Page 96 of Without Judgment

He was following me.

“What are you doing?”

“Following you upstairs. It’s an open-access building. Plus, I wouldn’t trade the view.”

It would be quite a view considering my dress came to thigh level. I froze on the steps. My temper finally got the best of me and all of my frustration poured out. “Why? Why now do you even care?”

He looked at a couple coming through the front door who were witnessing my outburst. “We’ll discuss this upstairs.”

I desired an audience about as much as he did. I took the stairs up the two flights as fast as I could.

After opening my apartment door in silence, I stepped inside and set down my purse.

From the doorway, Mason stood and appeared to take in my place. It was quaint. Eight hundred square feet of studio apartment. Upon entering, you could see the bed in the far corner, the kitchen to the left, and the living room smack in the middle. The only doors led to a closet and the bathroom.

I loved the simplicity of it and the fact I had no roommates. It felt like something a grown-up would have.

I stooped down when Koda came to the door, tail wagging. “Hi, you. You want to go out one last time before bed?”

“I’ll take him,” Mason offered. He found Koda’s leash and muzzle on the hook by and door and offered his hand for Koda to sniff.

“That’s okay. He doesn’t know you.”

And yet my traitor of a dog was acting as if he remembered Mason and was now allowing the man to scratch behind his ears.

“Oh, I think he remembers me.”

His meaning made me wonder if he wasn’t only referring to the dog. Mason fastened the soft muzzle over Koda’s face and attached the leash. “Where do you take him?”

“Down the stairs and out the back. There’s a grassy area. Bags are attached to the leash.”

“I’ll be right back.”

As soon as the door shut, I felt tempted to lock him out. The only problem was he had my dog. I hurriedly changed into sweat pants and a long-sleeved University T-shirt. Lastly, I threw my hair up. For some reason, being more comfortable made me relax a bit. I was putting up a brave front until he came back through my door. Then the butterflies appeared.

He took off Koda’s leash and muzzle before following him into the living room.

I moved to the kitchen to get my dog his treat.

“Do you enjoy living on your own?”

I turned to see him standing a couple feet away. “Yes. I love it.”

He raked a hand through his hair. It was a bit longer these days, still military, but not as severe as it used to be. It looked good on him.

“Aside from watching my ass on the way up the stairs, did you want something else?”

He arched a brow. “Now we can’t even be friends?”

I studied him. His sincerity made me lose part of my irritation, but sadly, I knew the only answer I could give. “No. I’m sorry. We can’t.”

He appeared shocked. “Why not?”

“Truth?”

“Always.”

I swallowed hard. “Because you weren’t a good friend to me, Mason. And I’m still not over it.”

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