Page 41 of Without Judgment

The reminder of why he endured my company stung a bit. “Considering I seem to annoy him most days with today being a truce exception, I’d agree fully with you. What was the favor he owed you?” I found myself wondering.

My brother took a pull on his beer. Luckily, we had an open relationship where not many things were off topic. “I kept him from getting into trouble in a bar fight the week before he was leaving for Officer Candidate School. Some jackass talking smack.”

Trevor was always diplomatic with a way of making everyone love him. I could see him stepping in to stop a fight. Because I couldn’t keep from prying, I had to ask one more question. “He ever talk about Iraq or anything that happened over there?”

He sighed. “I wish he would, but I’ve only gotten minimal details. I figure when or if he’s ready to talk about it, he will.”

If he was shutting the topic down with his best friend, then it had to be bad. “I won’t bring it up. Did you hear from Dad today?” I asked by way of changing the subject.

“Text message.” His clenched jaw showed how he felt about that.

“Me too.” It probably had said the same thing. He was thinking of us both, loved us and would be back tomorrow.

“Seems as though things have died down with the er ah, video.”

“Thankfully they have.”

“I heard Dad’s numbers for Mayor are up in the polls. Most people are sympathetic over what happened.”

“I guess there’s a silver lining. I still have no clue why Edward is lying about it being me on the video.” I’d filled him in on the call last night.

“Bastard.”

Yes he was. Here was hoping the scandal was now safely behind us all.

***

I didn’t see Mason that night. But I did find myself staying awake in order to hear the front door open and him arriving home. I told myself I didn’t care if he was out with Melanie. I even put on my music ensuring I wouldn’t hear if he had nightmares tonight. Because the last thing I was doing was waking him or ever setting foot in his bedroom again.

What I needed was to get out of this house once this entire thing was over. My home-bound situation had to be what had me overly-fixated on him. Although he’d been brought on to stay two weeks, I hadn’t seen anyone camped outside the gate in the last couple of days and like my brother had said it was all but dying down. If anything, the scandal had seemed to help my father’s numbers because people felt bad for him.

Guess his PR team had earned their money with spinning it effectively to me being the victim. When I walked Trevor out to his truck the next morning, I broached the subject of Mason once more. Only this time with the hopes of releasing him from his obligation early.

“You were right yesterday. Everything has died down. Maybe you should tell Mason a week is enough time. Not hold him to the entire duration.”

He shrugged. “I’ll talk to dad about it.”

I was relieved. “Good. Tell Emma I’ll see her in a couple of weeks. Thanks for coming in to see me.”

With one last hug he got in his truck and pulled away, waving as he went through the gate. I stood there in front of the garage until a voice behind me made me jump.

“Trying to get rid of me princess?”

I hated that nickname. Especially in that husky tone reminding me of yesterday morning. I shouldn’t feel guilty he’d heard me. I turned around to face him. “You want to be here another week about as much as I want a babysitter.”

He was dressed today as he had been on the first day I’d met him. In a black suit with a black shirt and black tie. Looking both handsome and judgy. So we were back to this again. Guess another truce was over.

“I’m on contract for two weeks.”

“I just thought you’d prefer to return to your business. I’m sure you have a lot going on with your company starting up.”

“Let me worry about that. Your father will be home this afternoon by the way.”

At least this time I’d been informed before he’d told me. “Yeah. He told me.” I was tempted to ask him what he’d done last night, but wasn’t certain I wanted to actually know, nor was I assured he would tell me.

I had to settle for pretending I didn’t care.

---