“Brea, get your sexy ass out here right now!”
Standing in front of the mirror, I take two steps back toward my bed and sit on the side of the mattress.
I’ve been dreading this night all week. When Lissa called me earlier this week to tell me that Mason took time off for winter break to head home to Arbor Creek, I knew what was coming next. She was trying to convince me to work at Velvet for New Year’s.
I had fully planned to stay in for the night and become one with the couch while consuming unhealthy amounts of ice cream, watching the ball drop on TV.
When I told her what I had planned, she told me I was depressing and it was time we got off our ass and move the hell on.
Watching how happy my mom was with David this past week made me realize she was right. Mason hadn’t even attempted to reach out to me, and by the looks of his pictures on Facebook, it’s clear he wasn’t drowning in his sorrows like I was.
It’s time for me to put on my heels and get ready for a night out. Brushing the hair behind my ear, I pick up my clutch from my bed and open it, pulling out my lip gloss. Running the nude gloss along my lips, I rub them together.
My hair and makeup is on point tonight. It had been a while since I’ve put in the extra bit of effort to get ready. Hell, I can’t even remember the last time I wore heels.
Standing up, I look at the black strappy sandals wrapped around my foot and ankle. The dress I am wearing is sexy, a champagne color with a black lace overlay. It is shorter than I normally like to wear but not too revealing.
Standing up, I run my hands along my stomach and turn to check my appearance in the mirror.
“You look smokin’ hot, B! Seriously, what the hell does Mason think he’s doing?” Lissa says, fanning herself.
Rolling my eyes, I turn to face her. “You don’t look too bad yourself. I can’t believe Craig said I could work tonight!”
“Are you kidding? Do you realize how busy Velvet is going to be? We need all the help we can get. Not to mention, you have experience and the customers love you.”
“If that’s the case, I’m surprised he let Mason off knowing how busy they are supposed to be,” I say, turning to look at Lissa.
She runs her hand through her hair, checking herself out in the mirror, trying to ignore the way her cheeks turn a rosy color as she rubs her lips together. As soon as she catches me looking at her, she turns to pick up my lip gloss and runs it along her lips.
Narrowing my eyes at her, I say, “He did let him off for the night, right?”
Lissa acts like she’s surprised by the question out of my mouth. “What? Do you think I’m lying?”
“Yes, I do. You’re acting weird, and I can tell something is up.”
Letting out a heavy sigh, she spins around to face me and grabs me by both of my hands so I can’t run. “Alright, so I may have fibbed just a little bit. He did get time off to go to Arbor Creek, but according to Graham he got into town on Thursday. He’ll be working the bar tonight.”
Yanking my hands out of Lissa’s grasp, I let out a frustrated groan. “Are you frickin’ kidding me? Why would you do that?”
“I know you have it in your head he’s all partying it up and moving on, but the truth is that’s a load of shit. He hardly will talk to me now, but from what I’ve heard, you two are about as depressing as they come. I knew if you thought Mason was going to be there, you would never agree to help Craig and work tonight. I also think it’s time for you and Mason to put aside your shit and stop avoiding each other.”
“I would’ve thought you would understand, considering your ex-boyfriend just broke up with you in an equally shitty way.”
“Maybe that’s true, but I know for a fact he isn’t thinking about me. Mason, on the other hand, is. You seriously look hot as hell right now. I can’t wait to see that struck stupid look on his face when he sees you, too.” Lissa laughs.
Rolling my eyes at her, I pick up my clutch before taking a second look in the mirror. As annoyed as I am with her, I can’t say I disagree with her. The way the dress hugs my body, accentuates my curves, and the color looks great against my olive skin. The heels make me taller and more confident. Despite how bad my feet are going to hurt tomorrow, I know they make my legs look killer, too.
I don’t talk to Lissa for the entire way to Velvet. I’m so annoyed she lied to me I don’t even bother waiting for her as we get out of the car. Walking toward the employee entrance, I watch as Graham takes a step outside and watches as we both approach. He has his arms crossed in front of his chest.
Taking the steps up to the side door, I flash a small smile at Graham.
“Hey, B! How are you doing?”
“Hi,” I say. “I’m alright. Just ready to get this night over with.”
“She told you, huh?” he asks, the side of his mouth curving up slightly.
“You knew about this, too?” I say, peering up at him, letting him see how annoyed I am.
He lightly chuckles as he looks past me to where I’m sure Lissa is before his eyes fall on mine. “Yeah, she did. It was my idea. You two are just so stubborn about things I knew you wouldn’t put yourselves in the same place without a little shove.”
“It will be okay, I promise,” Graham says, running his hand along my shoulder reassuringly. “You look beautiful tonight, B. Something tells me he isn’t going to get any work done tonight because I have a feeling he won’t be able to take his eyes off you.”
I let out a subtle laugh as I shake my head, letting out a slow breath.
“Do me a favor though…make him work for it. He deserves it!”
“Oh, don’t you worry. I fully plan on it.”
Graham laughs as he turns to grab the door handle and swings the door open, holding it for us to enter.
Walking down the narrow hallway toward the employee locker room, I’m relieved when I enter to find it empty. We are a few minutes late so it appears everyone must already be out on the main floor as people start entering through the door. Lissa and I quickly stuff our purses into the locker and slide the lock back on it.
The sound of the locker room door swinging open has us both turning our heads to see who it is, as Sierra struts in. She’s dressed in high heels and a black halter dress. Her high heels make her legs look even longer as her platinum blond hair drapes over her shoulder.
I can tell she’s surprised when she sees me. What I didn’t expect to see was the smile lining her face. It’s not the sinister smile I expected to see, but a genuine smile and it’s immediately setting off warning alarms in my head.
“Brea, I didn’t expect to see you around here.”
Standing up tall, I turn toward her and say, “Yeah, Sierra, I’m sure you didn’t. Now that Mason and I are done, I’m sure you thought you could weasel your little way in and take my place. How’s that going for you?” I give her a sarcastic smile, knowing full well if she’s taken my place in Mason’s bed, there’s no way he feels the same for her as he did about me.
The smile on her face grows wide as she laughs, which only pisses me off.
“Ah, there she is,” she says, looking over at Lissa who is standing next to me doing her best to smother her laughter.
It takes a second for it to click that she isn’t laughing at Sierra, but at me. I feel my cheeks heat up as I turn my head toward my best friend and raise my eye brow at her, challengingly. As soon as Lissa sees the anger on my face, her expression falls and she mutters a quiet apology.
“I’m sorry, Brea,” Sierra starts. “I swear I’m not here to make you mad. I don’t know what you think is going on between Mason and I, but I can promise you I’m not trying to replace you. I just meant it’s good to see that you’re still there and you still care. It means he hasn’t lost you for good.”
I feel the tautness ease hearing her explanation as I work to cover the look of annoyance on my face. I still don’t trust her; hearing her just now makes me want to believe her.
“Listen, I know you’re not my biggest fan and I understand,” as if reading my thoughts. “Hell, if I were in your shoes I’d probably hate me, too. Mason and I have a history that doesn’t exactly make me look like I’m someone you can trust. What you need to know is the friendship he and I have now is very different than it once was. He’s not the same person he used to be. I guess love will do that to you.” She chuckles, as if she knows a secret she’s dying to share with me.
“He misses you, too, you know. More than he would ever want me to admit to you.”
She smiles as she turns to grab the handle on the door. She pauses for a second and tilts her head over her shoulder, meeting my eyes. The smile she wore when she first walked in is back on her face, and I realize in that moment, she really means what she said.
“Oh, and, Brea, it’s good to see you back.”
She doesn’t say anything else as she opens the door and makes her way out into the hallway.
“What the hell was that?” I ask, confused.
“No clue,” Lissa says, pasting a reassuring smile on her face. I knew Lissa and Graham were in cahoots, getting me here tonight. I’m starting to wonder if Sierra didn’t play a part in it, too.
The lights are already drawn low, but as soon as I step out of the hallway and onto the main floor, I feel his eyes on me before I see him. The connection we’ve always had to each other is still here. The warmth I feel from his stare radiates through my body.
Standing tall, I roll my shoulders back and head toward the tables with my notepad in tow. I make my rounds, serving customers and taking their drink orders. The feel of the club tonight is unlike anything I remember from my time working at Velvet. It almost feels electric. The energy so thick, it’s pulsating. Just knowing Mason is here and watching me has a confidence pouring out of me. I want him to know what he’s been missing since he hasn’t bothered to reach out to me.
Once I make my rounds, I head to the server station to put in my drink orders. The West bar is already busy with customers waiting in line. I’m not surprised to find Craig has four bartenders working the bar, with Mason strategically covering the end closest to our tables.
Stepping up to the server station, Mason turns his head toward me. When his eyes fall on mine, I feel like everything I worked hard to conceal is laid open in front of him. He always could read me like a book, and I know with just one look, he can see how heartbreaking the last three months have been for me.
Leaning in close, Mason yells over the music, “What can I get you?”
The stubble lining his jaw is longer, and his hair has a disheveled look about it, but God, he looks so handsome. I find myself staring at him and forgetting what was even said.
“What?” I shout back.
Flashing me a smile, he repeats himself, “Did you need something?”
Nodding my head, I rattle off my order to him before tearing my eyes away from him. I let my eyes roam over the busy club, to the packed crowd moving to the beat of the music.
I feel Mason’s eyes on me once again, taking in the way my body moves. Turning my head toward him, I find him staring at me as he continues to mix the martini in the tumbler. I rub my lips together, checking my lip gloss as I smooth my skirt down.
“I’m surprised you’re working here again,” Mason points out. He looks so handsome in his black dress shirt and black slacks. He’s wearing a silver tie tonight. The sleeves of his dress shirt are rolled up to his elbows, showcasing how incredible his forearms look.
“Craig asked me to help knowing it was going to be a busy night. The tips were tough to pass up,” I say. I don’t tell him I was also promised he wasn’t going to be here because what’s the point?
“You look beautiful,” he says. Peering up at him, for a second I think he regrets saying it but he doesn’t take it back.
“Thanks,” I mutter. “You look good, too.”
I feel like our conversation is awkward and forced, skating around all the things we want to say but don’t know how.
He slides the drinks onto my tray. I move to slide the tray off the counter, but Mason reaches his hand out to stop me.
“Will you talk to me before you leave tonight?” he asks. I see the hope on his face, and for a second, I find myself struggling with how to respond.
Then I push the thought out of my mind as I peer up at him.
“After all this time, do you really think it’s worth it? It’s been three months, Mason.”
His nostrils flare as he looks behind me. I watch as his jaw clenches, before looking down to me once again. The emotion I see on his face makes me regret everything I just said.
“It’s worth it to me, but I guess if you think it’s a waste of time, then I understand,” he says, pulling the towel out of his waistband and wiping off his hands.
“Hey,” I say, covering the top of his hand with mine. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it. You’re right, after the way we ended things in Arbor Creek, I think it’s time we sit down and talk about everything”
His eyes soften as he nods his head.
“Can I give you a ride home when we get off? Maybe we can talk then?”
“Yeah, I’ll let Lissa know. We rode here together.”
Flashing him a small smile, I slide my tray onto my arm and turn to walk toward my tables.
The night flies by like a blur. I’m thankful we are busy because it leaves little time for me to think about Mason and our impending conversation. It also helps me avoid thinking about how sore my feet are going to be tomorrow when I take my morning walk.
The DJ comes on the microphone announcing we are five minutes away from the clock hitting midnight.
“Will you ring in the new year with me?” Lissa shouts, laughing as she throws her arms around my neck, pulling me into a hug. I can’t help but laugh at her exuberance.
Looking over her shoulder, I see Mason working at the bar. He leans forward to slide a beer on the counter, and when he stands back up, his eyes fall on mine. He flashes me a small smile and a wink before helping another customer.
Pulling back from Lissa, I shout over the music to her. “Hey, before I forget, I don’t need a ride home tonight. Mason is going to take me home.”
I see the smile growing on her face, but she bites her lip to conceal it.
“I knew you two wouldn’t be able to stay away from each other if I got you in the same room together. You’re both miserable without the other.” She laughs.
“Alright, ladies and gentlemen. We are a minute away from the clock striking midnight. If you don’t have your special someone next to you, you better find one now,” the DJ shouts.
Wrapping my arm around Lissa’s, we look up at the wall to where the big screen is displaying Times Square and the ball dropping.
Everyone starts to cheer as the countdown begins.
“Happy New Year!” we yell as Lissa throws her arms around my neck in a big hug. My eyes once again look behind her, hoping to find Mason but the disappointment sinks low in the pit of my stomach when I don’t see him standing behind the bar.
I can’t hear anything over the cheers from the crowd. Taking a step back from Lissa, her smile nearly splits her face in half at something behind me.
“I think someone wants to wish you a Happy New Year, too,” she yells before tossing me a wink, turning around and leaving me standing here.
Mason’s hand wraps around mine, pulling me to turn around.
His arm finds its way around my waist, pulling me closer to his chest. Tilting his head close to my ear, I feel his heated breath on my face as he says, “I know we said we’d talk about everything and we will, but the thought of not kissing you on New Year’s was killing me. Especially seeing you in this fucking dress.”
His chest is pressed against mine and I can feel it heave with every deep inhale. The look of longing I see chips away at any resolve I had left. His eyes search mine, as if searching for any indication I may push him away just before he leans forward and presses a soft kiss against my cheek.
“Happy New Year, Brea,” he whispers close to my ear.
The feel of his warm lips against my skin and his clean scent is a heady mix.
He pulls his head back and I can’t help but feel disappointed.
“A kiss on the cheek, Mason? Is that really how you think I want to be kissed on New Year’s?”
The startled look on his face confirms he wasn’t expecting that question.
“You just kissed me like I was your friend, Mason Reid. I thought we made it clear when we were in Arbor Creek there’s nothing friendly about the way you kiss me.”
The corner of his mouth curls up in a grin as I wrap my hand around the base of his neck, crushing his lips against mine. I feel all the tension leave our bodies as we relax into each other. Mason’s grip on my hips tightens as he pulls me in closer to him. A deep groan vibrates against my lips as I open my mouth to him.
It’s as if we forget where we are and it’s only the two of us.
Sliding my fingers through the hair at the base of his neck, deepening the kiss. His hands are all over my body, running along my hips to cover the swell of my ass.
With his forehead pressed against mine, he breaks the kiss and runs his soft lips along my cheek toward my ear.
“I’ve missed you so much. I’ve thought about how much I love kissing you a thousand times. The memories are nothing compared to the real thing,” he sighs, pressing another kiss against my lips.