Page 30 of Forever Your Touch

“You guys heading out?”

“Yeah. Jo’s not feeling well.”

“You okay?” Mason squatted so he could look her in the eye, his expression full of concern. “You were fine at lunch.”

“I think I have a stomach bug or something. It struck all at once.”

“That seriously sucks.” Mason moved out of the way so the waitress could set the check down.

Jo pulled her wallet out, glancing at the check. Taking out a twenty, she handed it to Ray, who did the same.

And it pissed Mason off. He tossed her money back to her and took out his own wallet to pay her half of the check.

“Mason…”

“Not a word, Josephine.” She glanced up at his hard tone. His eyes were glacial. “When you take a woman out, whether it’s your girlfriend, wife, sister, or friend, you damn well pay the bill. It’s disrespectful to make your woman pay half of it.”

Ray snarled at him. “This is none of your business, frat boy. Jo and I…”

“That’s where you’re wrong. I’m her FIBB, and thatmakesher my business. Does Keith know you make his little sister foot half the check? Wonder what he’ll say when I tell him.”

“Mason, please don’t.” Jo grabbed hold of his hand to get him to look at her. “I have enough problems without adding Keith to them. Please don’t tell him anything.”

His eyes softened a fraction when they looked at her. “Moye dragotsennyy…”

“What the hell does that mean?” Ray’s fist curled.

“None of your fucking business.” Mason smiled, but it wasn’t at all friendly. His almost nonexistent accent thickened as well, making Jo swallow hard. “All you need to know is if you don’t start treating her right, you won’t only have Keith to deal with, you’ll have me. And I guarantee you don’t want that.”

“Can both of you please tone down the testosterone?” Jo rubbed her temple, a headache starting to bloom. “I just want to go home. I’m tired, and I’m sick. I don’t feel like sitting here listening to two idiots growl at each other.”

With that, she got up and walked out of the restaurant.

She wanted to hit them both. For different reasons, but still, they’d both pissed her off.

Ray caught up to her by the time she reached the car. He didn’t say a single word, just unlocked the door and got in. The ride home was deathly quiet, but she didn’t care.

He barely said two words to her the rest of the evening. He picked up his suitcase and walked out when Josh pulled up, not even telling her goodbye.

Now that hurt.

Sure, Mason was an idiot and embarrassed Ray by paying her half of the bill, but not to tell her goodbye? That was just mean. She sank down on the couch, pulled her legs up, and rested her cheek on her knees. When had her life gotten so difficult? And painful?

Since that day Mason showed up on her front porch.

And it didn’t look like her life was going to get any less messy any time soon.

With that thought, she curled up on the couch and drifted off to sleep, her headache starting to pound right behind her eyes.

Chapter Nine

Mason tossed the beer bottle in the trash and grabbed another. His date was hanging on his arm. He couldn’t shake her loose. Bad idea letting Jack talk him into this. Normally, he didn’t date, period. He hooked up, and that was it, but Jack begged him. His girlfriend’s best friend was in town, and she wanted her to have a good time. Mason knew it was a mistake from the moment her eyes landed on him. She looked way too eager.

Her name was Angela, maybe? He honestly couldn’t remember.

“I gotta piss.” He shoved away from the table the keg was on and wandered down the hall toward the main floor bathroom. They’d all come back to the frat house after dinner, and his brooding started. Hell, he’d been brooding before then. The second he spotted Jo sitting with Ray, his mood soured.

He’d barely paid attention to the conversation at his own table. Jack had to ask him a question twice at one point. When it was evident Jo was leaving, he’d excused himself to talk to her. It would be rude not to. At least that was what he’d told himself when he ambled over to her table.

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