Would you like me to drive you back? I came with the car.”

“Why, Jessi,” I said with a giggle. “How chivalrous of you. Sadly, I can't let you play prince charming for me today. I’m okay with walking home.”

“It’s dark though,” she protested, her eyes flicking to the windows.

“And the streets around here are pretty safe at night,” I pointed out. “Not to mention often used and well lit. For tonight, just look after yourself, and I’ll look after me, all right? Text me when you get home?”

I held my hand out to her, and even though she rolled her eyes at me, we shook on it.

Feeling the problem had been taken care of, I walked Jessi to her car. It was a slow walk, the cold air waking her up a little, so I wouldn’t be worried about her getting behind the wheel.

“Drive slow, okay?” I called after her as she pulled out of the parking lot.

With a smile and a wave out the window, she was gone.

I hummed on my way back home, pulling my scarf and jacket tighter around me to keep out the chill.

I ruffled my bag for the keys as I walked into my building, then made my way up the stairs, jingling my keys, happy to be home. It was a tiny place, small and simple. But for me, even if I was usually alone on the days I didn’t bring Jessi home with me, it was all I needed.

I couldn’t help but think of Mason and the Thompson family and their grand mansion. I’d heard about how big it was, but I’d never had a reason to get close enough to see it for myself. They had so much, and even a fraction of what they had would have made a difference for when I’d first got sick. If someone had given me that money though, I wouldn’t have learned the more important things in life. Like how important it was to give to others and be happy with just a smile in return.

I wondered if Mason knew what the important things in life were. I doubted it. The boy partied all night then walked around naked in front of the help the next morning. It was like he thought we weren’t real people or something.

“Whatever,” I muttered to myself, dropping my stuff on the couch. “I need to stop bringing work home with me. Especially when it involves that boy.”

I shook the thoughts off and went to make myself a quick dinner. I’d already eaten a bit at the hotel before leaving, so it was just something light. After I was done, it was still too early to go to sleep, so I took my latest knitting project and sat with it on my couch.

Knitting was something I’d picked up over the course of my illness, while I went in and out of the hospital. I’d had plenty of time on my hands, and if I didn’t feel like calling up my friends, there were only so many ways to occupy myself. When I’d gone through chemotherapy and gone bald as a result, I’d picked a direction with my knitting. Even now, years later, I still knit hats and head covers for other cancer patients when I had the free time. When I found out I was in remission, I’d wanted to give back to other patients still fighting, and though it wasn’t exactly something I would have imagined for myself, it became my way of doing it.

I wonder how Mason would look in one of my hats?

Where had that come from? I saw him naked earlier and now I was thinking of knitting something for him, not getting down and dirty with him. No, ever since I’d lost my breast, the last thing I wanted was for a man to be touching me, knowing that part of me wasn’t real. That was until I saw Mason naked in the suite.

Why was I still thinking about him? Even though I’d left work behind, I couldn’t get him off my mind! The guy was such an asshole so why did he interest me so much? Though to be honest, I did like looking at his hot body, particularly his tight ass. I could tell he took care of himself, and I hadn’t seen a man that fit before. Shit, I was heating up just thinking about it.

“He’s gorgeous,” I admitted to myself, crossing my arms over my chest. “He is, and he knows it. But being hot means fuck all if he’s an ass on top of it.”

There was no reply from my empty apartment, but it wasn’t like I even needed one. I knew how things had to be between him and me, and for that, I would never put myself on the road to heartbreak by actually wishing for more. I could allow myself to dream about it though because I knew it was going to happen regardless.

That was all it was going to be though. A hot little fantasy for me to take to bed. On that note, I jumped up off my couch, turned off the light in the living room, and rushed to my bedroom as I pulled off my clothes, heading for my cold, empty bed.