I woke up the next morning stretching my good arm above my head. Muscles I’d never used before screamed out at me in protest, and as I moved to roll over, I winced, feeling an unfamiliar soreness between my legs. I smiled, thinking about last night and how amazing it had been.
“Morning baby,” Mason said, his voice thick with sleep.
I looked over at him, his hair was messy giving him that sexy bed hair that I loved, and his face had lines from where his head had pressed against the pillow. My eyes dropped to his naked chest, taking in his sculpted abdomen. The sheet had dropped below his waist, and I could see the trail of hair starting at his belly button, my eyes tracking it as it disappeared underneath the sheet.
My blatant examination of him didn’t go unnoticed, when my eyes met with his they were hooded, and his stare was full of lust. “Sweetheart.” He said, pulling me on top of him. “I know you must be sore after last night, but if you keep looking at me like that…” He trailed off, his voice husky.
I lowered my head to his. “I wouldn’t be opposed to the idea,” I whispered against his lips, feeling his growing erection on my stomach. I brushed my lips against his, nibbling along his bottom lip, he opened his mouth and our tongues collided. As the kiss became more heated, he gently rolled me onto my back, careful not to catch my broken arm.
He pulled his lips from mine, his breaths coming in ragged pants. “You have no idea how much I want to slide inside you Lib, but I have to get to work, and what I want to do to you baby, can’t be done quickly.” Speechless, my stomach clenched at his words and my heartbeat quickened. He took my lips again, this time in a tender kiss before climbing off the bed. I sat up, watching him as he pulled a pair of shorts on. He made his way to the top of the stairs before turning around. “You are staying here tonight, aren’t you?”
I hesitated. “Erm, I was going to…if that’s okay with you?”
“Baby, I’d have you stay forever if it was up to me.” I looked at him, my eyes wide. Laughing at my expression, he jogged down the stairs. “I’m going to run you a bath, it will help with the soreness.” He called out, not giving me a chance to argue.
Mason had reluctantly gone off to work, but not before ensuring that I take a bath by physically putting me in it! I had to admit though, that I felt better for it, the hot water soothing my aching body.
A couple of hours later, Savannah and I were sat in her favourite coffee shop in Marble Falls. Mason had already text twice, checking that I was feeling okay, that I wasn’t having headaches or feeling dizzy. I smiled down at my phone, loving that he cared enough to check up on me. The waitress brought our drinks over along with two huge oatmeal raisin cookies.
“So,” I said to Savannah, once the waitress had left. “I’m thinking of looking into studying at the University of Texas.” I looked down at the coffee in my hand, waiting for her reaction.
“Oh my god!!!” She screeched, I turned around to see everyone in the coffee shop looking at us, and I laughed. “When did you decide that?” She asked, bouncing up and down in her seat.
“It was actually Mason’s idea, he mentioned it yesterday. Seems he doesn’t want me to go home.”
“That man’s got it bad!” She exclaimed.
I rolled my eyes at her. “I was hoping you might be able to help me out with how I go about applying?”
“Definitely! I’m going to Uni tomorrow, come with me, and we can talk to the admissions office. I can’t believe that you might be staying!” She clapped her hands together in excitement. “You’ve got it bad too, haven’t you?” She teased.
I shook my head at her and laughed. “I’d love to stay Sav, it wasn’t something I’d considered before, but the more I think about it, the more I want it. I can’t imagine saying goodbye to Mason…” I told her quietly.
She reached across the table and clasped my hand. “Well, hopefully you won’t have to. So,” She said smirking at me. “Have you bumped uglies yet?”
“Savannah,” I whisper shouted at her, glancing around to see if anyone had heard her. “I’m not talking about that here!”
“I’ll take that as a yes then!” She said smugly. “I want all the details later.” She exclaimed. I felt my face flush with heat, and she chuckled. “We need to go.” She suddenly said, her voice angry.
“What? Why?” I asked her. “I haven’t drunk my coffee yet.” I saw her glaring at someone over my shoulder, and I turned to see who she was looking at. As soon as I turned around, I wished I hadn’t. Amber was stood in the queue to be served, and she was staring right at me. I quickly turned back around to face Savannah. “Come on, let’s go,” I told her, anger bubbling in my stomach.
As I stood up to go, I saw Amber making her way over to us. I tried to walk past her, but she blocked my way. “Hello again, Libby.” She said, her voice dripping with disdain. “That’s quite a bruise you’ve got on your face, and you’ve broken your arm too.” She said, her eyes dropping to my cast. “Whatever happened to you?”
I felt Savannah standing behind me, and I heard her say. “You know exactly what happened to her, you psycho bitch. Now get out of our way.”
She moved to the side to let us through. As I walked past her she reached her hand out, grabbing my arm. “Tell Mason I’ll be popping by tonight to see him, there’s something we need to discuss.”
I yanked my arm out of her grasp and turned my body so that I was standing directly in front of her. I clenched my hand into a fist feeling like I wanted to smack her. “What could you possibly have to discuss with Mason? He wants nothing to do with you, Amber.” My voice was low as I tried to control my anger.
“It’s not really any of your business.” She sneered at me. “I did want to tell Mason first, but you may as well know…” She paused, looking me in the eye. “I’m pregnant and it’s Mason’s baby.”
Her words hit me like a fist to the stomach, and I stumbled backward into Savannah, her hands reaching out to steady me. “What?” I whispered. “That’s not possible.”
“Oh, I can assure you it’s possible.” She took a step closer to me. “He couldn’t keep his hands off me before you came along and ruined everything.”
My head was spinning, and I felt as if I was going to pass out. “You’re lying.” I heard Savannah say from behind me. “Even if you are pregnant, how do you know it’s Mason’s? Haven’t you slept with half of Marble Falls?” She spat at her.
Amber reached into her bag and pulled out a scan picture, holding it in front of my face. “I’m eight weeks pregnant, and there’s the proof. I haven’t been with anyone but Mason since we started dating. It’s his baby.” I lifted my head and looked at the picture, my heart breaking at what I saw. “Do you really want to stop us from being a family? Can you live with yourself knowing that you would be keeping Mason from his child?”
“I’ve heard enough of this shit!” Savannah exclaimed. “We’re leaving, stay the hell away from us.” I felt Savannah turn me towards the door and push me gently towards it. “Show your face at the ranch, and I’ll call the police,” Savannah screamed at her as she propelled me outside.
Savannah steered me down the road to where she had parked the car, bundling me inside. “I’m calling Mason.” She exclaimed as she got in the car.
She reached into her bag for her phone, and I snapped out of my daze. “No!” I shouted. Her head flew to look at me, and she frowned. “Please,” I begged. “Please don’t call him.”
“Lib, what’s going on? Why can’t I call him? Please don’t tell me you believe her?” She said shaking her head.
“Savannah, she had an ultrasound scan, it was definitely hers, her name was printed at the top. That’s not something you can fake.”
“She’s the town whore Libby!” She threw her arms up in the air. “If she’s pregnant, and as far as I’m concerned that’s still a big if, she’s slept with so many guys she wouldn’t have a clue who the father was!”
“I have a horrible feeling she’s telling the truth Sav.” Tears threatened to fall from my eyes, and as the first tear rolled down my cheek, I felt Savannah squeeze my hand. “I knew everything with Mason was too good to be true. I don’t deserve to be happy.” I whispered.
“That’s bullshit, Libby. You deserve to be happy more than anyone.”
“Amber’s right, I shouldn’t stand in their way. They deserve a shot at being a family. That child needs both its parents.”
“I can’t believe I’m listening to this.” She turned her body so that she was facing me. “Okay, let’s assume she’s telling the truth and she is pregnant with Mason’s baby. He’s in love with you, there is no way he would want to play happy families with psycho Amber! Just because he’s having a baby with her, doesn’t mean he can’t be with you. He can still be a part of the child’s life.”
“Don’t you get it, Savannah, that would mean Amber would always be in our lives, she’d never go away. She would eventually come between us. I don’t think I can deal with that.” I looked at her, desperately trying to make her understand.
“So, you’re saying Mason isn’t worth it?”
“No! I’m not saying that at all. I love Mason, more than anything. I’m saying I’m not strong enough to deal with all of this. Can you take me back to the ranch please?” I begged her. “I want to go home.”
She threw her hands up in the air again. “Fine I’ll take you back to the ranch, but you’re going to have to face Mason at some point.”
“Not if I’m back in England,” I whispered, looking away from Savannah and out of the car window.
“You want to go home to England?” She screeched. “I thought you meant home to the ranch. Don’t you think you should at least talk to Mason?”
“If I see Mason I’m going to want to stay. It’s better this way Sav. I can’t stay and watch him have a baby with that woman.” My voice shook, and I burst into tears. Savannah reached across and pulled me into her arms.
“God, you mean it, don’t you? You’re going to leave?” I nodded my head against her shoulder. “Mason’s going to be so pissed.”
“I need you on my side, Savannah, I’m going to need your help. Please don’t hate me.” I said, between sobs.
She pulled away from me. “Lib, I could never hate you. I don’t agree with what you’re doing, and for the record, I think you’re making a mistake, but if this is what you want, then I’ll support you.” I smiled gratefully at her through my tears. “Let’s get back.” She said, starting the car and pulling out of the parking space.
We were quiet on the way home, neither of us knowing what to say. I couldn’t stay and watch Mason have a baby with someone else, especially Amber. It was going to kill me to leave him without saying goodbye, but I knew that if I saw him, he’d convince me to stay. As much as I hated to admit it Amber was right, if I stayed, I would stop them from trying to be a family. I had to go, and it had to be today.
Once we were back at the house, I went to my bedroom and quickly packed my clothes. I had a few things at Mason’s, but I couldn’t risk going to get them and running into him. When everything was packed, I reached for my phone and called my parents. It was early evening back home, and I was praying that they would be home. The phone rang for a long time, and I began to panic, thinking that they wouldn’t answer when I heard my Dad. “Hello.” He sounded out of breath, as if he’d just ran for the phone.
“Daddy,” I whispered, holding back the tears.
“Libby, sweetheart. What’s happened?” He asked, sensing from my voice that something was wrong.
“I need to come home, Daddy,” I told him, the tears spilling down my cheeks.
“Why? What’s happened? Libby, are you crying.” He asked, concern lacing his voice. I could hear my Mum in the background asking my Dad for the phone.
“Libby, honey what’s wrong? Are you hurt?” My Mum asked me, panic in her voice.
I hated that I was causing them to worry all over again. “I’m not hurt I promise, but I need to come home. Can you book me the next available flight?”
“Sweetheart, you need to tell us what’s going on. Is Aunt Claire there?”
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. “I can’t explain now. I know I’m asking a lot, but I need you to trust me. I’ll explain everything when I get home. Please, can you just book me a flight? I’m leaving for the airport now with Savannah.”
I heard my Mum take a deep breath. “Okay honey, as long as you’re sure you’re not hurt? We’ll have a look now and call you back.” I could hear the reluctance in her voice.
“Thank you,” I whispered hanging up the phone.
Half an hour later on the way to the airport my phone buzzed with a message, thinking it was from my parents, I reached for my phone only to see a text from Mason. My heart was in my throat as I opened the message.
Mason: Hey baby, how are you feeling? Brody and Josh are heading to a bar tonight, do you and Savannah fancy going? Love you xxx
I burst into tears as I read his message, doubt creeping into my mind, was I was doing the right thing? Mason was going to hate me when he realised that I’d just upped and left. I bit down on my lip as I reread his message.
“Is that Mason?” Savannah asked me with a sad smile. I nodded my head, not trusting myself to speak. “It’s not too late Lib, I can turn back.”
I shook my head. “No, this is for the best.”
“The best for who.” She muttered.
I glared at her. “The best for Mason. The best for me! I thought you were going to support my decision.”
“I don’t think Mason would agree that this was what’s best for him. I know I said I’d support you, and I am, I’m driving you to the airport, aren’t I? But I think you’re panicking and running away from the problem.” She looked over at me, her eyebrows raised in question.
“So what if I am?” I replied, crossing my arms over my chest. “I was wary about getting involved with Mason in the first place, maybe this is fate telling me I was right.” I took in a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “I know you don’t agree with me Sav, and maybe I am making a huge mistake, but I can’t keep letting myself get hurt. I know I’m hurting Mason too and that kills me.”
Savannah reached across the car and patted my knee. “I know you’re scared Lib, I just wish you’d talk to him.”
I looked out the window, there were so many things running through my mind, I hadn’t even had a chance to get nervous about the journey, that was the least of my problems. My phone rang in my hand, and I jumped at the noise, my heart beating wildly in my chest at the thought that it could be Mason. Looking down I saw that it was my parent's number. “Hello,” I said as I answered the phone.
“Honey its Mum, we’ve booked you onto the 3 pm flight to O’Hare International, and then you're booked on a flight from there to Manchester. We couldn’t get you on a direct flight to Heathrow until the morning. Is that okay?”
“That’s great, thank you, Mum,” I said quietly.
“I really wish you’d tell me what’s happened, sweetheart. You’re worrying me.”
“I’m okay Mum, I’ll fill you in when I’m back.”
I heard her sigh. “Okay. I’ll text you the flight information, we’ll be waiting at the airport for you when you land. We love you, Libby.”
“I love you both too. Bye.” I whispered, pushing the button and ending the call.
We arrived at the airport and Savannah linked her arm with mine as we walked to the check in desks. “I’m going to miss you Lib,” Savannah said quietly.
“I’m going to miss you too.” I stopped to pull her into a hug.
“I don’t know how long I can keep from telling Mason where you are, he’s going to freak. Just promise me that once you’re back home, you’ll call him and explain.”
I nodded, I couldn’t promise her that I would, I knew that if I heard Mason’s voice, I’d crumble and want to rush back into his arms.
After checking in, I said a tearful goodbye to Savannah and went through to departures. Mason had text again, and I ended up turning my phone off. I hated myself knowing that I was hurting him. If I stayed and fell even more in love with him, if that were even possible, the hurt would be ten times worse for both of us further down the line. It was better to leave now, even though it felt like my heart was breaking.
It was just over a two-and-a-half-hour flight to O’Hare International Airport, and I had an hour layover before catching the flight to Manchester. I realised pretty quickly that I’d left my kindle at Mason’s in my rush to leave. I don’t think I could have read anyway as my head was all over the place. I just stared blankly out of the plane window, lost in memories of Mason, my heart breaking a little bit more each time I thought of him. Tears tracked down my face, and I let them, not attempting to wipe them away.
After we had landed, I made the mistake of turning my phone on. I had twenty-three text messages, twenty-two of which were from Mason and eight voicemail messages. There was a text from Savannah and I opened that one first.
Savannah: Mason knows, and he’s beside himself Lib. Please call him x
I closed my eyes and dropped my head back against the chair I was sitting in. The pain in my chest at knowing I’d hurt him was unbearable. I reached my hand up, rubbing over my heart in an attempt to ease the ache. I opened the last of Mason’s messages, my heart pounding in my chest.
Mason: Libby sweetheart, I know you’ll be on a plane right now but as soon as you get this, call me, please. IF Amber is carrying my child, I still want to be with you. I will support the child, but I don’t want to be with Amber. I love you. Please call me xxx
Once again tears streamed down my face, and I couldn’t read anymore, I knew if I did I’d be boarding the next plane back to him. I reluctantly turned my phone off and sat silently waiting to be called for my next flight.
I didn’t have to wait long, and before I knew it, I was on my way home. I’d only been in Texas for two weeks, but they had been the best two weeks of my life. Meeting Mason had shown me that there was life after Mia, and I would be eternally grateful to him for that. He was starting a new chapter of his life with a baby on the way, and now somehow, I had to restart my life, I just had to learn to do it without him by my side.
I only hoped that I could.