Page 66 of Obsessed

Rain had been considering it. Seeing Mason in a public place, even from far away, might give him some answers. If he ended up feeling exactly as he had when he’d walked out, then he’d crush this obsession, but if he didn’t?

That was the part he was stuck on.

Tommy was right, giving Mason another chance was Rain’s decision to make, yet he still couldn’t trust his judgment. He needed a sign, something that told him he’d be rewarded if he risked his heart a third time, not crushed into the earth.

“I’m thinking about it,” Rain played with the end of his ponytail. “But what if he sees me and it gets weird? I don’t want to ruin it for him.” Because that would ruin Rain too.

Taking a bite of Rain’s burger, Tommy raised his eyebrows. “If he feels anything for you? Showing up won’t ruin it.”

Rain gave him a wan smile, wondering if he should just stay home. “I hope you’re right.”

18

MASON

Masonhadbeenstuckon the same picture for hours, losing time that he couldn’t afford. His short sabbatical had left him slightly behind schedule so he was still touching up photos, and even though opening night was approaching at light speed he kept flicking back to the main portrait, the focal point of his display.

At first glance, it seemed like a simple photo of Rain curled up on the couch with Mouse next to his head, but the lamplight had caught his face, casting balanced shadows across his otherworldly features and highlighting his serene gaze, which was open, empty of wailing.

The longer Mason stared at the picture the worse he felt, but he couldn’t help himself. While he’d never managed to completely capture Rain’s soul, the limited photos where his eyes didn’t scream were the closest, and Mason had finely honed what he’d learned while creating the shrine, processing each portrait to make Rain look ethereal, and he’d managed a win. The main piece held a sliver of Rain’s soul and it drew Mason’s attention again and again, haunting his every waking moment.

He frowned but his lips quivered. He still missed Rain beyond words, to the point that it physically hurt, squeezing his chest and fogging his brain. Every day he’d pondered the phone but Rain had made it very clear that Mason had crossed a line and things were over between them; plus, Rain hadn’t called so he hadn’t changed his mind.

He held out hope that Rain would come to the exhibition but Mason didn’t expect him to, and it drained much of the joy out of this turning point in his career. He should be celebrating but he was nursing a guilty, broken heart instead.

It was kind of ridiculous; Mason Hart, the King of Avoidance and Introversion had somehow stumbled into love, and he was pretty sure Rain had been just as baffled by it because every step of their slow bond had seemed to come as a shared shock. That was part of their magic and Mason wanted to return to that more than anything.

Cricket, take the bull by the horns for once.

Standing, Mason grabbed his phone and selected Rain’s number, hesitating for only a few seconds before hittingcall. Was it really this easy? Then why had he waited so long to do it?

Sometimes he was really sick of himself.

The call connected and Mason’s stomach did a backflip, but as each ring went by his bravado sank, and all his hope went cold as the voicemail clicked on and a woman’s voice greeted him.

“Hi this is Sarah, new phone who dis hahaha anyway, leave me a message I probably won’t get back to you.”

It took him a few seconds to hang up after the beep and he tried the call again with the same result, eventually flopping down into his chair, defeated.

Rain had changed his number. It was to be expected, especially after the incident with his mother and Gage, but it still felt like a blow. Had he done it immediately or had he waited a while? Guilt paired with despair as Mason realized that he had no way of contacting Rain. He had no phone number, no forwarding address, The Pointe was currently under construction, and he wasn’t about to burst into Finn and Ollie’s place to see where Rain went, like when Finn had broken into Mason’s apartment, searching for Ollie.

Mason’s brain stopped and backed up. Wait a minute, Ollie knew Rain. Should Mason call him?CouldMason call him? Honestly, if he wasn’t willing to step out of his comfort zone and ask for help, then he didn’t deserve Rain. And he didn’t have to call, he could text.

Ollie. It’s Mason. Do you have Rain’s new number?

A few seconds later, Mason’s phone chirped.

Mason. It’s Ollie. Didn’t you punch my man in the face?

To be honest, with the chaos of that day and everything that had happened after, Mason had forgotten about that, and now he felt guilty on top of the heartbreak.

I’m sorry.

Honestly, it’s fine. I know you did it for love. You didn’t even hurt Finn, he said it was like being punched by a child.

Mason couldn’t be insulted because he was a photographer, not a fighter, and he breathed a sigh of relief at Ollie’s forgiveness, pledging to apologize the next time he saw Finn. Staring at the phone, Mason wondered if Ollie had remembered the original question when a second text came through.

Anyway,I’ll be over in twenty minutes,was followed by an emoji wearing sunglasses. What did that even mean?

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