Page 108 of Sapphire Spring

“You know what, let’s just not bother. The answer is I’m notall right. I had one of the worst days of my life yesterday, and I don’t feellike talking about it with someone who can’t be authentic with me in return. Iknow nothing about you, Jonas. Nothing. And I sit here all the time spilling myguts to you so…”

Jonas looked around the room as if he thought Naser must betalking to someone else. When he could no longer deny that they were alone, theman swallowed and wet his lips with his tongue. “Well…I apologize for gettingin your line of fire today.”

“Or you could apologize for brushing off my attempts toactually get to know you with patronizing lines like that.”

Jonas’s eyes blazed. “You do know me,” he whispered. “Youknow who I am,here, every day.”

He knew he was lashing out at someone who didn’t quitedeserve it, but inside he felt as vulnerable and exposed and violated as he hadbehind the bleachers at Laguna Mesa High that awful afternoon. “I’m sorry, Jonas,but if you think I’m someone who would judge you for whatever’s in your past,then I don’t feel comfortable talking about what I’m dealing with right now.”

Jonas nodded, but his expression was tense and angry.“Sometimes when someone doesn’t want to share something, it has nothing to dowith who the other person is or isn’t.” Jonas gazed at Naser as if he wanted tosay more, then he bowed his head and took a step back. “I apologize forintruding.”

Naser was about to call out to him when Connor appeared inhis doorway, eyes wide, clearly having heard the last moments of theirexchange. Seeing the distress on Naser’s face, he closed the door behind him,moved to him, and gripped his shoulders gently. “You have a visitor,” he said.“In the motor court.”

“Who?”

“Mason. I didn’t tell him you’re here, and apparently, hehad them call my office instead of yours. Which says he’s not sure how he’sgoing to be received. So…is this a meeting you want to have right now,Nas? Or would you like me to get rid of him?”

“What time is it? When’s our lunch?”

“Forty minutes. I can handle the Dawn Blossom folks on myown.”

Naser shook his head. “No, I can deal.” But he soundeddrowsy and disoriented and incapable of dealing with pretty much anything.

“Nas, is this safe?”

“I don’t know what that word means anymore.”

“Yeah. I need a more direct answer than that before you goto talk to this guy alone.”

Naser swallowed. “I told him his friend Chadwick was BleachersGuy and he beat him within an inch of his life in front of me. I thought he wasgoing to kill him.”

Connor nodded slowly, obviously fighting dozens of questionsand even more opinions. Instead, he gently patted Naser’s shoulders. “I see.Well, later you can explain to me how that’s a problem. Meanwhile, I’m going togo get MasonWorthera gold medal. I’ll be close byif you need me.”

Averting his eyes, Naser headed for the door.

The motor court was relatively quiet. On his first sweep,Naser looked over Mason without recognizing him. He was standing on the otherside of the gurgling French fountain, and it was the first time he’d seen himout of the house with no product in his hair.Unstyled,his blond bangs draped his forehead, making him look years younger. Sunglassesconcealed his eyes, but they weren’t big enough to hide the bruise on his rightcheek and the long, scabbed cut on the right side of his jaw.

As Naser approached, Mason removed his glasses, revealing avicious black eye.

In an instant, Naser lost the surefootedness of the nightbefore, lost his belief that turning on his heel and walking out of Mason’shouse would spare him all the complicated discussions the fallout of that nightmight beg for. His heart was racing.

A white Tesla idled close by. Naser recognized the car.Behind the wheel was a well-put-together woman who looked like the woman he’dseen watching them from her porch the night he’d fetched Mason from his beachedFerrari.

“Is that your neighbor?” Naser asked.

“Shirley, yeah. She drove me.”

The bottom dropped out of Naser’s stomach.

Had Mason wrecked his car? Did the bruises from his fightwith Chadwick include further damage from some drunken accident? Naser had feltso weakened and small when he’d left the house, it had never occurred to himthat Mason might drink over it. When Mason saw Naser’s expression, he put hishands out.

“Wait. No.No, I didn’t drink last night.” Masonsteadied himself with a deep breath. “I mean, I was close. Like liquor storeclose. But, um… I’m not supposed to say that because it’s manipulative and I’mresponsible for my own choices, so…”

An SUV nosed around the fountain behind him, forcing Naserto take several steps closer to Mason. When he looked up, he saw Masonextending an envelope in his direction. He took it.

“The check,” he finally said. “I made it out to you. Ifigured that would be easier.”

“For Pari.” Naser heard his own voice as if he wereunderwater. “This is the check for Pari?”

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