Page 108 of Please Save Me

Mason’s smile was shy as she cleared her throat before mouthing, “Date.”

A rush of ice ran through my body. “Like, an out-of-the-house date?”

Her smile grew as she nodded.

Fuck. Okay, maybe she’d pick somewhere close. We were a few miles away from town, so walking distance was out of the question. But I really didn’t want to drive while high, especially with her in the car.

“Like, a casual date?” I could take her stargazing on the farm; that was technically out of the house.

Mason shook her head.

“Dress-up date?” I asked, a little horrified at that option. Her eyes lit up at the idea, and I tried to hide my apprehension. I’d do anything for Mason; I really would. But I wasn’t going to risk her safety, so I’d just have to find a way to let her down gently.

“A dress-up date it is,” I said, fully pulling away from her. “I’ll make a reservation for somewhere nice tonight, and we’ll get dressed up.” Her excitement was palpable, and all that did was make me feel like the piece of shit Iwas.

“But first... I, uh, I have to go to work for a bit,” I lied, retreating off the bed. “Sera has a few things to do with her apprenticeship, but I’ll text you a time. Is that okay?” Mason’s light dimmed ever so slightly as her smile faltered. She gave me a quick, shallow nod. I should have kissed her before I left—that’s just what I did. But I couldn’t because I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that I’d be letting Mason down tonight.

Chapter 34

Cameron

Hot water ran down my back as I rested my head against the white tiled wall of the shower. Today had been a long fucking day, and it was only about halfway over. Something about worrying always made the day feel longer, and seeing as Mason had yet to speak a word since Lucian’s outburst this morning, worrying had been all I got done.

I sighed, letting the water pummel the tension in my shoulders. Maybe Seb was right, and I overreacted. It doesn’t matter how much you love someone. When you spend enough time together you’re bound to argue, and Mason and Lucian had pretty much been bound by the hip. Plus, it wasn’t like he didn’t try to make it better. He’d made her breakfast before he left for work.

But Mason had also been avoiding me since Lucian left. Soph said that Mason had been hiding in her office. Sitting in while she did meetings and that was normal for Mason. But it didn’tfeelnormal. Soph added that Mason needed time to not talk and be near someone safe and quiet after she had a meltdown, but I didn’t think she’d done that. Hell, all she did was cry.

Sure, it lasted forty-five minutes straight, and it didn’t seem like she could control it, but she was also sad. When I looked up meltdowns online, I sawpeople screaming, hitting themselves and others, and completely losing control. Masonwasn’tlike that.

When I asked Sophia, she tried to explain the level system and how autism is different in everyone, but I just couldn’t understand her, and it didn’t matter how hard I tried.

The creaking of the door disrupted my thoughts, but when a voice didn’t follow the interruption, I assumed one of Sophia’s damn cats had snuck in here. The furry little monsters didn’t understand personal space, and I knew I was just a few minutes away from having Pepper or Richard hop up on the edge of the tub and watch me shower.

I knew they were just animals, but I didn’t like those creepy little things watching me. With that in mind, I wrapped up my shower before reaching out of the curtain to grab a towel. I scrubbed my face with the plush cotton before wrapping the towel around my waist and pulling the curtain open.

In front of the mirror stood a vision in dark green silk. The dress clung to her curves like it was made for her, and my breath caught in my throat.

“Mae?” I called, stepping onto the bathmat. “What’re you doing in here?”

She glanced over her shoulder, allowing her lips to part just enough for me to see the gap in her teeth. I couldn’t exactly explain why, but her presence left me a little weak in the knees.

“I’m getting ready for my date with Lucian.” Her voice was soft, and her accent seemed a little thicker than normal.

“Sweetpea, that ain’t…” My lips rolled into a thin line as my gaze went to some less-than-gentlemanly places.

The way her ass looked in that dress had to beillegal. It was round and firm and pulled the fabric so tightly that it creased. Heat rushed my chest as I forced my gaze back to her face. Being a gentleman had never been this hard for me, butfuckshe was making me want to rip that dress off with my teeth.

“Why inhere?” My voice came out rougher than I intended.

“Because this is where my make-up is.” She extended a finger in the direction of the black quilted bag on the bathroom counter. “Did you want me to go away?”

“What?” I breathed, stepping a little closer. “No, I just thought all this steam would make it hard for you to get ready.”

She glanced up at the steam still swirling along the ceiling before shrugging and focusing on the clouded mirror. “I like the warmth.”

I swallowed hard as I wrapped an arm around her, letting my palm linger on her bump as I leaned over her to wipe the mirror off a little.

“There’s my pretty girl,” I murmured as my hand swept low enough to reveal Mason’s reflection.

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