Chapter 32
If I didn’t know better, I would think you were a vampire
I was climbing the stairs to Mason’s bedroom after we returned from our run when I heard a crashing noise coming from Craig’s bedroom, followed by a few curses and a muffled cry.
I froze on the landing, unsure of what to do next.
Back in high school, Craig and I became friends after he started dating Paige.
We weren’t super close, but I knew I could always count on him if I needed to.
Another curse echoed from the other side of the door.
With tentative steps, I neared the bedroom and eyed the door for a moment. Mason had once said his brother wasn’t really talking to him these days, but I bet he still needed a friend. If he refused to let his brother in, perhaps I could fill that role and be the one he confided in.
I inhaled a long breath and knocked on the wooden panel, questioning whether I was crossing a line by doing so.
“Go away, Mase,” Craig hollered.
I swallowed my uneasiness. “Huh, it’s not Mase. It’s me. Mel.”
I heard footsteps, and seconds later, he cracked the door open. His eyes were bloodshot, and his cheeks tinted red. He sniffled, looking down and rocking on his heels. “What do you want?”
“I-I was…” I closed my eyes for a long second. “I know you’re upset because I heard you.” I wouldn’t get a medal for my subtlety. “Anyway, I thought I'd check in and see if you might want someone to talk to.”
He locked his gaze on mine. Short stubble covered his tense jaw, dark circles rimmed his eyes, and his powder-blue T-shirt was wrinkled, with a hole by the side of the ribcage and a stain beneath the neckline.
This was very not like Craig Pierce, who looked put together most of the time. “Mase sent you?”
“Nah. He doesn’t know I’m here. He’s downstairs prepping us lunch. So? Wanna tell me what’s going on? Your secrets are safe with me.”
He opened the door wider and motioned me inside with an arm.
I surveyed the space. His bedroom was at least half the size of his brother’s, with a small desk, a queen-size bed, a nightstand, and a chair tucked into the corner by the window.
The walls were painted in some dark-beige hue, but I couldn’t make out the exact shade since the drapes were closed.
The bed was unmade, and there were clothes strewn everywhere.
The small closet’s doors were ajar, and I could spot a duffel bag and a messy pile of sweatshirts on the floor.
The bedroom smelled of dust and sweat and was in desperate need of some fresh air.
In all the years I’d known the oldest Pierce brother, I’d always ever seen him as super organized.
He would often tidy up Paige’s room whenever he went over, saying her messiness was charming but overwhelming.
The thought of them arguing once, when I was there, over the right way to pack a bag brought a smile to my face.
“I don’t wanna roll my clothes, Craig. It’s a waste of time. I prefer to have them piled up,” my best friend had said.
“I know, but if you roll them, you can take at least fifty percent more,” Craig had replied with a wink.
“I have an idea. Roll yours, and I’ll add my additional fifty percent to your bag.” She had shrugged, grinning big.
Craig had shaken his head. “Fine, babe. Let’s do it your way.”
Paige had jumped into his arms and kissed him. At that point, I had made myself scarce, going downstairs to the kitchen to avoid being swept in their public display of affection.
I closed in on Craig’s bed and folded two T-shirts and placed them on his desk before realizing what I was doing.
He cleared his throat. “Mel, what are you doing?”
I sat on the edge of the mattress I had just tidied.
“You miss her.” It wasn’t a question because I could see all the signs that he wasn’t doing so well, right there, all around me.
“I won’t ask you what happened because if you wanna tell me, you’ll do it on your own terms. I’m here for you, whenever—or however—you need me.
I’m a good listener. And I know how it feels to push away the one person you love, thinking it’s the right thing to do. ”
He dragged a hand over his face before shoving a pile of clothes aside and sitting next to me, his elbows braced on his knees and his face buried in his palms. “It’s not… How can you tell?” He raised his head and turned until our eyes met.
“I just know. Believe it or not, I’ve been there not so long ago.” I sighed.
He nudged my shoulder with his. “You really love him? Mase?”
I chewed on my bottom lip and nodded. “I’ve always loved him.”
“Why did you leave him then? Why did you put the two of you through this heartbreak if you were both in love with each other?”
“It just got too messy at some point, and I thought letting him go was the right thing to do. Why did you push Paige away if you’re still hung up on her?” I turned his question back at him.
“It’s not the same.” He looked deflated right now. “I didn’t have a choice. It was forced upon me. Someone fucked up, and we paid the price.”
I angled my upper body to look at him. “What do you mean?”
He snorted. “Forget it.”
“I can’t.” We remained silent for a long beat.
“When I pushed everyone away, it was because I was ashamed. Ashamed of my condition, but also ashamed that I’d been caught.
Neither Paige nor Mason was at fault. I let my ego do the talking because I believed I was protecting myself.
My pride got in the way of love and friendship, and I lost them both.
Then, when I realized what I had done, I was too stubborn to do anything to fix it.
I was certain they would never want to talk to me again.
I know how stupid that sounds now, but at the time, I really thought I was doing Mason a favor by rejecting him. ”
“Paige isn’t resentful. I’m sure she would be delighted to hear from you. Just sayin’.”
“I’ve thought about reaching out…many times, but I’m afraid to do so. It’s silly because we’ve been friends forever. So much time has passed, though. I feel like it’s too late.”
Craig gave my forearm a squeeze. “It’s never too late to do the right thing.”
I let out a sarcastic laugh. “I could say the same thing to you.”
“It’s not the same. If I tell her what actually went down, she’ll want to fix it, and if she does that, she’ll end up sacrificing her own future for me. I can’t allow that. It would be very selfish of me to make her choose.”
“Have you talked to her since you broke things off?”
He shook his head. “If I do, I won’t be able to hide the truth from her any longer. She’ll tell me she deserves explanations, and I don’t wanna lie anymore.”
“Would it be so terrible to tell her the truth?”
“As I said, she’ll want to fix things, and I will feel responsible if she’s not chasing her dreams. And who knows? One day, she might realize it too and hate me for it. I’m not taking any chances.”
I rested my head on his shoulder, hoping to bring him a little peace. “I’m sorry.”
“Me too.”
“Wanna have lunch with us? Mase is making burritos.”
“I don’t think so.”
I jumped to my feet and injected myself with a little zest. “Let’s make a deal.
I’ll help you clean this place up”—I scanned the mess all around me—“and in exchange, you eat with us.” I moved toward the window, drew back the drapes to welcome the sunlight, and cracked it open, letting the crisp November air slip inside.
“If I didn’t know any better, I would think you were a vampire. ”
Craig’s lips curled up. “At this point, I might be.”
I pointed to the corner by the door. “Dirty clothes in a pile there. Clean clothes on the bed.” I noticed empty plates and glasses on the floor.
“I’ll take these to the kitchen. When I get back, we’ll fold and hang your pants and shirts, then change the bedsheets and vacuum the floor.
Just sort out your clothes while I’m gone. I’ll be back in a minute.”
“I didn’t know you possessed a bossy bone in you, Melinda Shepard.”
“Well, I even possess a backbone these days. College can do that to a girl.” With my arms full, I reached for the door and pulled it open. “Get started, Pierce. I don’t have all day.” I winked, and amusement danced in his gaze.
In the kitchen, I stacked the dirty dishes in the sink.
“What’s all that?” Mason asked as he finished dicing tomatoes and added them to a bowl filled with cilantro. “Are you housing some creature in a closet somewhere? Is it a bone-y? I’m pretty sure you’re already playing with one almost every night. Why would you need two?”
“I wish it were a bunny, but nah. I’m helping your brother out.”
He dropped the knife not he counter and spun around. “What?”
“Long story short. I offered to help him clean his room.”
“And he agreed? I’m not even allowed to enter his bedroom nowadays.”
I shrugged. “I didn’t really give him a choice. I gotta go back up there.” I moved to my tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “Oh, and make sure there’s enough food for three.”
“He’s eating with us?”
“Yep.”
He locked his hands around my waist and nuzzled my cheek with his nose. “Fuck, you’re hot. How did you accomplish this? It sounds like a miracle. My mom would hug you if she were here. She’s been worried.”
“I can be convincing when I need to be. Also, Craig and I have a lot in common. He’ll be okay. Maybe not today, but eventually.”
Mason let go of me and stepped back. “You really think so?”
“Yeah. Give him more time. His heart is broken.”
He nodded. “I know. Been there.”
I squeezed his hand. “Can I ask you something?”
“Always.”
“Do you ever talk to Paige?”
“Nope. I called her after she arrived at Thompson U once to make sure she was all right. We chatted for maybe ten minutes, and that was it. She said she needed a fresh start and that she’d reach out if she ever felt ready.
It hasn’t happened yet. At first, I was mad at Craig because she was his girlfriend, but she was my friend.
It sucks, but I get it. I’m giving her space to grieve. ”
“I feel responsible for tearing us all apart.”