Page 11 of I Choose You

Not even a peep works its way out, though it doesn’t mean I’m not freaking out. Because I most definitely am. Texas is forever away. It might as well be halfway around the globe.

Something coats my tongue, and it takes me a second to realize it’s the acid in my stomach creeping up the back of my throat. Slowly, it makes its way up and leaves an unpleasant taste in my mouth. My heart rate switches from its leisurely pace to a full-on sprint, thrashing enough that I hear it in my ears.

Before Mason can catch a glimpse of what the hell is going on in my head, I glance down at my half-eaten plate of food and try to figure out exactly what the hell is going on. When I can’t find the answer, I reach forward and gulp down my water while trying to ignore the clamminess glazing the back of my neck.

“Holy shit. That’s fucking awesome.” Luke wipes a smidge of food from his chin, and pride flourishes across his features. “Damn, it’ll be the first time we’ll live in different cities, but you work hard as hell and deserve it. You better believe Layla and I will be visiting. Better get an apartment big enough for all of us, Big Shot, because you’re going to need the room.”

I need air, but I also need to congratulate Mason. I can’t walk away from the table without doing that. My smile wavers when I voice my support, my tone lacking Luke’s enthusiasm. “Luke is right. You deserve it so much, Mase.”

There’s comfort in Mason’s unsure smile, in the way the corners of his lips tip upward, and how he bumps his foot into mine every so often. It’s like he’s saying, whatever is going on over there, I’m here. Tell me what you need, and I’ll provide.

The problem is…I don’t know why I feel like someone is pulling the carpet out from under my feet. Not sure why I suddenly seem disconnected from them as we continue eating. Not sure why—for the first time ever—I’m uncomfortable in my best friend’s presence, which is why I manage to sneak away while he’s deep in conversation with the others over all the details of his new job that I can’t stomach to hear.

5

Mason

Jimmy’s wasn’t the best place to share my news. I understand that the second I tell everyone what Richard leveled me with this afternoon. I should have known better. Should have known that Luke and Mackenzie were going to react differently.

I twist in my chair to look past the bar where a glowing restroom light is hanging from the ceiling. There’s no sight of Mackenzie. I can’t help but feel like I’m the reason she’s been hiding out in the bathroom for the last few minutes. Each one drags on, turning each sixty-second minute into what feels like half a damn hour.

“Shit,” Layla digs through her bag hanging from the corner of her chair and pulls out her beeping pager. “It’s the hospital. I have to get back.” She glances at my brother before pressing a button to silence the dinging. “Can you give me a ride? An Uber will take too long.”

Straightaway, he nods, lifting his body to the side to wiggle his wallet from his back pocket. “Think thirty is enough to cover our food?”

I wave a hand at him. I’m the one that invited the two of them. “Don’t worry about it. I got it this time.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah, get going.” I nod my head at his girlfriend, who frantically collects her trash and piles it on her plate for the waiter. Luckily, we just finished eating. “Layla needs to go save someone’s life.”

She smiles and gathers her things. “Tell Mackenzie we said bye. If I so much as wait until she finishes in the restroom, the shift nurse will be hot on my ass when I get back to the hospital.”

Luke tucks his wallet back into his pocket and looks over my shoulder for Mackenzie. “I’ll see you both back at the house later.” Then, he rounds the table and leans down to give me a brotherly hug. “I’m proud of you. So fucking proud.” He ruffles my hair when he straightens. “Love ya, big bro.”

I watch them make their way out as the server drops off the check. I’m quick to give him my card and wait for him to bring it back, all while keeping an eye on the time. I’m hyper-aware of the fact that Mackenzie has been in the ladies’ room way longer than the average allotment, which is why I grab her belongings and make my way back to the hallway where the bathrooms are as soon as I scribble my signature on the receipt.

I check the time on my watch multiple times as I lean against the wall in the narrow hallway. A woman walks by, goes into the ladies’ restroom, and leaves while I wait. Time ticks on. One minute feels like five, and suddenly I want to knock down the damn door. I need to see her. Logic tells me that if she were okay, she would have already come out.

I tap my hands against my thigh, glance over my shoulder, and straighten my back when another lady walks by. She’s in and out faster than the previous.

Quickly, I hold a palm out to stop her. “Excuse me, ma’am?” My hand points in the direction of the women’s bathroom door. “Was there anyone else in the restroom?”

She looks at me, then to the right and thinks. “Uh…no, wait, yes! There was someone in the handicap stall when I came out.” Her forehead crinkles. “But I don’t think she was actually using the bathroom. She was walking back and forth, from what I could hear.”

I offer her an appreciative smile. “Thank you.”

“Are you looking for a friend? I can go back in and tell her you’re waiting for her?”

“No, that’s okay. I’ll wait.”

She nods and leaves the hallway. As soon as she’s out of sight, I push my way into the women’s restroom. I close the door and twist the lock without a second thought. Being in here is bad enough. Plus, I don’t want any interruptions.

I’m slow on my feet as I make it further into the bathroom. But rather than finding Mackenzie in the handicap stall, she’s standing with her hands pressed into the sink and her head bowed between her shoulders. “Kenzie?”

She shrieks and spirals around, her palm on her chest as heavy breaths move past her pink lips. I can’t help zeroing in on them. I’ve been doing it a lot lately. More than I should, considering it would be a bad—no, fucking awful—idea to answer to the lust in the pit of my stomach. It would be easy as hell to toss her stuff aside, curl my hand behind her neck, and drag her to me. I’m half tempted to throw caution to the wind and do it anyway because it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that she’s been worrying her lips by nibbling her teeth into them. Fuck if I don’t want to make them feel better, make her feel better.

“What the hell? This is the woman’s bathroom, Mason. You can’t barrel in here like you own the place!” Air huffs out of her lungs in exasperation.

---