Chapter Eleven

Missy

I walked around the room in a bit of a daze, thinking about Mason and his absence for the last three days. We had seen each other pretty much every day since the night he carried me to bed and tucked me in. It had been three weeks since that night, and I still got butterflies in my stomach every time he was supposed to come around. We had so much fun together, even when we weren’t doing anything of any importance. Over the last three weeks we had been to the movies, stargazed in Central Park, walked all over the city, been to the theater, and spent copious amounts of time shacked up on my couch watching old black-and-white movies, just enjoying being close to each other. It was difficult for me to really stop and think about what I was feeling.

Everything had happened so suddenly, and once I let him come right back into my life, I started to feel like I didn’t ever want him to go. I had to push myself through that, turn off my brain, and keep going. Every time I slowed down and started to think, my memory of my parents would run through my head. The pain I felt when they died, the fact that I’d been left over and over and had gotten as far as I had with my own perseverance and covering my heart. But then I thought about Mason, and how I felt when I was with him, all of those thoughts just kind of melted away. I didn’t know whether that was luck or my brain just tired of fighting my heart. Either way, I was glad, for the time being, to have Mason in my life. His business trip sounded stressful, and I had offered for him to just get some rest, but he seemed just as excited as me to see each other. So, in just a bit he would be showing up here to take me to dinner.

I hadn’t been this nervous about seeing someone since I was four and getting ready to meet Santa Claus. We had texted pretty much the entire time he was gone, and I kept telling myself how stupid it was that I was acting like we were schoolkids, but I couldn’t deny that it felt damn good. On top of all of it, the flyers had taken hold and business was actually picking up. People were not only coming in for a free lesson but were also signing up for year-long packages. From a distance, it almost seemed as if everything in my life was starting to pick up.

I smiled at the chatter of my clients as they grabbed their things and talked animatedly, walking toward the door. I had taught an exercise-based yoga class, and I always loved how my clients left cool, collected, and energized for the day. There was no high, then low with this class, unlike traditional workouts where you peak when you finish and then come crashing down. The meditation behind it keeps you on an even keel and ready for the day ahead of you. I even recommend this class for people with insomnia, as it helps in so many different areas.

I looked around the room, making sure everything was ready for the next day. In the corner were a few dirty towels, so I walked over and picked them up. As I stood, I glanced at the door. Mason opened the door and stood to the side, smiling as several of my clients walked out of the shop. I stood up excitedly ready to go greet him when another of my students, a new one, squealed and ran over to Mason, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing his cheek. I took a deep breath, trying not to feel that tinge of jealousy trying to flood me. It was pretty difficult since this girl was petite and blonde, with bouncing, plentiful fake tits.

I stood there for a moment watching the two interact. Mason’s face was shocked at first but then calmed to a quiet tone. He patted her lightly on the back and waited for her to release him from her clutches. She pulled back and set her heels on the ground, running her hands down his side and grabbing his palms. I cracked my shoulders, feeling the tension of watching another woman fawn all over Mason, but still kept my cool.

“Mason,” the girl bubbled. “I haven’t seen you in forever.”

“Yeah.” He chuckled. “Life has definitely been unexpectedly busy.”

“Are you taking a class here? Missy is the best,” she gushed as if she knew me. Again, tension came rushing back. How dare she name-drop me like that!

“Uh, yeah,” he said, looking around. I stepped behind the edge of the wall to avoid his eyes. “But today I’m meeting someone for dinner.”

“Of course you are.” She laughed. “You are more than a ladies’ man.”

“Ha.” He chuckled nervously, looking down at her. “I guess you could say that.”

“So, I haven’t seen you in so long,” the girl said, pulling out a pen and piece of paper. “You should totally give me a call and come over to my place soon. I finally got out of that horrid East Side apartment, and I own a place in Manhattan, actually not too far from your place if I remember correctly.”

“That’s awesome,” he replied, sticking the piece of paper in his pocket.

“Anyways, I have to go,” she said with a giggle, reaching up and kissing him on the cheek again. “And if your dinner date is a bore, give me a call—we’ll order takeout like we used to.”

I sat and watched as she flirted relentlessly before turning and walking to the door. Once she was out of sight, I pressed my back against the wall and let out a deep breath. How could I have been so stupid to think I was the only one? Obviously, these two had history, and if there was one, there were probably many bouncing blonde bimbos to contend with. I was the complete opposite of a bouncing blonde bimbo. I let out my breath and clutched the towels in my clammy hand before walking across the doorway and tossing them in the basket. I didn’t look up at Mason as I passed, and my hands were starting to shake.

When I appeared in the doorway, he grinned, and it took everything in me to not run to him. I smiled slightly and walked into the main area, saying goodbye to the last few students as they trickled from the locker rooms. Mason stood quietly, his hands in his pockets—probably clutching the new girl’s number—and watching every move I made. Finally, when the last girl had left, I turned and walked to the desk, trying desperately not to make eye contact. I wanted him to know just how much it didn’t bother me that he was gaining attention from all the whores. In reality, though, I wanted to burst from the seams. I could already see it—I would get attached, fall in love, and then poof, find him ramming some fake-tittied chick in the back room of the studio. Just the thought of it made me want to puke.

“Hey there, beautiful,” he said, leaning forward to kiss me. I turned my head and let him kiss my cheek. He pulled back slowly with a confused look on his face. “You okay?”

“Mmhm,” I said, pretending to straighten everything on my desk.

“Well, are you ready to get to dinner? I’m starving and have been looking forward to seeing your face all day,” he said triumphantly.

“I don’t know,” I replied, not looking up at him. “I’ve got so much to do here, things I’ve completely managed to put off the last few weeks. I think it would be smarter for me to just stay here and get them done.”

“What?” He looked confused and hurt. “I’m sorry, I thought we had made plans.”

“We did,” I said with a sigh. “I just didn’t realize how crazy everything was.”

“Missy,” he said, grabbing my wrist as I zoomed around the front area, picking up and putting things away. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” I smiled. “I swear. I just hate getting this far behind—it causes some serious anxiety in me.”

“Seriously,” he replied, not letting go of my arm. “Tell me the truth.”

“Mason,” I snapped, pulling my hand from him. “I just can’t tonight. Okay?”

He nodded, obviously hurt by the tone of my voice. Instantly I felt bad for snapping, but I didn’t want to break the hard exterior I had put up in fear I would be one of those girls that were destined to be in cheating relationships. He took a deep breath and shrugged, sticking his hands in his pockets.

“Well, I guess give me a call later,” he said, turning toward the door.

“Mhmm,” I said, smiling at the table of magazines I was dusting.

When the door shut, I dropped the duster and brought my hands to my face. Holy crap, that was more than difficult, and I just wanted to burst into tears. He looked so handsome standing there in his dress pants, button-up, and sweater. His hair was perfectly done, and his dimples looked like they were purposely placed there by the Universe just for me. I had to remind myself that while I thought it was breathtaking, so did a million other girls, including the one from class today.

I finished everything up and headed upstairs to the apartment, where I showered and then climbed into bed. I wasn’t hungry and the knot in my belly only grew bigger by the second. I lay on my bed, staring out the window and wondering what Mason would do now. Would he call the blonde? Would he go home and sulk? Would he show me that I was the only girl? There were so many options—and I hoped the first wasn’t the truth.

I didn’t fall asleep until around three and had ignored two phone calls from Eliza and a text from Mason. When my alarm went off, I growled, slapping the top of it and sitting up in bed. The sun shone through the curtains and taunted me with another beautiful day. Inside my head, though, it was dark and stormy. I grabbed some coffee and got dressed. I sat there staring at myself in the mirror, feeling like I needed to get the hell out of dodge for a bit. I only had three classes to teach today and I knew Eliza could get them done, so I grabbed my keys and headed down to the studio.

“Hey there,” Eliza said happily, her smile changing as she saw my tired face. “Wow, you okay? Long night with Mason?”

“Can you do me a favor?” She lifted her eyebrows. “Can you teach my classes today, including Mason’s? I need to get out of the city for a little bit.”

“Sure,” she said, tilting her head. “You okay?”

“I’ll be fine,” I replied, gathering my things and heading for the door. “Call me if you need anything.”

I walked out of the door before she could protest, trying to make it to my car parked down the street at the parking garage. I barely ever drove the thing living in a city where you didn’t need it, but today I needed to get out of the city, feel the air on my face, and try to sort out this terribly painful broken feeling in my chest. I pulled the cover off the car and smiled down at my little convertible. It had been my grandmother’s, but she had given it to me as a college graduation present.

Now all I had to do was let the wind wash Mason away. It worked that way, right?