Page 26 of Beneath the Surface

I have no other choice.

12

Mason

This is the stupidest thing I’ve ever done.

Don called me again this morning, and for the first time in ten years, I declined his call. I know he’ll talk some sense into me, but I don’t feel like listening to all the ways I’m being dumb as fuck.

I shouldn’t still be in this town.

I shouldn’t have talked to Lily in the first place.

And Idefinitelyshouldn’t be sitting in her cramped living room, acting like a stand-in boyfriend, wanting to take care of her when she hits a rough patch.

But here we are.

Annabelle spewed Lily’s personal problems without a second thought, apologizing for having to leave before she could ride my dick, but saying she couldn’t turn down the shift.

And even though I tried to talk myself out of it a thousand times—even though I’m sure Don calling was a sign from the universe, begging me to be smart—I ignored it. Apparently, the need to help Lily and her kid overwhelms logic and common sense in my brain.

Like I’ve said before, I’ve never been good at staying away from my vices.

The most surprising part of my morning is how hard Lily has been fighting against the idea of my help. Honestly, I thought she’d be thankful, since she doesn’t have anyone else to call. But it’s obvious she doesn’t trust me. Not that she should.

I shouldn’t fucking be here.

The words filter through my brain for the thousandth time, and I know her resistance is the perfect out—a way to stop my descent before I’ve gone down the whole slide—but I don’t listen.

“Chase,” she says.

My heart stutters.Is she talking about her brother?“What about him?”

Lily’s eyebrows scrunch, and I realize two seconds too late that sheisn’ttalking about him. She’s talking about herkid.

“What do you mean, what about him? He’s gonna wake up any minute, and there’s never been anyone in the house when he does…” Her fingers scratch her wrist and my eyes follow the movement. “Maybe you should just leave.”

“He’sneverhad anyone else here?” I don’t know why that makes my stomach clench tight, but it does. Thoughts of a three-year-old not having anyone besides his elderly babysitter and his mom is a sad reality. One I won’t make better by coming into their lives when I’m only going to leave again.

But if I don’t, then she’ll go back to having absolutely no one. And I think that’s worse.

“No, not really… we don’t—” she starts.

I shake my head. “I get it.”

Her eyes scan my body. “I highly doubt that.”

Smirking, I lean against the wall. “Chill out, little bird. We’re just gonna hang today. Let me help you.”

A noise comes from down the hall, and I glance in that direction. “Which room is his?”

“The only room there is. The door on the left.”

I lock my eyes back on hers. “What do you mean the only room? Where do you sleep?”

Her cheeks tinge pink as she nods toward the couch.

“You sleep on thecouch?”

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