Page 138 of Mason

It’s not an admission.

It’s a death sentence.

Because loving her means I have something to lose.

Shelby’s coming home today.That’s what they tell us, like it’s some kind of victory.

And maybe it is.

But it doesn’t feel like one.

I lean against the edge of the window, arms folded, watching her from across the room while she wrestles with the buttons of her shirt. Her movements are stiff, shaky—frustrated as hell. She won’t let me help, won’t even look at me while she dresses. Instead, she turns her back to me and dresses quietly, her movements jerky at best.

Not that I haven’t seen her body before.

But that was before.

Before the bruises. Before the bandages. Before the world carved its mark into her flesh and left me the job of pretending I could fix it.

“I can do it,” she mutters, yanking at the buttons again. Her hands tremble.

I don’t move. “I didn’t say anything.”

“You’re staring.”

I say nothing, because she’s right.

She’s all bones and bandages and bruises now, a ghost of the fire she used to carry in her eyes—and it guts me. I hate that she flinches when I move too close. I hate that she hides her pain like it’s something to be ashamed of.

But mostly, I hate that she thinks I see her any differently.

Her hands fumble again, and she curses under her breath, voice tight.

I push off the window and take one step toward her.

“Don’t,” she snaps, eyes flashing to mine. “I said I’ve got it.”

I freeze.

Her breathing’s shallow, her cheeks flushed with sharp embarrassment.

“Shelby—”

“I don’t want your fucking pity, Mason.”

That stops me cold.

For a second, I just stand there, trying not to let the words hit too deep. But they do.

Because it’s not pity. I lower my voice, careful, steady. “It’s not pity.”

She won’t look at me.

Keeps her eyes on the buttons like they’re the only thing holding her together.

“I don’t need you to look at me like I’m some wounded animal. Like I’m going to break if you breathe wrong.”

“I don’t think you’ll break,” I say quietly. “I think you already did. And you still came back.”

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