Chapter 29

Mason

Falling asleep with Ava in my arms was the best feeling I had ever experienced. I was more comfortable with her than I had ever been with anyone in my life. So comfortable, in fact, that I didn’t even remember falling asleep. I woke up the next morning but didn’t open my eyes, the sound of someone knocking on the door echoing through my dreams. It was loud, and for a moment, I thought I was back in my penthouse, and I wondered who in the hell was knocking on my door so early. Feeling the bed shake made me open my eyes, and I sat up, looking around me. I had been sleeping so hard. I was completely disoriented.

I rubbed my face, trying to piece everything together. My eyes were blurry, so I leaned against the headboard and closed them, trying to get the fog to rise. I opened them again and looked around the tiny room that had books everywhere. I looked down at the comforter and realized I was not at home, then remembered my home was now at John’s place. I groaned, thinking about the argument at the bar and realizing I was in Ava’s room. Thoughts of the sex we’d had the night before and how exhausted I had been when it was over made me smile, though. I had fallen asleep with her in my arms, and from the imprints on my skin, it looked like neither one of us had moved a muscle all night. It was crazy how, when we were together, nothing else mattered. We were so comfortable, we could sleep through an entire night without moving at all.

The night before had been rough. I had found myself in an apartment that wasn’t home, a bar I didn’t want to be in, and with a guy who was my best friend but couldn’t come to terms with who I wanted to be. We had argued, I’d had a few drinks, and then I had found solace in the only thing in the world I had ever found peace in: Ava’s arms. She had caught me right as I was feeling like I was beginning to fall. I didn’t know what it was about her or what it was about us when we were together, but I never felt stressed or uncomfortable. One touch of her hand or a sweet smile and all of my troubles just melted away. It was insane, and I had never felt that way around anyone else in my life. I could remember her making me feel that way when we were teenagers too. Anytime I was struggling, just sitting next to her made me feel better.

Ava had gotten out of bed before I’d opened my eyes. She’d wrapped a robe around herself and then pulled the door almost shut as she walked out. I could hear her talking quietly to someone in the apartment, but I didn’t recognize the voice. It was another woman, and they sounded like they were purposefully trying to be quiet. I realized then that I hadn’t experienced Ava’s life outside my own little bubble. I didn’t know who her friends were, what her life was like when she was away, or even what she did on a regular basis. All I knew was the Ava I’d put into my own surroundings. I knew that had to change, and I figured there was no better time than right now.

I scooted out of bed and found my clothes. I pulled them on and walked into the adjoining bathroom, looking at my wild hair in the mirror and my beard that was coming along nicely. I was starting to look like the guy I remembered from a decade before, the guy who actually liked the person he was. I washed my face and smoothed down my unruly mop and then made my way out into the living room. Ava was standing to the side talking to another girl who looked a bit wilder than Ava. She was pretty and had long brown hair. They both stopped talking and looked over at me. The girl gave me the once-over as Ava scurried to my side. She smiled and looked between the two of us awkwardly.

“It isn’t very often that I swing by your house and you have some strange, handsome guy just hanging out,” the woman said, chuckling. “I like this side of you, Ava. It’s about time you did something other than study.”

“I think you need to relax,” Ava said, looking at her and then at me. “And you, I didn’t even realize your beard had gotten so long. You’re starting to look like the teenager I knew ten years ago. I like it. It fits you better than the clean-shaven look you had going on. You look less…”

“Pretentious?” the woman said, smiling.

“Uh, yeah, actually.” Ava laughed. “You look less pretentious.”

“So, are you going to introduce me to him? Or should I act like I’m the neighbor?” The woman chuckled.

“Oh god, I’m sorry.” Ava rubbed her face. “Mason, this is Blair. She’s my best friend, and we’ve known each other for, gosh, a long time.”

“About eight years now, I think,” Blair said, reaching out and shaking my hand. “Since we were freshmen in college, so nine years now.”

“Blair goes to NYU Law with me,” Ava said, ushering us into the living room.

“Nice,” I said, smiling. “It’s very nice to meet the woman who takes care of Ava.”

“Hey, I take care of myself,” Ava said.

“Yeah, sure.” Blair smiled. “It’s nice to finally meet you, too, Mason. I have heard a lot about you.”

“You know about me?”

“I know a lot about you actually,” she said, ignoring Ava’s worried face. “I know you’re the heir to the York Hotels conglomerate. I know you and Ava used to be lovey-dovey when you were teenagers. I know you kissed her randomly on a mattress and then paid her a whole lot of money to talk to you in a studio. I know you’re confusing the hell out of my friend here, and I know she thinks the world of you.”

“Wow,” I said, sitting back. “I guess you got the full rundown.”

“Oh, and paparazzi like to wreak havoc on unsuspecting women at your father’s hotel,” Blair said. “But that’s as up to speed on everything as I could get before coming over.”

“That’s pretty good.” I chuckled.

To be honest, I was only semi-surprised that Ava’s best friend knew all about me. Ava was the kind of girl who had few friends, but the friends she did have, they were like family to her. It was obvious she went to Blair about the things going on in her life, and it made me feel better knowing she had someone there for her through all of it. I wanted to be the person who was there for her, but I knew I was part of the issue that was going on in the first place.

“Ava has moved up in the class ranking,” Blair said, looking at Ava. “The results came out this morning, pending any last final test results that trickle in.”

“Really?” Ava said happily. “I should be way more excited about that than I am. Everything has sucked the life out of me over the last couple days. I almost feel numb to everything at this point, even the good stuff. I’m sure it will hit me later and I’ll be excited.”

“You should be excited,” I said, looking at her. “That’s amazing. Don’t let everything else get in the way of celebrating the good stuff.”

“Yeah,” Blair said. “Have you figured out what you guys are going to do? You can’t just sit there and let everything pass by without a thought. And I know you, Ava. Sitting in your apartment watching movies and eating ice cream is not going to change anything.”

Ava groaned. “I know.”

I had no idea what they were talking about, and I wasn’t sure if it was even directed at me. Maybe I was missing something, or maybe they were talking about me and Ava. I didn’t know Blair well, but I could tell she was the kind of woman who didn’t care about who was in the room when she spoke. She was straightforward and open about everything she wanted to say.

“I’m not sure,” Ava said, looking at her. “I’m lost.”

“I’m the one who kind of feels lost here,” I said. “What are you not sure about?”

“I’m not sure about anything,” she said, looking at me.

My stomach dropped slightly, and I felt exposed while sitting in front of her best friend. I wasn’t quite sure what the right response to that was, but I definitely wasn’t going to come up with it while Blair was staring me down across the living room. I knew Ava didn’t keep things from Blair, but I was an incredibly private person and always had been. If I had known Blair for more than five minutes, I might have felt more comfortable having this conversation, but at that moment, I felt completely out of my element.

“I know things are confusing right now,” I said. “And I mean no offense to you, Blair, but maybe we should have this conversation in private.”

“Sorry,” Blair said. “I don’t have manners. I didn’t even think about it being awkward for you.”

“No. Don’t be sorry. You were looking out for Ava and asking the question I’m pretty sure it would have taken another decade for Ava and me to ask each other.” I chuckled. “Still, I’d kind of like it to be between her and me before she tells you everything, which I know she will.”

“At least you know that and are willing to accept it,” she said, smiling. “That’s a step above most guys.”

“Of course,” Ava said, snapping out of her trance. “I’m sorry. Of course we can discuss that in private. I’m so used to being around Blair that I didn’t even think of the fact that you’ve only known her for ten minutes.”

“Twelve if your counting,” Blair said. “Which is sadly longer than most men know me for.”

“I really want to laugh, but I don’t know if that’s appropriate,” I said with a smirk.

“Go ahead,” she said, waving her hand. “I laugh at my sad little love life all the time, right before I cry and eat an entire bin of cheese puffs. It’s always nice to not be alone in your misery.”

“Blair is a serial dater,” Ava said. “Just ignore her snark.”

“I will,” I said, laughing. “But I like it. It fits her.”

“Thank you,” she said, sitting up and then furrowing her brow. “I think.”

“As far as talking,” Ava said, looking at me, “Blair came over to get me for our coffee date. We planned it forever ago.”

“It’s a post-finals tradition,” Blair said. “It used to be mimosas, but that always ended badly, so we decided that coffee might be better.”

“Yeah, I don’t want a repeat of senior year,” Ava said. “I think I puked in every trash can in Time’s Square.”

“Wow,” I said, stretching. “That sounds like my cue to get going. You girls have fun, and you text me later.”

“Okay,” she said, smiling sweetly.

I kissed her on the cheek and nodded at Blair before making my exit. I could take the hint, and I was okay with that. It was obvious Ava was confused, and maybe a day with her friend would help her get her thoughts in line. I hailed a cab and headed back to John’s, knowing I had my own music to face.