Page 111 of Escape Velocity
His dad is poised for his final attack. To ruin everything and everyone that Callum has ever loved, and the only thing he can do is watch as it unfolds.
He needs to make sure he can protect Mason and his own career before it happens.
He needs to win the championship game and get drafted.
33
MASON
Mason knockson the Brown household door.
His teeth chatter and snowflakes cling to his eyelashes.
He knows it’s a bad idea to be doing this, but he doesn’t want to be anywhere near his house anymore. He just wants to be somewhere else.
He didn’t even text Callum; he just wanted to see him.
The door opens, and Callum’s stepmom, Tammy, answers the door, her eyebrows raised in surprise.
A sinking feeling pools in his stomach, realizing he’s at the Brown household and didn’t even tell Callum he was coming. He just made one of the dumbest decisions, ever.
“Mason...?” Tammy asks.
He nods.
She looks behind her, like she’s trying to hide the fact that he’s here.
“You must be here to see Callum.”
Mason nods and sniffles, hoping his previously tear-stained eyes aren’t giving him away.
She doesn’t appear like the monster that Callum makesher out to be. She seems almost sympathetic. She tugs down on her maroon knitted sweater.
She twists her mouth in apprehension.
“We just finished dinner, but he’s in the living room with Mr. Brown now. Just give me one second and I’ll get him.”
Mason nods and she smiles sympathetically at him before closing the door softly behind her.
He sighs and leans on the pillar.
He really shouldn’t be here. Not only is he putting himself in danger, but he’s also putting Callum there, too. It’s only going to make his father angry.
How could he make such a stupid decision? He’s the smart one. He utilizes logic all the time. This is one of the most illogical things he’d ever done.
But being with Callum is illogical.
He glances at the door and backs himself off the pillar, shaking his head as he walks down the stoop back down the driveway.
He shouldn’t have come. He should have just called Callum instead of going headfirst into the worst idea he’s ever had.
He skids as his running shoes glide over the ice. He left in such a saddening stupor that he forgot to put on his boots.
“Mason?”
Callum’s voice comes like an angel’s, making Mason stop in his tracks.
He turns around, and Callum appears in the front door in a dress shirt and dress pants, his breath billowing out of his mouth.
