Page 37 of Drawn to You
He takes a moment to think. “I’m not sure. It’s near a Wendy’s. You know what? I could take you there for a quick look and bring you back. It wouldn’t take more than an hour. What time do you finish work?”
“Not until seven,” I say to him. “And it’s only five-thirty.”
“No problem. I need some serious workout today,” he says with a wink. “I’ll wait for you.”
I really should refuse him because there’s something not right about it, but a voice inside me urges me to go along. “Okay, thanks!”
After Mason leaves the front desk, I wonder for a moment whether it’s wise to go with him after work. Mason doesn’t have a playboy reputation, but I sense he’s interested in me. Although I’m flattered by the star’s attention, I don’t want to get involved with him romantically. But again, my eagerness to find a place gets the better of me. I’m going to take a risk. I’m sure as long as I act properly, the star won’t cross the line.
Mason is standing in front of the receptionist desk, all freshly showered. He’s even styled his hair, and he smells of a strong cologne.
“Ready?” he asks.
“Give me just a sec,” I say and go into the lady’s room to get ready.
When I’m back to the gym area, Darrell is talking to Mason about the song Brittney. It looks like he is already working on the recording.
“I’m gonna take off,” I say to Jennifer. “Mason will take me to see a place on Sunset.”
“Sure, good luck!”
“Okay. Thanks.”
I’m going to head for the elevator to go down to the garage, but Mason stops me. “I parked on the street.”
Soon we’re in Mason’s Lamborghini. I’m nervous, and I wish I hadn’t gotten into his car. Maybe I’m paranoid but there’s something unsettling about the way Mason glances at me. It makes me miss Andrew. I think about texting him and let him know where I am, mostly because he doesn’t trust Mason. He made a big fuss the last time when I went out with the man, and not even alone. Oh God, it wasn’t just any big fuss, but my first time. Shit. I shouldn’t be thinking about it now. I decide not to text him because I don’t want to worry him, and besides, he isn’t obliged to protect me, not when I’m no longer his houseguest.
I must be fidgeting in my seat because Mason suddenly speaks, “Relax, kitty. I ain’t gonna eat you alive.”
I don’t like the way he calls me. Kitty sounds dirty. But I chuckle instead. “You’re funny.”
Mason is driving on Sunset when he suddenly asks me, “So, Brittney, you’ve got a boyfriend?”
“No,” I answer, although I cringe at the personal question.
“How is it possible?” he turns to look at me. “What about girlfriends?”
“Yeah, I’ve got girl friends,” I say with Dana in mind.
He chuckles a bit. “Let me rephrase. Do you like guys or girls?”
My mouth opens, and I stutter. “I’m not l-lesbian… if that’s what you mean.”
“Good,” he says. “For your information, I’m not gay either, although I’ve been with guys in the past.”
I tense and clutch my fists. Why is he telling me all that? I don’t want to know.
Hearing no answer from me, Mason chuckles. “I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable, Brittney. I just want us to get to know each other, you know? You haven’t changed your mind about being in my music film, have you?”
I give a short, nervous laugh. “Not yet.”
He laughs louder this time. “Not yet? I like you, Brittney. You’ve got a sense of humor. You remind me of a girl I dated back in high school. Her name was Riley, and she had red hair and green eyes just like you.”
His voice trails off, and he stops talking as if he’s lost in thoughts.
Despite my uneasiness, I become curious about his story. I was his fan, after all. “Why did you break up with her?”
He shrugs. “I came to LA to pursue my dream, but she didn’t want to come with me. And then I became famous, and she got married to someone else.”
