Page 44 of Mason
He shakes his head. “Sorry, I’d better check on Mason and Duke. Make sure they don’t fucking kill each other. Clean up. I’ll meet you back in your bedroom in fifteen.”
I blink, hoping this is about them and not about me. It probably is. They’re his friends, but who knows what they’ll do when left to their own devices, especially when they’ve both shown their crazy tonight.
Bear quickly dries off, then wraps the towel around his waist. He picks up his clothing—including the soaked boxer briefs he’d had on in this very shower not fifteen minutes ago—and leaves without a word or a backward glance.One track mind, much?The door to my room creaks open and clicks shut a second later.
A riot of emotion storms through me the entire time I finish up in the shower and pull on pajamas. I’m trying so hard not to let doubt creep in. Could that frown have been some form of regret? I sure as fuck hope not. Even so, my face burns at the idea of it.
He’s going to be back any minute, and now that I’m beginning to process all that happened this evening, I don’t know how to handle my own thoughts, much less someone else’s. I have an agonizing sense of dread that what I’ve done today will have severe ramifications. The longer Bear is gone, the more I’m plagued by worry about what they’re thinking, whether they’re off on their own talking about it.About me.This is my fault. I let it happen. Ipushedfor some of it.
But dammit, I’ll do what I want, especially with my body. I just hope my choices don’t bite me in the ass later. If they do, though, at least it will have been me to make those decisions. I shouldn’t have to defend my choices to anyone, but I will if it comes down to it.
The bottom line—if I really choose to think about it—is that I shouldn’t trust any of these guys so freely or completely without knowing more about them. Not knowing what’s coming my way, my best defense is to go on the offense, to show them—all of them—that they can’t hurt me with their words or actions or judgment.
I fling the door open when Bear knocks and stand there, glowering at him, but not offering entrance. I brace myself for the onslaught of everything he might say to me, and attack first. “If you’re going to tell me that what we did was a mistake or something like that, please go back to your room.” I seem to have shocked him speechless, so I continue on. “I’m sure you’re thinking that maybe Iamsome of those things that Mason drew all over me. And you know what he said? He told me that those words he wrote were the things I think about myself.” I wet my lips before continuing. “Because other people have said them, too. Maybe he’s right. Maybe I am trashy and manipulative and awhore.” My voice catches, and I have to force myself to finish. “So, I guess he was right, and you can just let everyone know that it’s true.” I throw my arms out from my sides in frustration. I thought I was helping Mason. I’m attracted to him. And I’m comfortable enough with Bear because he seems like such a damn good guy that I trusted him to not judge me—and there’s no doubt that there’s an attraction there as well. Duke? Well, I continue to be amused that he’s the only one of the three who has actually kissed me.
“Lennon?” Bear gets my attention, pulling me from where I’d wandered into the storm raging in my head. The bastard has the guts to sidestep me, entering my room, then backing up, hands laced on top of his head as he studies me. “The fuck, woman?”
My eyes track his movement into my room, and I’m ready to ask him what the hell he thinks he’s doing when I notice an odd mixture of amusement and concern on his face. Perplexed, I grit out, “What’s funny about this situation?”
“I think you’ve gotten all spun up in your head. I suppose I don’t blame you based on recent events.” He smiles at me through clenched teeth. “But we have a situation brewing that can’t be set on the back burner.”
My brow furrows, but curiosity wins out. “What’s going on?”
“Um. So, Mason and Duke are still in the attic. They’ve stopped pushing each other’s buttons like maniacs, and instead have opted to drink themselves silly, which… I guess is cool if it means they’ve reached some sort of a truce. Apparently after we left, they fought for a bit longer, but then went right to ‘Well, let’s get drunk because everything fucking hurts.’”
My brows draw together, and I blow out a semi-relieved breath. “Okay. I’m confused. What does this have to do with me?”
Bear sucks in a breath, then scrubs his hands through his hair, eyeing me. “So… Mason wants to stay upstairs, which is cool, but I think I got out of Duke that he’d rather sleep in his own bed.”
I press my lips together, crossing my arms over my chest. I think I see what’s coming, but I’d rather he spell it out for me. “And?”
“I was kind of hoping you’d stay with Duke for a while—make sure he drinks water and, if it’s not too much trouble, patch him up. Help him apply some ice packs.”
My eyes widen. “Oh my god, how banged up are they?”
“Not terrible”—he pauses to wince—“but bad enough that I don’t have enough hands to manage it very well. I could go get Tucker or Warren, if you aren’t up for it.”
“Shit.” I chew on the inside of my lip before nodding. I will probably kick myself for agreeing to this later, but oh how the tables have turned. Now I’ll be babysitting Duke instead of the other way around. “Yeah. Okay. Fine.”
* * *
“You don’t haveto stay, Stella Bella,” Duke slurs. “I know you fuckin’ hate me. No need to torture yourself.”
I glance down as my phone vibrates in my hand again and quickly read the text from Bear.
How’s he doing?
Giving you any trouble?
I press my lips together, not quite sure of how to answer.
He’s still awake.
Talkative.
Thinks I hate him.
Stifling a yawn, I have to wonder how long it will be before Duke succumbs to the alcohol and passes the fuck out. This is the third time Duke’s referred to me hating him, though I doubt he’ll remember in the morning. He’s smashed.
