He smiled warmly. “Nutrition, right?”
I groaned. “I thought anatomy was the hardest class I’d have.”
“Nah—that’s a story they tell the freshmen to scare them off.”
“That’s reassuring. I feel like I’m on a foreign planet here.”
He chuckled. “You’ll get used to it. You’re smart. Let me see the rest of your classes.”
I warmed under his praise. And, as I passed over my schedule, I began to relax. I could do this; I’d done harder things.
Living with Mason, came to mind. I’d once thought that man could only make my blood boil, but now? Now I saw him on a daily basis without feeling like I wanted to punch him. If anything, I was finding myself heading in the other direction. That thought caused a stirring inside of me that I’d rather remain unstirred.
I blinked as I turned my attention to Camden. What was wrong with me? Why did every situation—every thought trail—find its way to Mason? He was my landlord and nothing else. He didn’t belong in my everyday thoughts, and he certainly did not belong in any thoughts that included stirring emotions.
It was official. I’d completely lost it.
Now, if I could stop looking forward to seeing him play football with Parker tonight, I’d be golden.
Chapter 8
Mason
I pulled my keys from the ignition as I took in a deep breath and stared up at the sheriff’s office in front of me. Normally, I wasn’t one to linger. I prided myself on being punctual. After all, I was a single guy with no life. I had little to think about except my job on most days.
Not today.
Not after I saw Sadie stare at me in the driveway.
Not after my heart burst from my chest as I met her gaze; not when I saw her cheeks flush or when her voice turned breathy even though she was obviously attempting to be nonchalant.
My father’s words were ricocheting off the walls of my mind, and I couldn’t bring myself to settle down.
I cursed under my breath as I scrubbed my face and tipped my head back to focus on my breathing. It was one of the techniques they taught at the injured vet meetings I’d gone to at the VA. Even though I stopped after two weeks, I remembered that little nugget. And it had gotten me through some of my episodes.
A door slammed next to me, and I startled, whipping my eyes open and glancing over. Holly’s face appeared in my window, and her bubbly smile widened when her gaze met mine. She waved a few times before she knocked on the glass.
“Mason!” she exclaimed as if I couldn’t hear her.
I nodded and moved to open the door. Holly was new to Evergreen Hollow. She was training to be a deputy and had landed a job as the community service officer. Her blonde ponytail perpetually bounced, and she had this giggle that erupted all the time. I doubted her ability to be an officer, because she was all innocence and pink fingernails; but she was nice enough. What did I know?
Who was I to stop her?
I pulled on the door handle, and she moved just enough for me to get the door open and slip out. As soon as I slammed the door, she stepped closer to me, and the giggle emerged.
“Good morning,” she said in a singsong voice.
“Is it?” I asked and then winced. I hadn’t meant to snap. I just had a lot on my mind.
“Yes,” she said as she reached out and punched my arm.
I stared down at her, amazed at how happy she was. I’d known her for a month, and I had yet to see her upset or even see her frown. I studied her lips. Could they even move in a southbound direction?
“Do I have something on my face?” she asked as she covered her mouth with her hand.
Blinking, I pulled back and shook my head.
Get your head on straight, McKnight. My high school football coach’s voice boomed in my head. It had been a running joke with the team. If they only knew who I had been staring at when I was supposed to be catching passes.
Why the girls soccer team had to practice right next to the football team always confused me. Sadie and her ridiculously long legs and long hair pulled up into a ponytail had me all distracted.
“Nope,” I said. We made our way into the building.
“Oh, good. ’Cause that would have been embarrassing.”
I scoffed. Not as embarrassing as staring at a stranger’s lips while thinking about another woman.
I closed my eyes for a second as that thought entered my mind. It was official, I was losing it. Whatever it was, it was gone and halfway to China by now.
“Morning,” Sheriff Potts said as he moved to fill up most of his doorway. His bushy mustache jostled. The clinking of his spoon against his mug filled the air.
I gave him a quick nod and then headed to my desk. I needed some paperwork and coffee to get my head on straight. Anything to keep my thoughts from returning to Sadie was on my to-do list today.
Anything.
An hour later, I blew out my breath as I tipped my head back to rest on the back of my chair. That had been the hardest sixty minutes of my life. Even though I’d finished a report from yesterday, I’d been unsuccessful at forgetting Sadie. She was constantly there, haunting me. Forgetting her was like mentally arm wrestling myself—it was exhausting and got me absolutely nowhere.
Holly grabbed the keys to the community service truck and slung her backpack over her shoulder.
“Going somewhere?” I asked as I leapt out of my chair and almost mowed her down.
Her eyes widened as she stood there with her hand suspended in the air. “Um, yep. Apparently there is a cat stuck in a tree at the college.” She jostled the keys. “Duty calls.”
“I’ll come,” I said, loud and fast. When everyone in the room turned to look at me, my face heated. I cleared my throat and tried again. “I mean, I have no problem helping if you need help.” I studied her as I willed her to agree. “Do you need my help?”
Because I needed hers. I needed a break from my thoughts. Apparently, doing something mind-numbing only allowed for other thoughts to creep in and take up residence.
Her eyebrows rose higher, “I guess,” she said slowly.
I tried not to whoop with excitement.
I didn’t wait for her to change her mind. I grabbed my sunglasses and wallet, and slung my utility belt over my shoulder as I extended my hand toward the door. “After you.”
She still looked at me like I’d grown a third arm but then nodded and walked toward the door. Once we were in the truck and on our way to the college with the air conditioner going full blast on my hot face, I let out a sigh. This was good. This was what I needed.
Thankfully, Holly was more focused on singing along with the radio than talking to me, and the ride to the college was conversation-less. When she pulled into the parking lot and turned off the engine, I felt as if a weight had been removed from my shoulders.
The sense that the seasons were about to change hovered in the air. Warm sunshine spilled on my shoulders, and a light breeze tugged at my cheeks. This was so much better than staring at the computer screen all day. When I got back, I was going to ask Potts for a beat job. Being outside seemed to be just what I needed to keep my head on straight.
Holly had gone around to the back of the truck and pulled down the tailgate. She reached in to pull out a ladder, but when I realized what she was trying to do, I beat her to it. I slid the ladder across the bed of the truck and then up onto my shoulder. I knew I should have taken notice of the fact that her cheeks flushed when I did that, but I decided to ignore it. After all, it wasn’t like she was into me or anything.