Page 29 of Anchored Love
Under the spray of the water, I stood there as the showerhead rained down on me, washing the day away. If only it could wash away my mother’s words from earlier and the way everyone stared at me with pure pity. Even Mason felt sorry for me. That kiss he gave me was all for show, even though it felt so real I could still taste him on my lips.
By the time I finished in the bathroom, it was time for dinner, and Mason was still sawing logs. He appeared so peaceful I didn’t want to wake him. His mouth hung open, drool dribbling onto the pillow. I made a decision to let him sleep and skip dinner with the family. Instead, I used room service to order us pizza and beer.
Mason was oblivious. I stepped out on the balcony connected to our room and soaked in the night air. The sun had set, and the moon was full. It was a cloudless night.
I didn’t hear Mason get up to answer the door for the pizza. I was lost in my own thoughts of what-ifs and if-only. His palm curved on my bare shoulder. An electric spark zinged up and down my spine at his touch.
“Pizza is on the cart.”
“Great. Thanks.”
“Ev?”
“Yeah?” I wasn’t ready to face him yet after the bizarre day we’d shared. I kept my gaze trained on the water.
“Are we okay?”
“Why wouldn’t we be?”
“I don’t know. Forget I said anything.”
“Um yeah, sure. You go ahead and help yourself to the pizza. I ordered beer too.”
“I’m going to hit the shower first. You want to watch a movie or something?”
“Sure. You have any preferences?”
“Not really. Something funny, I guess.”
I waited till the bathroom door closed before I returned to our cabin. I was a coward. The sad thing was I wished he’d kiss me again. Not that it’d change anything. When the trip ended, this would all be a memory.
I grabbed a slice of pepperoni pizza and sank down in the cushion of the royal blue couch. I took a few bites and washed it down. Mason wasn’t long in the shower, and when the bathroom door opened, my heart seized. Standing before me in nothing but a towel, water dripped down his hard body.
My eyes bugged big like teacup saucers. Mercy, the man was sex on legs. I wanted to grab that towel and find out if it was true about his big hands and feet.
“Forgot my clothes.”
I licked my lips. “Uh huh.” I couldn’t tear my gaze away. Which seemed silly considering I’d been seeing him in his trunks all week. Only I knew the towel cinched around his waist was the only barrier between us in the moment; outside of my being a chicken shit scared to make the first move.
He grabbed his bag quickly and returned minutes later in a pair of plaid pajama pants and no shirt. Sinking next to me on the couch, droplets of water from his hair plopped onto my shoulder and ran down my arm. The palm of his left hand rested on my thigh. He gave me a gentle squeeze, and I couldn’t concentrate on anything but the way his touch seared me. Electricity crackled between us.
“Did you decide on a movie?”
I parted my lips and turned into him. “You pick.” He gave me a funny look as I scooted away.
I was sulking, but I couldn’t help it.
My insecurity ate away at me. His words from earlier about making things real for my family rang in my head. I wanted him to make it real for me.
Foolish. That described my current wishes. I guessed like my dad used to say—I could wish in one hand and crap in the other to see which would fill the fastest. I snorted at myself and wondered what advice he’d have for me in this situation. I’d always been able to go to my dad about anything; yes, including boys. He had this easiness about him, and I knew he wouldn’t judge me. He’d always listened to me and waited for me to finish talking before formulating a response. Mom, though I loved her, wasn’t the easiest to express myself too. She had a bad habit of expecting her own response and actions out of me in any and every situation. The woman didn’t know how to withhold judgment. She’d let her opinions rip without a care as to how they’d be received. It was who she was.
Mason flipped through the choices, settling on some action flick. I wasn’t paying attention to the movie. I was lost inside my own head, being eaten up with my thoughts. He kept on as though we still had an audience, and it frustrated the hell out of me. I wanted to yell at him. I wanted to kiss him. I just wanted him.
