Page 14 of Anchored Love
Everly
That Embarrassing Moment When You Can’t Come Up With A Comeback That Doesn’t Suck …
“See.I told you it would all work out.” Samantha had come over to help me pack and to pick up Mooch. While happy to have her here, she was still going to hear it.
“I still can’t believe he said yes.” I shoved more underwear into my carry-on bag. I didn’t expect anything to happen, but one could never be too prepared or have enough pretty underwear on a trip.
I believed it was a cardinal rule that every mother in the history of moms, since the beginning of time, or invention of undergarments, that they beat it into their children’s brains to always have clean underwear. All moms say, “If you get into an accident, you don’t want to be caught wearing dirty underwear.”
Me, I was just open to the possibilities of what could happen. Not that it would, but one never knew. I couldn’t say if I had the opportunity with Mason that I’d turn him down. I’d seen him shirtless and smelled his cologne. I’d crushed on him in the past.
“Why?” Sam stared at me like I’d grown four heads. “You’re smart and beautiful. Mason knows you’re a catch, and he would be an absolute idiot to turn down an all expenses paid week with you.”
I tossed in three bikinis. A girl needed options. “You’re my best friend; it’s like in the handbook that you have to say nice things to make me feel better about myself. You know, girl code.”
“You’re impossible.” She rolled her eyes, frustrated with me. “Do you have everything ready for me to take Sir Farts-a-Lot?”
I giggled. “Yeah. I think so. Where’s your keys, and I’ll get his crate loaded for you.”
“On your kitchen counter. Is this bag ready to go? I’ll zip it up for you.”
“Thanks.” There was a very strong possibility that I'd forgotten something and would be making a trip to the gift shop several times. It was one of the negatives on the cruise. No Target.
“I don’t think you packed enough shoes.” She let out a snicker, poking fun at my shoe obsession. She loved it, considering she borrowed them. That didn’t mean she didn’t give me schtick about it whenever she could.
“I don’t know. You think I should take another pair?” I smirked and left her in my bedroom. I gathered up everything Samantha would need to handle Mooch for the next week. His food, leash, favorite bed and one of my shirts that was spritzed with my perfume so he wouldn’t miss me too much. I almost forgot his favorite squeaking rubber chicken and ball. I had never left him for more than a day or two at the most, and I had to admit I’d miss the guy. I was happy Sam agreed to take him, though, so I wouldn’t have to worry about boarding him somewhere. Not that she really had a choice in the matter. It was part of the best friend contract. Besides, I’d do it for her if she needed me to.
“Alright, Moochie baby. Give me kisses.” I puckered my lips out at my pooch. He rewarded me with stinky corn chip smelling licks to my cheek. Yeah, I’d miss the guy. “I’ll come by to get him as soon as I get back in town.”
“Don’t worry about us. He’ll be fine. I promise to treat Mooch as though he were my own.” Samantha scratched him behind his ears, and I loaded him into his crate. “Be a good boy.” I bit back my tears, feeling very emotional. I knew I’d see him again in a week, but I would miss my shadow. Since the day I had brought him home, he’d been my constant companion. It seemed weird to be sending him off with Sam like part of me was gone. “Have a great time.”
“Bye. Thanks again.” She got into her SUV and backed down the driveway. I watched her drive off then went inside to put my bags by the door for when Mason picked me up in the morning, all the while wiping a tear from my eye.
I went inside to empty my fridge and cabinets of any perishables that would rot while I was away. I didn’t want to return home to moldy bread or fruit. I got my garbage out in the bin and then took a shower and climbed into bed. Excitement and anxiousness chased sleep away. I tossed and turned wondering how the trip would go.
* * *
Mason knockedon my front door at five in the morning, and I hadn’t had nearly enough coffee to wake me up. A cab waited in my driveway to take us to the Boise Airport. We were flying to Dallas for a forty-minute layover then on to Miami. It was way too early, but I couldn’t be grumpy when he handed me coffee and a chocolate glazed donut. A man after my own heart. He even had it made exactly how I liked it with caramel cream. How’d he know that?
Add in he appeared sexy doing it, and it was a recipe for disaster. His dark hair had that just fucked look. You know, that sexy tousled look like he’d gone down on some lucky woman, and she’d had her hands buried in his sexy locks all night. He had better not have actually done that. That thought made my stomach drop. It made me want to smell him just to find out.
“Sugar always helps.” His molten gaze warmed me as much as the coffee.Please, God. Please no other women. That would just piss me way off.
“Right. Thanks for this. It’s very thoughtful.”
“I’m a thoughtful guy. This everything?” Damn, he sure was.
“Yup.” He grabbed my rolling suitcase while I took my carry-on and bag.
“What about your dog?” he asked, shocking me.
My heart squeezed in my chest that Mason paid more attention to me than I’d ever realized. “Oh, Mooch. Samantha is keeping him for me.”
“Your best friend from work?”
Like he didn’t know. He saw us together, but still it pulled something inside of me. “Yeah, but we’ve been friends a long time, even before she came to work with us.”
“You ready?” He changed the subject, and I knew we needed to get a move on. We had a big day of traveling ahead of us with my family. My palms were already sweating at the idea of introducing Mason to my family as my secret boyfriend. Considering they already knew Mason. Things were about to get hella awkward for both of us. Especially when my brother caught sight of my plus one.
