Page 53 of Stone Rules

The intercom buzzes. “Ethan,” Gretchen’s insistent voice says. “You’re getting quite backed up out here.”

Still naked, he walks over to his desk, pressing a button on his phone. “Five minutes,” he says, removing the condom as he dismisses her. He comes back across the office, leaning down to rifle through our tangled clothes. He separates mine out and hands them to me. He motions to a door by the couch. “You can clean up in there. It’s my private bathroom.”

“Thanks,” I mouth at him, still trying to recover my power of speech. I take my clothes and walk to the bathroom. As I dress, I realize how grateful I am that Barbie didn’t interrupt us thirty seconds earlier. If she’d only known what she’d have ruined.

I look in the mirror, unsure of the person I see staring back at me. I’m different. Can one month; one man; one overwhelming emotion—change a person so completely?

I think of Piper and how much she’s changed since meeting Mason. And I smile at the girl in the mirror. I smile because for the first time in my life, I think about the future. A future I thought couldn’t exist for people like me.

Chapter Twenty-four

My body slices through the water, deliciously sore from the workout I had earlier. We didn’t have time to talk after. I’d already caused one appointment cancellation, as Gretchen so crassly told me on my way out. Ethan gave me one last kiss before I left his office. He said we’d talk tonight, after our swim but before he plays poker with the guys.

Now they arethe guys.

I ran into Levi on the way out. He apologized. I asked for my two dollars back.

I smile thinking about Mrs. B. She already finished her swim, but not before she lectured me on the ways of men and how not to get caught up in them. Never rely on a man for your self-esteem. Never rely on a man to put food on the table. Never rely on a man for an orgasm. That last one had me turning as red as her waterproof lipstick.

My mind wanders as I churn away the laps. I fantasize about what happened earlier. I wonder what it will be like to actually be someone’s girlfriend. What a novel idea.

Before long, my arms tire and I realize I’ve been alone in the pool for some time. Too long. I glance at the clock. He’s late. My heart beats faster thinking of all the possible scenarios. Accident? Disgruntled spouse of a client? Second thoughts?

Oddly, it’s the last one that scares me the most.

It’s also the last one that seems the most likely.

I get my answer when I see Mason walk through the door of the aquatics room. He addresses me with a sad smile.Oh, God. What happened?

I climb out and grab my towel. “What is it?” I ask.

“Ethan wanted me to check on you. Make sure you were okay.”

I crinkle my nose at him. “Why wouldn’t I be okay?”

He cocks his head and stares at me. “Uh, because he said you wouldn’t return any of his messages.”

“His messages?” I realize in my eagerness to see him tonight, I arrived earlier than usual so I haven’t checked my phone for over an hour. “Did he get held up at work or something?”

“Well, shit.” Mason pinches the bridge of his nose. Then he looks at me like he’s about to tell me my dog just died.

“That son of a bitch,” I say. “He didn’t get held up at work at all, did he?”

Mason shakes his head and looks at his feet. “You should really be talking to Piper about stuff like this.”

“Well, Piper isn’t here now is she?” I huff out an angry breath. “What did he tell you, Mason? Like word for word—what exactly did he say?”

“I don’t know, Charlie. He said something about how you are great but he can’t be with you. He said it’s him, it’s not you. He said he knew you’d be pissed at him and wanted to make sure you were okay.” He puts a sympathetic hand on my shoulder. “Maybe you should go listen to his messages. I’ll send Piper over to your place. I’ll stay home with Hailey. Poker night isn’t happening anyway.”

“So he bailed on you, too?” I say angrily.

He looks uneasy. “Well, not exactly. But he said he was going to skip tonight. Wait until the dust settles.”

“So now I’m dust.” I’m trying my best to hold back the tears, but I feel them coming. My chest is tight. My throat stings. My head hurts. My heart is in fucking pieces.

“Listen, Charlie, if it really bothers you, we’ll ask him not to come back for poker night. Hell, I’ll kick him out of the gym if you want me to. Just say the word and it’s done.”

“No. It’s fine. He was here first anyway.” I wrap my towel around me, hoping if I pull it tight enough, it will hold back the onslaught of waterworks about to erupt. “I’m gonna hit the shower. Piper can come over if she wants. Thanks, Mason.”

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