LOGINI looked up rent in the decent parts of the city. Safe areas, good schools nearby, not too far from where Lior already went. The numbers made me wince every time. I gave myself three months to save enough and move out.Mason had sent a generous sum into my account, payment for the room decor. As much as I didn't want to touch a cent of it, I would still do the redesign for him, a thank you for everything he'd done.But if worse came to worst, I might be forced to dip into it to move. I started looking into flexible job openings I could pick up after my hours with Nicholas, because rent in LA is no joke, and three months of saving wasn't happening on one income.If Mason's mother would rather have him marry Naomi than anyone else, even knowing she cheats, that was the wake-up call I needed. Getting him out of that agreement would mean a war with his family. A war I didn't want to be the reason he had to fight.It wasn't helping that my resolve had started to thin. My emotions were begi
Before, staying away from Mason had been about his mother's threat. Now it was about saving him.My head was a mess. A man ready to lose everything for me, wasn't that what people spent their whole lives wishing for? But I couldn't get past the same fear. That one day he would count what it cost him, look at me, and wish he'd chosen differently.I went to work the next day and couldn't focus to save my life. It was the first time I carried my emotions to work.Nicholas gave me a break at one point, told me to rest. I waved him off and kept going, until he pointed out the mistakes I'd been making.Careless ones, the kind I would never make if my head were clear. I hadn't even noticed them. I apologized and lied that a headache had kept me up most of the night."You should have just stayed home," he chided."It's fine.""Go home, Mia. Rest."He insisted, so I left. Going home meant an empty house and nothing to do but sit alone with my thoughts. That was a recipe for disaster in the sta
On the drive back, I asked Mason why he'd done that."Done what?""The kiss. Back there. Why would you peck me?""Felt like it."Whether it was the lightheaded feeling or the wine still loose in my blood, something had loosened my tongue. The question left me before I could think better of it."Why have you been so scarce lately?""Not sure what you mean," he replied, his eyes fixed on the road.I spelled it out for him. How he was barely around anymore. Every time I did see him his face was buried in his phone. He would show up for Lior and then disappear again.Mason laughed. "Does it bother you? You want me home more, is that it?""That's not what I meant." Heat crawled up my neck. "I just meant, in case something was wrong.”He gave a quiet laugh and let it slide, far too pleased with himself.When we got home, he stopped me before I could head up. "Actually, there's something I wanted to run by you. Please, come with me."He started toward his room without waiting, glancing back
I started noticing Mason was hardly home.Not gone, exactly. He was around enough that I knew he hadn't traveled, around enough for Lior, for the school runs and the dinners. But he wasn't there the way he used to be. Not the way he'd been before, always finding a reason to be in the same room as me.And the few times I did catch him, he had his phone in his hand and a smile on his face, lost in whatever was on the screen. I caught myself wondering if he had a girlfriend now. The thought left a bitter taste on my tongue every time.Once I overheard him on a call with Erica, laughing like she was the funniest person alive. I wanted to walk over and wipe that laugh right off his mouth.I told myself the distance was good. That it was exactly what I had asked for, what was best for everyone. I played it like none of it touched me at all, but I knew better. I just refused to say it out loud.The day of Daphne's launch rolled around at last, and with my invite in hand, I was going.For the
Whatever fun the night promised died after Daphne set her sights on Chase.Hannah had come to vent about her frustrations with Chase, but she couldn't do that now, not with Daphne openly crushing on him too. Having to swallow it all down left her cranky.Each time Daphne struck up a conversation, Hannah offered back the bare minimum, polite and clipped, until Daphne gave up trying.I was stuck right in the middle of it. Hannah wanted to talk to me. Daphne wanted to talk to me.Chase, look at the mess you've caused.With that kind of energy at the table, none of us were in the mood to linger. We called it an early night.When I got home and walked through the door, I heard voices and laughter before I even reached the living room.Mason and Chase had two other men with them, the four of them comfortable with their drinks, in the middle of some story. The laughter trailed off when I stepped in, all four heads turning my way.Chase smiled. "Welcome.""Hi." I gave a small wave and headed
The confidence in Mason's voice when he said I would come to him had me questioning my own resolve. But I knew better. Not with everything that was at stake.I didn't head to work at my usual hour. Nicholas had an early meeting, so we were starting late in the morning. I got Lior ready and Mason dropped him at school.It was just past eleven when I came downstairs to head out, and I stopped in my tracks. Mason was on the couch, dressed down in his house clothes, laptop open in front of him."I thought you left," I blurted.He looked up and gave me a good morning with a smile. "I did. Plans changed. I'm hosting someone here later.""Is it Erica?" The question was out of my mouth before I could catch it.A smile tugged at Mason's mouth. "No. But now that you've reminded me, I should follow up on the plans I made with her." He looked me over. "I see you're heading out.""Yeah. Nicholas is close."He opened his mouth, then thought better of whatever it was. Instead he asked, "How's everyt
Lily’s voice, reporting me to her mother with lies about how I had “physically assaulted her,” was the last thing I heard before I shut my door.I unpacked, changed, and went straight to bed, lying on my back and staring at the ceiling, hoping for a bit of quiet. It didn’t last. The sounds started
Over the next few days, Lior was finally cleared to go.Mason drove us to his house. I sat in the passenger seat, stealing quiet glances at Lior in the back. He looked smaller somehow, still a little weak, but there was light in his eyes again. I focused on that.Mason’s house came into view, and e
Half-asleep, I thought I heard Lior call me. “...Mama.”My eyes fluttered open, blinking as I tried to focus. My head was resting on Mason’s shoulder. I must have fallen asleep while we waited.That was all we had been doing since he was moved back to his private room.I shifted, about to lift my h
Walking back into the hospital, I couldn’t stop smiling. Standing up for myself, not once, but twice. I still couldn’t believe it.I made my way toward Lior’s ward and found Mason sitting in the hallway. I went over and sat beside him.“Where were you?” he asked without looking at me.“I went to ha







