Page 38 of Stood Up
“What is so funny?” Elizabeth clips as Mason comes beside me and wraps his arm around my shoulders.
Ignoring her, I address Mason, “I’m your maid, Mason. Would you like me to put on my uniform?” Sass, I’m full of it. Instead of letting her see that jealous streak, I cover it with sarcasm.
He leans over and kisses the top of my head, and I hear a huff from Elizabeth. I calm myself from laughing.
“You’re serious about her?” Elizabeth asks Mason.
“One hundred percent, Elizabeth. And I’ll make sure I tell your husband you stopped by.”
To this, I again burst out laughing. “You’re married?” I look up to Mason. “Please tell me you didn’t.”
“No. She wasn’t married, and it was when we were teenagers.” This news surprises me, and I sober up. “She tried after my father asked for a personal favor in hiring her at my company. I refused because you don’t shit where you eat, but my father is tough, and I gave in.”
It does clear up how she seems so familiar with Mason and his house. I still have to wonder.
“Don’t do that,” Elizabeth says. “I’m divorcing him. For you.”
Oh wow. This just turned into a daytime talk show or something. Pretty soon chairs are going to be flying and hair is going to be pulled, and it sure as hell won’t be mine.
“You do whatever you have to do, Elizabeth, but leave me out of it. Aiden and I are happy. You need to accept that.”
It’s like his words sliced a hole inside of her, and all the steam that she had inside dissipated into thin air. Tears prick the woman’s eyes, and I almost feel bad for her.
“You love her,” she whispers.
He gives me a squeeze. “It’s going there.”
“You’ve never…” She trails off, shaking her head.
“My dad told you the same thing as me:When it happens, you’ll know.I know.” Warmth spreads through me, and I wrap my arms around the man next to me, holding on for dear life.
Something comes over Elizabeth’s face. She falters a bit but chokes out, “I’ll be going.” She turns and closes the door behind her. I have a feeling this won’t be the last time we cross paths.
I look up at Mason and try to break the tension. “Is this ex-girlfriend thing going to be a regular occurrence?”
He smiles. “That was young and stupid. She’s the daughter of a friend of my father’s. She’s tried for years, but I don’t want her. I didn’t feel this.” He squeezes me and kisses the tip of my nose. “This is what I want.”
“I want it, too.” He doesn’t delay and kisses me.
