Page 16 of Grateful for You
I hope you enjoyed your hall pass for the night. Next time, you two might want to close the kitchen curtains.
P.S. I fixed your car and brought it here so that you can drive safely home.
My teeth chattered as I turned and ran for the house, slamming the door closed and locking it behind me.He found me. How the fuck did he find me?
I didn’t have time to speculate or figure it out. I just needed to run. Get away. My blood slowed, turning to ice, and I closed my eyes as I fell back against the door. But if he found me once, he’d do it again.
That’swhat that note meant. He wasn’t necessarily planning on breaking in here and dragging me back to his house… he was asserting that he could. At any given moment, on any given day of his choosing, he could come and claim me. I’d never be safe. I’d never be free.
“Piper?” Mason’s deep rasp called for me from the stairs, and I heard the distinct click of Athena’s nails against the floor as she came trotting to my side like the loyal friend she was. “What’s wrong?”
Mason closed the gap between us and was in front of me in moments, his hands brushing up and down my arms. “What happened?” He pressed again.
I sniffled, wiping at my nose and handed him the letter. “He found me.”
Mason glanced briefly at the letter, asking, “Who?”
I rolled my eyes, not meaning to get so snarky with him. It wasn’t Mason’s fault I’d been engaged to a complete sociopath. “Him. My… my ex.” Comprehension tightened his features causing little wrinkles to form on either side of his frown. “I have to go. I-I need to get on the first bus out of here—”
“Don’t run,” he interrupted me, cupping my jaw. “Stay here. With me. I can keep you safe.”
It was tempting. So damn tempting. “I can’t lean on you like that. I’ve been relying on others my whole life to care for me. I need to learn to take care of myself.”
Mason sighed, his shoulders dropping. “There’s a difference between a couple who loves and looks out for each other’s safety… and a co-dependent abusive relationship. You know that, right? I have no doubt that you can stand on your own two feet and take care of yourself. But you also could… just maybe… let someone else help you. It’s not a sign of weakness to let others in.”
Isn’t it?John had always alienated us… he made sure that he was the only person I needed to go to for anything. From groceries to gas money to a new dress or shoes, he slowly stripped away every friend, every coworker, every confidant I had. He’d convinced me not to look for a new job and instead to take care of the house. He told me my therapist was using me, squeezing every drop of money she could from me since my father’s death. Even my sister and I barely talked anymore. I hadn’t seen my niece and nephew in two years.
But what Mason was saying was different. He wasn’t asking me toonlyrely on him. He was asking me to let him help me. Could I?
“Stay,” he plead again. “At least for another night. You’ll be perfectly safe here. He’d have to be an idiot to attack the Sheriff’s home on Thanksgiving. Besides, you helped cook all this delicious food and what? You’re not going to eat any? We have apple and pumpkin pie, for God’s sake.” He poked his finger to my nose. “Your namesake.”
I arched a brow at him. “You know that’s not really my nickname… anymore. I used to kick the mean boys who called me that in the balls.”
He bent and brushed his mouth over mine. “It’s your nickname now,” he whispered. “Because you are delicious and taste like pumpkin pie… sweet, and smooth, with a little spice.”
He kissed me again, his tongue brushing along my bottom lip. “Stay,” he whispered against my mouth. “My brother and friends are going to think I had fairies or elves cooking throughout the night if you disappear on me.”
A smile cracked through and I giggled, dropping my forehead to his chest.
He kissed the top of my head and took my hands in his. It was surprisingly soft and so much warmer than my ice cold fingers. As he bent to meet my eyes, he asked, “Is that a yes?”
I gave a quick nod. “One more night.”
But then that was it… One more night of living in this fantasy before I had to face my reality again. Because it wasn’t prince charming waiting for me at midnight. It was a damn dragon.
11
Mason
My brother was the first to arrive … which was pretty typical for him. As an EMT, being tardy wasn’t exactly something he was known for.
He shuffled into the house, where jazz was playing —something I was coming to learn was Piper’s favorite—and paused in the entryway. “Is that… are you making pie?”
“A pumpkin pie is in the oven.” I grinned, remembering Piper’s exasperation over the fact that I only had canned pumpkin for the recipe.
He inhaled again, shifting the paper grocery bag on his hip. “God that smells good… what else are you cooking? That’s not pumpkin pie I smell.”
“Gravy,” I said, my chin tilting up proudly. Granted, it wasn’t as though I had done a ton of the work. Mostly, I’d just done exactly what Piper had told me to do. But still.Istirred that gravy.Ikept it from getting lumps.
