To the things that we want.

Mason’s words keep echoing in my ears. I know I’m buzzed, but the odd mix of anxiety and relaxation running through me are from something else. It’s the realization that I’m at a crossroads. I’m standing in front of an open door and I know that going through would change everything. It would put my world into motion again, moving me forward, shoving me from the stagnant still place I’ve been in these last few months.

There would be no way to go back, but there’s no telling who I’d be once I’m on the other side. My body is ringing with desire and adrenaline.

Mason Thatcher. I’ve heard of him. The pictures I’ve seen don’t do his broad shoulders and muscular frame justice. The rough stubble on his jaw begs me to reach up and brush my fingertips against it. He’s tall and handsome… and a player. A man I shouldn’t be caught dead talking to. My husband would have killed me for having drinks with a man like Mason.

But Jace has left me all alone. And Mason’s so much more than I thought I could want in a man.

My body temperature rises as the tequila drifts into my blood. I lick my lower lip and then rip my eyes from his hard body. I noticed his hands first, rough and callused although he’s in a suit. It’s clear they’re from years of hard work, something most of the men in here know little about. Actual manual labor.

I try to relax some and casually lean against the bar, slipping my pointer finger into the empty shot glass and forcing it onto its side. I don’t know why and it probably makes me appear drunker than I am, but I don’t care.

“Mason, do you like tequila?” I ask him and this time when I speak, there’s a bit of flirtiness in my voice. Guilt weighs heavily in my chest, but only briefly before the alcohol numbs the memories. I’ve been alone for too long.

Mason’s steel grey eyes roam over the curves of my waist and ass. He’s bold, licking his lips and then taking a step forward to lean against the bar with me. He’s close enough that the heat of his body makes me that much hotter.

I want to know what it’s like for a man like him to pin me beneath him. To take me how he wants me. I close my eyes as the heat rises into my cheeks from the intensity of his stare.

“I do,” he replies and his voice is low and rough, and it does bad things to me. I rest my head in my hand, loving and hating the way the alcohol soothes the pain.

I’m ready to move on, aren’t I? Maybe not, but I’m ready to feel. I look back at him, realizing he’s just answering my question. I’m a bit more than tipsy, but I’m still here and present and I know what I want.

Even if I’ll hate myself in the morning, it’s one night of not going back to that large, empty house alone.

The tight pull of two small hands at my waist and Sue’s loud voice, make my heart scream in my chest and I swear to God I almost have a damn heart attack. I feel like a child caught with her hand in the cookie jar.

“Jules, Jasper’s out front,” Sue starts talking to me like she has no idea she just scared the shit out of me.

My heart pounds in my chest as I turn to face her fully, my eyes flickering from the man candy on my right and then back to her.

Caught red handed.

It takes a moment for me to realize what Sue said and a moment for her to catch on to what I was about to do.

She eyes Mason cautiously, but before she can say a word, I speak up, “Jasper?”

Although it comes out like a question, it’s more of a curse.

Sue gives me a sympathetic look as she explains, “The exhibition at Ruppert Park must’ve ended.” Jasper’s with the New York Post. And every fucking time he sees me, he has a question and I know whatever I say will end up quoted in the papers the very next morning. He’s not kind like the others. I would rather not see Jasper’s scrawny ass right now.

I let out a heavy breath, looking through the crowd and towards the entrance. I don’t feel like dealing with this shit.

“And what are you doing here?” Sue’s question is directed at Mason who’s standing behind me, leaning against the bar and looking sexy as fuck. He doesn’t seem to mind the interruption at all. He gives Sue a lazy smile that brings back the heat between my thighs full force.

“Just leaving actually.” Jesus, his voice is as smooth as velvet.

One split second passes and a wide grin spreads across Sue’s face, her dark hair sways, brushing against her cheek as she knowingly looks between the two of us. I lean backward, gripping the stool behind me and wanting an escape. It’s one thing to flirt with the idea, it’s another for everyone to know it.

Sue looks pointedly at Mason’s cock and raises a brow, which only makes me want to bury my face in my hands.

“Are you ready to leave?” I ask Sue. I take a step away from Mason, gripping my clutch in my hand tighter and feeling completely ready to get the fuck out of here. There’s not enough tequila in the world to numb the sobriety that the mention of Jasper brings me.

“You two get out of here,” Sue says, stopping me in my tracks.

“What’d you say your name was?” she asks Mason.

“Mason Thatcher.” He extends a hand to Sue and she takes his hand coyly with both of hers. I can’t fucking help that I stare daggers at where their hands meet. This possessiveness I feel towards Mason is something I’m not used to, and I don’t fucking like it. There’s no reason I should even give a damn. He was just a fun idea. But mostly, a bad idea.

“Mason,” Sue says and her voice drips with sex appeal. It always does. She’s a cold-hearted bitch to some but just as vivacious and insatiable as she was ten years ago when I first met her during my freshman year of college.

She leans in slightly and I get a good look down her blouse. Her necklace shifts so that the thin gold chain and glittering emerald jewel rest on her perky breasts, but when I look up, Mason’s only looking into her eyes. “You take good care of my girl tonight, Mason.” Sue looks back at me and that roguish look in her eyes makes me smile.

“I plan on it,” Mason answers and releases her hand.

“Just one minute,” Sue holds up her pointer finger and grips my wrist, moving me an entire foot away from Mason and closer to the powder room as if he can’t hear us. I keep myself from rolling my eyes.

I don’t want her to judge me, or to hate me. I just want her to understand. Out of all the girls, I think she will. More than anything, I know I want to get out of here with a stranger. It makes me feel dirty and shameful, but right now it’s what I want.

“It’s nothing serious.” The words come out in a defensive tone.

“It is for me,” Sue says. My lungs stall at her words. She shifts her weight and looks over her shoulder towards our booth. I can’t see either Kat or Maddie although I know they’re still there. “You need this.” Sue stares into my eyes, the look so serious I’m caught off guard.

“The question is,” she lowers her voice and leans into me, “are we telling the others?” When she pulls away, gripping my elbows in her hands and raising her brow, I know everything’s going to be okay.

I hesitate, looking back at Mason and then bite the inside of my cheek. “I don’t want to lie to them,” I answer honestly.

“Then you two go out the back. And do it fast before I go tell them and before Jasper can get his skinny, organic, vegan-eating ass inside.”

I snicker at Sue’s response, but the reality of what I’m doing is setting in. I lean forward as Sue lets go and I grip her hand before she can turn and leave me alone with my soon-to-be one-night stand.

“Tell me I’m not a bad person.” The words slip out before I can even think about what I’m saying. I try to keep the smile on my face, but it wavers.

“Stop that shit right now.” Sue’s face is completely serious as she points her finger at me.

I nod my head, willing the emotions to go back down to being buried deep inside of me as if they don’t deserve to surface in this moment.

“You are a beautiful, strong, kind woman,” Sue tells me and I look her in the eyes although I don’t share her conviction. “And there is not a goddamn thing wrong with getting laid.”

The bit of humor helps me feel a sense of relief, but it’s small. Her expression softens. “You just need a little something to kick start your happiness again.”

To happiness.

“I do.” I nod my head.

Sue’s not one to get emotional. Not in the least and true to her nature she skirts around the way my voice cracks as she takes a half step closer to me. “Then get over there and let Mr. Yes-please-fuck-me-with-my-ankles-pinned-behind-my-head- “

A laugh escapes me before she can even finish and I wipe under my eyes as I shake my head. “Can you even put your legs behind your head?”

“For the right man, I can do a lot of shit.” She looks back at Mason and then to me.

“Just have fun tonight,” she says making light of the situation, but it’s calming. I want to be like her. I want to believe it’s completely harmless.

I nod my head as she turns from me, leaving me alone with Mason.

Alone to do bad things and make bad decisions. But at least I’m doing something.

It’s then that I notice a few eyes watching. Including Margo, who’s taking covert glances. My anxiety keeps ramping up, daring me to go through with it and that’s when he wraps his hand around my hip and pulls me into him. Bringing my back to his front and whispering in my ear.

“You ready to go?” he asks me, his hot breath traveling down my sensitive skin and making my body feel alive.

I don’t close my eyes; I just stare straight ahead. I don’t care that they can see. The city can talk; I’ll deny it all.

“Will you hold me afterward?” I whisper my one request before I realize what I’ve said.

His body stills behind me and I close my eyes, hating that I’ve ruined this before it’s even started. It’s a one-night stand, nothing more. No emotions.

“Until the morning?” he asks me. My heart beats again, in rhythm with his.

I nod my head, my hair rubbing against his hard chest and his thumb brushing against the black fabric of my dress.

Just until morning.