Page 55 of Obsessed

“You know…” Rain started in a shattered tone, scrubbing hands through his hair, which was messily falling out of its braid. “Today, Bryce asked me if I was still living with you. He called you names and you know what I did? I stood up for you. And tonight, while I was being skewered in front of everyone?” Rain choked on a sob. “You couldn’t even…you couldn’t even hold my hand. I know seeing Gage was pretty traumatic for you, but I just…I needed you.” Pulling off his bow tie, Rain dropped it to the floor, a few dark spots joining it as tears dripped from his cheeks. “And it makes me feel like a selfish jerk on top of it all.”

“Rain…” Mason stood, and Rain took another step back.

“No. I’m…I’m hurt.” Brushing wetness from his face with the back of his hand, he sniffled. “I know it wasn’t your fault but I can’t help that I feel like shit. I know I shouldn’t have thought-” He stopped himself, looking at the floor.

Mason had a hunch that Rain was about to say something important. “What did you think.”

It took a while for Rain to lift his anguished gaze. “I thought that we weremore.” He whispered the words, saying the last one as if it were delicate, yet it held so much weight.

Dumbstruck, Mason wanted to reply. For once, he had many things to say. Yes, he thought they were more too, because in a short period of time Rain had gone from a stranger to a muse to the focal point of Mason’s life. How did one classify that? His feelings for Rain didn’t have a label. Did he even need one?

He’d gone quiet for too long because Rain sniffed again, disappointment filling his stance.

“See, I’m an idiot,” he murmured.

“No,” Mason insisted. “I’m thinking and-”

“Why do you have to think?” Rain croaked out. “It should be simple.”

No. The way Mason’s core rumbled for Rain wasn’t simple. Neither was the way their bodies sang in unison. Or the way they quietly understood each other. Their symbiotic existence was much more complicated than that.

“It’s not simple,” Mason tried again, beginning to sweat as he realized that Rain wasn’t going to let him explain. They’d never argued like this and each despairing word stabbed Mason through, causing his heart to ache as if he were in love.

Wait. Was this love?

Ding ding ding, it’s about time you figured it out, Cricket.

“No, listen,” Rain backed up a few more steps, ripping Mason away from his epiphany. “I don’t want to feel worse. I’m uh…I’m leaving.”

“Wait!” By the time Mason made it around the couch, Rain was out the door. “Rain!” he called down the hall once he reached the front of the storage room, not knowing which way he went.

“Whoa, I didn’t think you could yell that loud,” Dylan said from his left. Mason snapped his gaze to the side, glaring at him. “Um…sorry dude but the bride and groom are gettin’ antsy and the reception starts in twenty.”

“Fuck.Fuck.” Mason rarely cursed but this warranted it, and Dylan’s eyebrows just about flew off his head. Pushing past him, Mason went to the men’s bathroom and splashed cool water on his face, trying to get his act together even though his mind and emotions were jumbled beyond belief, but he wasn’t having much luck.

How the hell was he going to take pictures when he needed to find Rain? They’d arrived together, so if he left the building he’d be on foot unless he called a cab.

The door swung open and Ollie strode in, Mason’s camera still around his neck.

“Okay. Dylan, Finn, and Liam are looking for Rain and I am now your assistant photographer,” he stated.

Mason frowned at him; Rain should be his assistant. “How did you-”

“Dylan saw him run out of the storage room, thought you might need a hand.” Ollie checked his curls in the mirror. “And I know that it’s tough to work when you're super worried about someone, so I’m here to back you up.”

“Why.” Mason tilted his head.

“I’m gonna hold your hand when I say this but -gasp- we’re friends.” Ollie smiled softly at him. “Now, do you have a second camera?”

True to his word, Ollie turned on his charm, working the bride and groom while putting Mason where he needed to be, helping him make it through the all-important entrance and first dance. Mason managed to hold on until after the toasts, but once the DJ started blasting disco the overall noise was too much to bear, especially when Finn and Dylan came up empty. Liam had even taken a drive around the neighborhood but no one could find Rain, and Mason’s sanity was beginning to fray.

“Hun?” The woman who’d faced off with Rain’s mother stepped in front of him, and she beckoned when he finally focused on her. Glancing at Ollie - who stood in the middle of the dance floor, snapping photos of a joyous bridal party - Mason felt secure enough to leave for a bit. He needed a break to slow his mind and search for Rain.

She led him to a corner of the kitchen that wasn’t being used, gesturing for him to take a seat on one of the stools. That was the last thing he wanted to do but for some reason he obeyed her. She’d protected Rain in the foyer when Mason couldn’t, so he considered her an ally.

“I’m Emma.” She put her hand up in a slight wave. “Listen, hun, try not to worry. That was a lot for him tonight and he’s probably getting some air.” She pulled up a stool, sitting with a sigh. “I’ve been watching over Rain and I’m not surprised by what happened today. Marci and I know that he was sleeping in the storage room, and we kept Owen from offering him a place to stay too many times to count. Rain has his pride, you know? And when you don’t have a place to sleep, keeping your pride is important.”

All Mason could do was nod, too dumbstruck by how perceptive she was. Rain was lucky to have this woman in his life.

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