Page 7 of Mason Wilder
Her heart was racing so fast and her hands were shaking, but the words fell out of her mouth. “I’m in love with you, Mason. I’ve been in love with you for as long as I can remember.”
He stared at her, disbelief clear across his face, too stunned to say anything.
Dread and fear crept into Tessa’s throat, but she swallowed it down. “We’re perfect for one another. I know everything about you. You know everything about me. We grew up together. We want the same things in life. Don’t tell me you don’t see it.”
It took him a moment to find his voice. “You’re my best friend’s little sister. I’ve known you since the day you were born, Tessa. I’ve watched you grow up. You’re like a sister to me.”
She felt as if she just got punched in the stomach. “A sister?” She spat the words, as if they burned her tongue. “You have to feel more for me than that.”
He slowly shook his head. “I’m sorry. No.”
Her heart sank to the floor. She had been so sure his feelings for her were deeper.How could she have been so wrong? Humiliation engulfed her, but it was her broken heart that crippled her. She wished the floor would swallow her up and she could disappear. Or that she could go back in time and never have told him, because loving him in secret was bearable. The rejection, the knowledge that he didn’t want to be with her, was too much.
Mason placed his hands on her shoulders. “Tessa . . . I don’t know what to say. I feel so bad. I never expected this.”
She squeezed her eyes shut so he didn’t see the pain and devastation. The heartbreak. Somehow, she found the courage to make one last plea to get him to see her differently. “Didn’t you notice me when I went from a nerdy adolescent to a teenager?”
“Of course, I noticed. But in the same way Lucas noticed. I remember one time we both turned to one another and shook our heads. I said, ‘we’re gonna be kickin’ a lot of asses’, and he just groaned.” Mason lowered his eyes, and his cheeks flushed a hot pink. “I’m sorry, Tessa. That’s all there is. I had no idea you felt this way.”
He looked full of regret and sadness. She’d never seen his features this dark. The wide smile, dimpled cheeks and sparkle in his eyes were all nonexistent. Part of her wanted to run from the room with defeat and humiliation. But her inner strength pushed through, refusing to believe he had no idea how she felt about him. “How could you not know that I was in love with you? I’ve told you a million times in my songs.”
He didn’t know what to say. He just kept staring at her as if he’d been blindsided. That was it, she reasoned, he was too surprised to process his true feelings. “Kiss me,” she blurted out.
He flinched. “What?”
“Kiss me, Mason. Then tell me you don’t feel anything for me.”
“I can’t do that. You’re Lucas’ little sister. There’s a code. That crosses a line. You don’t fool around with your best friend’s sister. That doesn’t happen.”
She folded her arms across her chest, dismissing his claim. “Lucas won’t care.”
His eyebrows shot up again. “Yes. He will. He’s protective of you.”
She brazenly took a step closer, challenging him with a sudden burst of confidence. “Lucas doesn’t tell me what to do.” When he didn’t respond, she lifted her chin and leaned up toward him.
“No!” He took a giant leap backwards, putting distance between them. “This isn’t happening, Tessa. I’m sorry.”
Never had there been such seriousness in his face, and the finality of it hit her. He didn’t want to explore his feelings for her, because there weren’t any. Her chest tightened and she couldn’t breathe. She felt as if the air had been sucked from her lungs. Her face burned red hot, and tears of rejection boiled on her cheeks. She was devastated, and all she wanted to do was run and hide so she bolted from the room.
“Tessa! Wait!”
She ignored him and kept running down the hall.
Mason chased her and called her name, but she didn’t turn around or slow her pace. She had nothing left to say. Nothing left in her soul. Her room was only a few yards away and she just wanted to lock herself inside and forget tonight ever happened.
A security guard turned the corner just as she reached her door. “Is everything all right Miss Garcia?”
“No,” she sobbed. “Please stay here. Keep everyone away from my door. I don’t want to see anyone tonight.”
The security guard broadened his shoulders, ready to do his job. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Thank you.” She wiped her nose and fumbled with her card key. Her shaking hands couldn’t hold it steady to get a reading, and the little light kept beeping yellow.She heard Mason call her name again, closer this time. “Fuck!”
The security guard took the card from her hand and swiped it across the screen, unlocking the door. She flew into the room and latched the deadbolt. She flung herself onto the bed and buried her face into the pillow to muffle her cries. Why didn’t he love her back? He hadn’t been in a serious relationship – ever. She had thought it was because they were meant to be together. It had always been so clear. If he wasn’t so adamant about not having feelings for her, it wouldn’t have hurt so much. She stilled, a sob halfway out of her throat, when she heard Mason’s voice in the hallway. He was arguing with the guard who had stayed outside her room.
“She doesn’t want any visitors, sir. Miss Garcia gave me strict instructions not to let anyone near her door.”
“I don’t give a fuck. Step aside.”
