Page 45 of Fun and Games
Despite what Mason had said about wanting to keep things casual, in the back of my mind I'd kept on thinking about Quinn's words and wondering if perhaps Mason was looking for something more.
After all, considering all the time we'd spent together so far outside of the bedroom, it almost seemed as if we were closer to dating each other than simply being FWB.
And then Mason had gone on a mini-rant denouncing the concept of monogamy and true love.
So in the end, he really was only looking for a fun time.
The thought made my heart clench in my chest.
I'd almost begun to think…
I'd almost begun to imagine…
But whatever thoughts I'd started to have, they were clearly never going to happen.
At least the outing had managed to distract me. Mason hadn't known it, but it had been exactly what I'd needed. I hadn't thought about David's mom or the package she was going to be sending me in days.
But, of course, now that I was back at home and settling into my usual routine of work, eat, sleep, it was hard to put it out of my mind. I hadn't received any more texts from David's mom Darlene, or from my sister. I had to hope that those brief conversations were enough to keep them satisfied for a while.
After the safari excursion, I spent a day cleaning the apartment, not wanting to let the mess pile up too high. I'd be moving on soon enough, and I didn't want to have to do a huge clean sweep all in one go before I handed the keys back over to the owner of the apartment.
I'd been here more than a few months already. Now was around the time I usually headed to a new city. It was only when I did the actual math that I realized I'd been here longer than I'd been anywhere else since I'd first packed up and left my small hometown. I normally would have moved on a month or so ago. I hadn't quite been paying attention to how much time had gone by.
But despite that realization, I didn't immediately get the urge to take off and run. I never stayed in one place too long, always seeking out the next adventure, but my itchy feet weren't bothering me this time.
I liked this city, sure, and I was enjoying my admin job well enough. I'd even made a friend at work. None of that was usually enough to make me want to stay, though.
I remembered Mason snapping a quick photo of me, remembered the soft way he'd smiled when I'd protested.
This time I had someone I would miss when I finally moved on.
My stomach flipped over. My fist clenched around the broom in my hand.
Our fling was just temporary, I reminded myself as I pushed aside the disappointment welling in my chest.
We were just two people having a bit of fun together. Sure, it wasn't just a sexual relationship. We had become something like friends.
It should have been just like with Samantha. I'd made friends with her, but I didn't feel uneasy when I thought about moving on and leaving her behind.
I paused in the middle of sweeping up a pile of dust, staring down at the tiny pile of acclimated dirt and grime.
It was only when Mason's smiling face flashed through my mind that my heart clenched in my chest with regret.
My phone pinged. I gave it a brief glance, half-expecting it to be my sister again. Then I looked again, blinking down at the screen. I dropped the dustpan and fumbled to snatch the phone with hasty fingers, nearly overcome with excitement.
There was an update from Rogue on the Road.
I hastily swiped to open my phone and bring up his blog. What had made him decide to update after being gone for so long? What kind of post was it going to be, the one that made him return? Was he posting one last time as a final goodbye forever, or did this mean he was back for good?
I tapped one last time and opened his most recent entry.
My heart stopped beating. My lungs stuttered in my chest.
I'd seen this photo before.
It was a close up of a giraffe's tail in motion as it swished around, the fur at the tip spread out like a swirling fan. The tail was the only thing in focus, with bright green grass a blur in the background.
The phone nearly dropped from my numb hands as I stared down at the too-familiar photo.
