Ozzy let out a happy yelp, lurching out of my hold, his fluffy form barreling forward.
“Ozzy!” I shouted as he tore away from me, galloping straight into Mason’s garage.
Shit.
Stella and Poppy went tearing after him, yanking me behind them. Entering the garage, my gaze landed right on him. He was crouched down, scrubbing Ozzy’s head, greeting the rest of the dogs as they leaped up, licking him.
“Hey, guys.” Scratching each one in hello, a smile spread over his face, his gaze turning to me.
My breath tripped over itself, my lungs struggling to take a full breath.
“Hey.” He gave them all more pats before rising.
“I’m sorry,” I burst out, gesturing to Ozzy, who was sitting in front of Mason, staring up at him as if he were a god. “He broke away from me… I wasn’t meaning—”
“To see me?” he finished.
“No, I mean yes.” I took in a shaky breath. “I mean, I think you have a fan.” I nodded to the dog. “He really seems to like you.”
“He’s the only one.” Mason was a foot away from me, but he had the power to make me feel him without even touching me. His physique took over every molecule.
Peering at my shoes, I clenched my teeth, my body quaking with the intensity surrounding us.
Mason took a step back, his hands going to his hips. “Mateo told me Addison was back home.”
“Yes.” I nodded, still not able to look at him. “Things aren’t great, but I hope in time it will get better.”
“I’m glad,” he responded, both of us being polite and uncomfortable. “I hope it all works out for you.” He rubbed Ozzy’s head, taking another step back. “Have a good time at the park.”
Dismissal. A goodbye.
He gave me the opportunity, a clear exit out of this awkwardness. But I didn’t move. He turned back around, going to the workbench, cutting me off.
“Mason?” My expression and voice filled with torment.
He twisted back, waiting for me to say anything, but I couldn’t get anything out. What I really wanted to say got bottled in my throat, pushed back with sensibility.
“What?” he said softly.
Nothing came out.
“What?” he exclaimed louder, the politeness snapping in half. “God damn it.” He strained, his hand running through his hair. “What do you want from me? I am trying to be respectful. I’m trying to stay away from you. Trying to do the right thing.”
“Staying away from me?” I exclaimed. “You’re the one who ended things.”
He let out a harsh laugh. “Like you wouldn’t have eventually. Don’t tell me you wouldn’t have sent me another fucking text, telling me it was over, again, after Addison found out.”
In the moment, I didn’t realize how shitty it was for me to have done that to him after Christmas. How it much hurt him. Because now I could see how I’d respond if he sent me a text telling me it was over.
“I’m sorry.”
“For which part, Emery?” He flung out his arms. Ozzy seemed to sense his agitation, pawing at his leg.
“Everything. Nothing… I don’t know.”
“That’s the problem.” He placed his hands on his hips, frustration pulsing off him. “You are trying so hard to do what you think is right, thinking you’re protecting Addison, that you ended up fucking us all.”
The sting of his comment hit home, causing me to lash back. “I wasn’t the only one. I sat at your bedside at the hospital. I knew how it appeared to everyone. I realized Addison was suspicious, but I didn’t walk away! You forced me to leave.”
“You were looking for an out.”
“I thought so too.”
“What does that mean?” He squeezed the back of his neck, looking as if he wanted to punch a wall.
“I don’t know.” I fiddled with the leashes, not able to stop what wanted to follow. “I just know I miss you.” My voice shrunk, going very small. “I can’t eat, I can’t sleep… I can’t breathe.” Without you.
Mason froze, his muscles locking up. It took him a while before he heaved out a sigh. “Same.”
It was not some great love confession. It only tangled us more in the unknown, the area between lovers, friends, and strangers.
Ozzy whimpered, circling around Mason, pulling my focus to the dog’s distress, reminding me of a golden retriever I had worked with when I was in high school. She could smell when someone’s blood sugar was low, coming from a home of a diabetic. She did the same thing Ozzy was doing.
“Have you eaten?”
“What?” Mason peered around like one of us had lost our minds.
“Dog senses are powerful. They can pick up on things such as your blood sugar being low.”
He rubbed his forehead, looking down at Ozzy, stroking his fur to calm him down. “Haven’t been much in the mood to eat lately either.”
In a moment, I made a decision, not wanting to think past it.
“There is a sandwich truck next to the dog park.” I licked at my lips nervously. “If you’d like to join us.”
He half scoffed and snorted, his head wagging, bemused by the flip in this conversation.
“He loves the meatball one.” I nodded at Ozzy, who sat close to him, whimpering softly.
“Well.” Mason smiled down at the dog, picking up his leash. “Guess we need to get Ozzy his sandwich.”
I had no idea what I was doing, if this was smart or not, but being near him… it felt like my lungs could finally inhale air.
My heart could beat again.
Chapter 34
Emery
With a few days off work, most of the week I found myself back in Mason’s garage, with or without the dogs, sitting on a stool, watching him work.
We hadn’t spoken about our fight, both of us knowing we were still at an impasse, acting like friendship was the only thing being offered, while my hormones said differently. Observing closely how his body would lean over the engine, showing off his round ass, his muscles flexing as he fixed a part, his t-shirt clinging to his chest. It was hard to remember anything past wanting to jump him.
“Oh, I forgot to tell you.” He finished tightening something in the engine, twisting around to me, a smile hinting on his lips, leaning back on the car.
“What?”
“I passed my GED. I’m officially graduated and out of high school.”
“Mason, that’s incredible. Congratulations!”
He folded his arms over his chest, his grin turning more sheepish. “Got a seven hundred.”
“What?” I gaped. That was exceptional. The highest score you could get was an eight hundred. “Holy shit! That’s amazing!” Not thinking, I jumped off my chair, leaping for him, my arms circling around him in a congratulatory hug. The moment he wrapped me up in his arms, I felt it deep in my bones. It was like coming home.
He tucked his face into my neck, inhaling deeply, the feel of his breath heating my skin, igniting my veins on fire. We held on for a long time before I tipped back. Only an inch apart, his eyes dropped to my mouth, our breaths mixing, our chests moving in sync.
“Really, I’m so proud of you,” I said softly.