Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
TARA
T he pounding in my head pulls me from a restless sleep. I squint against the harsh sunlight filtering through the hotel room window, my mouth dry and my head aching from a night of tossing and turning. Great, just what I need—a headache to top off the emotional turmoil I’m already in.
I sit up, rubbing my temples, trying to ease the throbbing pain. My phone sits on the nightstand, and I reach for it, hoping that maybe, just maybe, this is all a bad dream. But as I unlock the screen, my heart sinks. Notifications flood my home screen—texts, missed calls, and alerts from social media apps. My stomach churns with apprehension.
I open YouTube, and there it is—the video I’ve been dreading. It’s titled “Moonstruck Cove’s Mayoral Candidate Ditches Responsibilities for Sydney Sexcapades.” The thumbnail alone makes me want to throw up—a grainy still of me dancing with Romeo—uh, Mason in costume—at the masquerade. I take a deep breath and hit play.
The video starts with shaky footage of me boarding the Masks On boat, clearly not the showboat where Odette’s bachelorette party was supposed to be. The narrator, whose voice is distorted, says, “Instead of joining her best friend’s bachelorette party and wooing investors for Moonstruck Cove, mayoral candidate Tara Davies chose a night of debauchery with the notorious Masks On group.”
Then it cuts to clips of me slow-dancing with Mason, and then leaving the event early with him to catch a taxi together. The narrator continues, “Here she is, getting cozy with a stranger while she should have been focusing on her duties to her community.”
I feel the bile rise in my throat, my heart pounding in my chest. This is a nightmare. How could this have happened?
Just as I’m about to pause the video, unable to watch anymore, it cuts to an interview with Eric Hislop. He’s standing outside his campaign headquarters, a smug smile on his face. “I’ve always said that Tara Davies is not yet fit to lead Moonstruck Cove,” he says, his voice oozing with false concern. “No one is judging her for having fun. After all, she’s only twenty-eight years old. Yes, she has been a valuable councillor for Moonstruck Cove. In fact, she was—is—a fantastic councillor. But as a mayor? We have proof that she’s still more interested in her own pleasure than in serving her community, despite what she says. So, in this coming mayoral election, vote for me. I am more than ready, more than willing and more than able to serve you. I have so much more to offer, including a vast wealth of experience. I’m Eric Hislop, and I’m more for you.”
I want to scream, to throw my phone across the room, but I refrain. Odette is outside in the lounge room with Kelly and Anne. Today, Sunday, is the last full day of Odette’s bachelorette weekend, and I want her to enjoy herself rather than worry about me.
I get out of bed and have a shower. Then, I leave the bedroom to join the girls, pasting a smile on my face.
“Morning. You okay?” Odette asks as I walk in, her eyes filled with concern. Kelly’s and Anne’s expressions mirror Odette’s worry.
I nod, trying to keep my voice steady. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just a bit of a headache.”
Odette hands me a cup of coffee. “Here, I made this for you when I heard you in the bathroom.”
“Thanks.” I take a sip. The hot liquid burns my tongue, but I welcome the distraction from the turmoil inside me.
“Have you seen the video?” asks Anne softly.
I nod again, not trusting myself to speak. The room is silent for a moment before Odette breaks the silence. “Five Mooners—and counting—are going to make a recording in support of you. They’re gonna tell the truth—that they heard about Eric sending spies to catch you with strippers, and that was why you weren’t on the showboat with us. Gia will also confirm that your going to the masquerade was her idea, and that she even got the ticket for you.”
I give her a small smile. “Thanks. That’s great. But with the way that video was edited, I’m afraid the truth isn’t gonna make much difference.”
Odette sighs and stands. “Group hug,” she says, and the three girls wrap their arms around me.
The dam breaks. “Thank you,” I blubber, tears falling down my face.
“I know that a lot of Mooners want to hug you right now, too,” Odette soothes.
I sniff. “I know. But I’d really want them to vote for me instead of feeling sorry and thinking I’m not ready.”
They become silent. None of us has a good answer to my problem.
They release me, and Odette takes my hand. “Can we talk in private?”
“Sure.”
We go back to the bedroom and sit on Odette’s bed.
“About Mason,” she starts, squeezing my hand. “Tara, I know you’re upset with him, and you have every right to be. But he’s trying to help. We need all the help we can get right now.”
I look down, the mere mention of his name stirring up a whirlwind of emotions. “I can’t believe he didn’t tell me it was him,” I mutter, the sting of betrayal still fresh.
“He should have,” Odette agrees. “And he’s beating himself up about it. But right now, he’s doing everything he can to find out who’s behind that video.”
“What do you mean?”
“He texted me a little while ago. He’s been investigating that guy you met at the masquerade—Arpi?”
“He thinks Arpi is behind the video?”
Odette nods. “He said Arpi’s behaviour was suspicious from the start. He bought tickets from two women outside the Dome just as the event was about to start. He wasn’t even in costume apart from his mask. And then he sat next to you at dinner and got really friendly.”
I frown, remembering how Arpi had seemed too smooth, too eager. “Yes, he could have been the person sent by Eric,” I murmur.
Odette nods. “Mason’s looking into it.”
I stand up, pacing the room as my thoughts whirl. “This is all such a mess. I can’t believe this is happening.”
Odette watches me, her expression sympathetic. “I know it’s hard, but it might be easier if you speak directly with Mason with further info about Arpi.”
I hesitate, but I can see how it makes sense. “Okay. But I want you there with me, please. I don’t want to be alone with him.”
“Of course. I’ll invite him to dinner tonight. He can come after work.”
“Okay. And I guess I can ask him why he agreed to sleep with me, knowing it was me all along,” I add bitterly.
Odette sighs. “I shouldn’t be saying this, but if you reflect upon his actions this weekend, would you see something you don’t expect?”
I stare at Odette.
“Mason isn’t the person you knew ten years ago,” she says softly. “He really is a very different person now. It’s almost like what happened back then—when you broke up with him and how he was ostracised by Mooners—turned him around. So, I honestly don’t think that he would have slept with you on Friday night just for pleasure. He would have taken into account the fact that it was you. And you know what? That tells me a lot. But I’m not going to share any more of my opinion on that. You have to find out what it means to you.”
I don’t know what to say, but something about Odette’s words unlocks something in my chest. And I remember Mason—Romeo—sharing that story about the gang he unknowingly joined.
Suddenly, I want to recall every single word he said to me that night.
* * *
M y heart is pounding hard as I peruse the hotel’s room service menu. We decided to have dinner in our suite, and we’ll order once Mason arrives. I’m so nervous that I don’t know what to do with myself. The relaxing effects of the three-hour girls’ spa we had this afternoon have totally evaporated.
I glance at Odette, Kelly and Anne. They’re engrossed in a conversation, and no one seems to notice my agitation. Knowing them, it’s probably intentional. They want to give me space without making a big deal out of it.
I try to sort through my jumbled thoughts. Despite my anger and shock at Romeo’s unmasking, I can’t deny the warmth that spreads through me as I recall our night together.
Romeo—Mason—was nothing but attentive and respectful the entire time I was with him, starting from when I boarded the Masks On boat. I felt no creepy vibes and didn’t experience any uncomfortable moments around him. He listened to me, really listened. And he made me feel safe.
In bed, his every touch and every whisper were electric. And he was generous—God, he was so generous—always putting my pleasure before his own. I can still feel his body pressed against mine, the heat of his lips as they brushed against my skin, the tenderness of his hands as they explored my every curve. We had a connection that went deeper than just physical— something I hadn’t felt with anyone else.
But then there’s the reality of who he is. Mason, the guy who broke my heart. The guy who left me feeling humiliated and betrayed. The guy whom I’ve spent a decade trying to forget.
I need to talk to him about his story regarding the gang that punished him by hurting his loved ones. Was he talking about me? I’m not sure, because he also left aunts, uncles and cousins at Moonstruck Cove. What if he only meant them as his loved ones? As far as I know, he’d started talking to them again ages ago, whereas if it weren’t for our accidental meeting on Friday night, we still wouldn’t have anything to do with each other.
I take a sip of my water, trying to calm the storm inside me. One thing I’m grateful for is that Mason is trying to help. He didn’t have to get involved, but he chose to, and that says something about his character. Maybe he is far from the guy I once knew.
And maybe, just maybe, he also felt the unbelievable, beyond-physical connection between us that I can’t deny, no matter how hard I try.
My lungs fill with air. Perhaps the time has come for us to have a long talk about what happened back then. Because isn’t it silly to hold on to the past when we’ve both changed a lot?
Odette’s phone vibrated with a text message. “Oh,” she said. “Mason can’t make it. He said he’ll discuss what he discovers with me during lunch tomorrow.” She looks at me with an apologetic smile. “I guess he got held up. Since you’ll be leaving before lunch, I’ll just have to update you with a phone call.”
My stomach sinks, but I nod, pretending I’m cool about it. After all the reflections I’ve done regarding the two of us, his not coming tonight is a mighty big letdown.
Doesn’t Mason want to see me again before I head back home? I guess not.
It seems he only wants to help with my new problem. Talking about our past—and resolving it—is not on his agenda.
My bad for getting my hopes up.
I’ll just have to go back home with my heart in pieces—broken by the same guy who shattered it the first time.