Page 17 of Forever Your Touch

“I, uh…”

“You two ready for the check?”

Jo took a shaky breath and pulled her hand from Mason’s, grateful for the waitress’s interruption. Spending time with Mason might not be the best idea after all, but she wasn’t about to back out of her offer to do a movie review segment for their shows. It wouldn’t be right.

“Sure thing, Heather.” Mason never looked away from her, and it made her blush run even hotter.

“Paying separate or together?”

“Together,” Mason answered before she could. When she opened her mouth to protest, he cut her off. “Don’t even think it. I asked you to breakfast, which means I’m paying.”

This was new for her. She and Ray usually split the check when they went out. He’d never offered to pay her half before. Her old boyfriend always footed the bill. She’d been with Ray so long, she’d forgotten what it was like to not split everything.

It was nice.

Once the check was taken care of, Mason dropped her at her building and drove off, presumably back to his frat to get some sleep.

She went inside and hurried to her first class, even though it was a little early. The smile on her face seemed to want to linger, and that was all because of Mason. She couldn’t help but compare him to Ray, and sadly, her boyfriend came up lacking. Didn’t mean she didn’t love him, only that she saw his flaws a little more clearly.

Taking out her laptop, she shot off an email to Mason with her schedule. She refused to let herself think about how much she was looking forward to seeing him later. It was only because she desperately wanted a friend.

That…and nothing else.

Chapter Five

Jo walked in her front door and threw her bookbag down beside the hallway table. It had been a long first week at school. Classes were harder this year too. So much homework. And she was taking a math class. She hated math. It was her biggest weakness when it came to school. Always had been.

Mason picked her up every morning, brought her home every evening. He ate lunch with her most days too. Sometimes he got caught up in frat business, and she’d had to wait for him once or twice. It was nice to have one friend. He never hit on her, even if he did flirt, but that was just Mason. He flirted with everyone. It was part of his charm.

And good Lord, but he was a goofball, always laughing and smiling. His attitude was infectious and rubbed off on her. It was why she’d walked in smiling. He’d made her belt out the lyrics to “Barbie Doll” along with him on the way home. The expressions and hand gestures he’d come up with to go along with the song were hilarious.

“Ray?” she called. His car was in the drive, so he had to be here somewhere. Not in the bedroom or the bathroom. Maybe he went to his parents’. Oh, well. It gave her a little time to edit some videos she needed to upload soon.

Going into the kitchen to grab a bottle of water, she saw the note sitting on the kitchen table.

Hey, Babe.

Dad and I are going fishing this weekend. Be back late Sunday.

Ray

She closed her eyes and counted to ten. He left her alone their first real weekend in New York. Didn’t even call to say goodbye, no text or anything. Just left a note.

Ray loved fishing, especially with his dad. She just thought maybe he wouldn’t leave her alone until she’d made a few friends to hang out with so she wouldn’t be so lonely.

It pissed her off.

She found a bottle of water in the fridge and stormed into her makeshift studio in the spare bedroom. The walls were bare, and she couldn’t record until she got the foam panels up to buffer the echoes, but she could edit what she’d done before dismantling her studio at home.

Turning on her computer, she tapped her foot as she waited for it to come on. Her cell rang, and she picked it up hoping it’d be Ray. Her brother’s face flashed across the screen instead.

“Hey, Keith.”

“Lil’ sis.” Keith yawned into the phone. “Whatcha up to?”

“Getting ready to do some video editing. My computer is being slow. I think it’s finally crapping out.”

“Make Mason look at it. He’s a whiz with those things.”

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