Chapter 7

Mason

I lay in my bed Wednesday morning staring up at the ceiling for hours. Between my mind being completely screwed up and the fact that my back was in knots, I didn’t want to stand on my feet. I really thought I’d had everything in my life how I wanted it, and then Ava came and fucked that all up.

I pulled myself out of bed and threw on some clothes. I needed to go back to the mattress store. When I was there, I hadn’t really had my mind on buying a mattress after seeing the models. When Ava had run out, I’d talked to the photographer for a few minutes because he recognized me, and then I’d left the store. I didn’t even think about the fact that I would have to go back to the hotel and sleep on the mattress from hell for another few days before I got my head straight. I had thought about ordering online, but I knew if I didn’t try it out, I would end up in the same spot I was when I first decided to buy one myself.

I made my way downstairs and scheduled my car to pick me up. I didn’t feel like fighting through New York traffic today. Thoughts of Monday kept running through my head like they had been since I left the store. I had bolted, completely in shock from what happened. I sat in my car wondering how I could have possibly gotten myself into that situation. I didn’t even remember what I had said to the photographer, and I knew part of the reason I had sat there was I was hoping to see her leave. Of course, she’d probably been long gone out the back or still sitting inside hiding from me. I didn’t blame her one bit given the history between our families. She was definitely the last person I had expected to see that day.

I should have realized as soon as I saw her on the bed across the room that it was strange how I’d felt drawn to a complete stranger. My mind was completely taken over by her lying there, so beautiful and sweet. I had walked right over without any thought and didn’t even try to stop myself when I climbed up on that bed and kissed her. My inner alarms had failed me big time, and I was now kicking myself in the ass for it. It was so crazy how that morning I had thought about Ava and the first time we’d had sex. It was like the universe was toying with me or something, dangling the one woman I would never have again right there in front of my face.

In my defense, as I had lost myself in that kiss, feeling the lust and passion between us, I had fully expected to pull away and see a stranger’s face. I had not expected to pull away and see that sweet, delicate look and a familiar set of eyes. My expectations had been met and exceeded, and I’d understood for an instant why I had been so completely drawn to that woman. Of course, that was quickly taken away by the sting across my cheek and the look of complete terror on Ava’s face as she scrambled off the bed and ran into the back. I could still see the flowing silk of her nightgown blowing around her as she ran toward the back door. It was almost as if everything had been going in slow motion, and my eyes wouldn’t leave her.

My driver pulled up to the mattress store, and I sat for a minute, feeling miserable. I needed to get this over with and move on with my day. I went inside, and an associate immediately approached me. There wasn’t anyone else in the place, and I assumed it was because there weren’t any models lying around on beds. He took me around the store and explained the different mattresses and helped me pick one out. I had never bought my own mattress before, so it took a bit of time before I found one I really liked. On top of that, I was constantly thinking about Ava and the kiss we’d had right there in the store. Once I picked out the one I wanted, I went up to the desk to pay for it.

“We can deliver it to the hotel this afternoon if you’d like, Mr. York,” the associate said.

I laughed. “I suppose you recognized me from the tabloids.”

“Actually, I recognized you from the other day when you were in here,” he said. “The photographer told us who you were after everyone was talking about what happened.”

“Oh,” I grumbled. “Yeah, sorry about that.”

“No problem, sir.” He smiled. “Will this afternoon be good for you?”

“It will be perfect. I’ll let the concierge know you’re coming,” I said. “You’ll want to use the service entrance at the back.”

“Will do,” he said, handing me my receipt.

“And again, I’m sorry if I caused a problem,” I said.

“No problem,” he replied. “In fact, I’m pretty sure more people bought mattresses that day since you’d come in for one.”

“Of course.” I laughed.

I headed out of the shop and jumped in the car that had pulled around front to pick me up. I sat in the back staring out the window as we passed through Manhattan. The city somehow seemed dingier and darker today, and I knew it had to be my mood. When I got inside, I took a swim in the pool and then dried off to lounge on the couch. I closed my eyes and put my hands behind my head, trying to clear my mind. Memories started to flood me again. Memories of Ava and me when we were young, running around the city together, thinking nothing could keep us apart. I knew my father had hated us being together, and our mothers had gotten into an epic battle, but I still couldn’t remember the exact moment she exited my life. Maybe we just grew apart, and the tension and feud between our families didn’t help. When Spencer Hotels went under, they moved out of Manhattan to Brooklyn, but I had no idea what happened after that. In fact, my father and mother basically forbade me to talk about them in the house.

I took a deep breath and pushed the memories back out, knowing it wasn’t healthy to be looking so hard at the past. My life had been so happy and carefree before; I didn’t want to think about that depressing shit, but I supposed Ava still did. She’d been so angry at me, so taken aback by my presence at the mattress store that I was sure she still held that family grudge against me and my parents. Why else would she act like I was the worst person in the world? I needed to get my mind back on my own life and stop worrying about Ava and what she thought and why. It wouldn’t do me any good to linger on those feelings. I was already unable to think clearly, and dredging up old wounds was only going to make things worse for me and cause more trouble between me and my family. I needed to let it fold.

Besides, I was young, handsome, rich, and had the world at my fingertips. I should be thinking about all the girls I could be fucking, but every time I tried, Ava popped into my mind. For the first time in years, I really had no interest in thinking about women. I didn’t even have an interest in going out to the bars and clubs to pick someone up. It wasn’t like me at all. I wasn’t sure what I had to do, but I knew these thoughts weren’t going to disappear on their own.

I popped up from the couch and threw some clothes on, heading out before even drying my hair. I jumped in the car and instructed the driver to take me back to the mattress store. When I got there, I hopped out and ran inside, feeling like I was on a mission.

“Mr. York,” the associate said. “Is something wrong?”

“No,” I said, straightening myself. “I forgot to ask something when I was here before. I’m looking to hire a modeling agency for an ad my dad’s company is going to be doing, and I was wondering if I could get the info on the one you used.”

“Uh, sure,” he said, looking down at the counter. “The one girl you, uh, knew, she was freelance, but she also works for the agency we got the rest of the girls from.”

“Thanks,” I said, taking the info.

Maybe I would get to see Ava again after all.