Page 14 of One Little Mistake
Instead of reacting, though, Mason gives me a knowing smile.
“I thought so.”
“You thought what, Mason? What is it you think you know?”
“Why don’t you want me to call Lexi our girl?”
“You fucking know why,” I grind out.
“It didn’t bother you with Alana or Emily or Mikaela.”
“They were my assistants.”
“So is Lexi.”
“I …” Fuck, he’s right. “Yeah, well, she’s also family.” Even I don’t believe the shit that’s coming out of my mouth.
“Why doesn’t Lexi have a desk yet?” he asks, glancing around the room, but I know he’s fishing. Mason has known me since grade school. He was there when Dillon fucked me over, and he knows where I go to hide.
“It’s not ready yet,” I answer while packing up my laptop. If I get out of here quickly, maybe I won’t have to answer any more of his questions.
“We have a storeroom full of desks, East. Do you want me to have one brought up?”
He knows.
“No. I don’t.”
“Why would that be?” He smirks.
Sighing, I plop down into my chair. Mason is a goddamn dog with a bone sometimes.
“Because I made her one. It’ll be here tomorrow.”
The admission renders him momentarily speechless.
“You made her one?”
“That’s what I said. Could you not make a big deal about it? She’s going through a tough time, and … I don’t know, Mas. I was inspired, okay? Is that what you want to hear? That she inspired me, and I finished the damn thing in one night?”
He narrows his eyes. “What else did you make?”
Jesus. Why do I keep this guy around?When I turned my back on everyone in my life, why the fuck did I let this asshole stick around?
“A chair.”
“And?”
“Fine, I made an entire damn set, okay? Freaking sexy Lexi and her mother fucking six-mile legs inspired me, and I made her an entire set of furniture. Then I moved onto bedroom furniture, and I really don’t want to fucking talk about why that is. Just leave it alone, Mason. She’s broken … I’m broken. She’s family and—”
“You take care of your own. I know that credence well, my friend. Why do you think I’m still here after all these years? It’s certainly not because of your rosy disposition or because you’re a barrel of fucking laughs anymore. But, for the first time in a long time, I see potential in you, Mr. Westbrook. And, as your friend, I won’t let you screw it up.”
“There isn’t and won’t be anything to screw up, Mason. Trust me when I say Lexi doesn’t even like me half the time.”
“Maybe if you stopped being a dingle dick, she’d see all there is to love about you.”
“Does Johnny know you whisper sweet nothings to me like this?” I tease. Mason has been with Jonathon for almost a year, but the guy rubs me the wrong way.
“His name is Jonathon, and he’s very comfortable with our friendship, East. Plus, he’s met you. No one in their right mind would willingly enter a romantic relationship with your grumpy ass.”
