Chapter Five
A persistent buzzing wakes me early the next morning.
Whoever is calling me this early is in deep shit.
I snatch the vibrating phone from the nightstand and regard it with bleary eyes.
I’m met with a picture of a smiling brunette and the words Selena calling.
Who? Shit, this isn’t my phone. It’s Mason’s.
Sitting up, I can hear water running. Mason’s in the shower. After one more peek at the brunette’s picture, I return his phone to the table. I really didn’t mean to snoop. It’s none of my business who she is. That’s what I tell myself as I flop back into bed and pull the covers over my head.
I’m tempted to join Mason in the shower, but after last night, I’m pretty sore. I hear his deep chuckle before he crawls under the covers with me. “You really aren’t a morning person, are you?”
“You’ve got me figured out,” I reply, wrapping my arms around him.
“Can I lure you out with waffles? I know a great little café near here.”
“I don’t know. Last time I went there, I was followed by a stalker and his buddies.”
“Brothers,” he corrects.
“What?” I flip the blankets off of us.
“I was there with my brothers, Alex and Parker.”
“It’s unfair for one family to hoard that much hotness.”
He growls and pins me to the bed. “I’m the hot one here. Don’t you forget it.” His stubble rasps against my neck and he nips my earlobe.
“Do you have any sisters?”
“No, all boys.”
Damn it. So much for the brunette being his sister. His tongue traces my ear. “Mmm, okay, waffles it is. Let me get a quick shower,” I say, hopping out of bed before I give in and attack him. “Do you have to get to work?”
“I have an intro class in a couple of hours. What are you doing today?”
“I’m at S.B. from one until four. No idea what they’ll have me doing. The owner’s a tyrant.”
Laughing, he pulls me to my feet. “You should come to my gym this week.”
“Is that a reference to my big ass?”
“Not that kind of gym, Panda. Today, I’m teaching grappling to middle schoolers, but Monday is a fight class with teens and adults.”
“I’d love to come watch you get your ass kicked by adolescents. Oh, by the way, your phone was buzzing,” I inform him, heading into the bathroom.
“Thanks, now hurry up before I take you again.”
I flee the room before he can grab me. Good Lord, but this guy likes to mark me up.
There’s a tiny hickey on the side of my neck and another on my boob.
For some reason, it makes me smile. I’m smiling at myself in the mirror like a moron when Mason rushes into the room.
“Evie, I’m sorry, I have to go to work. I’ll call you, okay? ” He drops a quick kiss on my lips.
“Is everything all right?”
He seems flustered, although his eyes still take the time to flow over my nudity before he responds, “Everything’s fine. Remember what you promised. Don’t go anywhere alone, especially at night.” He’s out the door before I can reply.
Stunned, I stare after him for a moment.
What the hell was that? He ran out like his hair was on fire and his ass was catching.
I continue to run scenarios through my mind as I shower.
Was there a problem at Striking Back? He said he had to go to work.
Did something happen at his gym? This is going to drive me crazy.
The beep of an incoming text message from Amy interrupts my obsessing.
-Meet at Huddleston’s?-
-Be there in thirty minutes.-
It’s almost funny. I guess I get waffles after all.
Amy smiles as I slide into the booth across from her. “I’m going to assume I haven’t heard from you because you’re spending time with that god-like, tattoo covered man.”
“And I’m going to assume the same about Wendy.”
“Spill it, girl,” she insists.
“I’ve spent a couple of nights with him.” I grin as I recount my last week to my friend.
“A picnic, pandas, and hot monkey sex. Bitch, I hate you. You’re making my life look boring. You’d better hang onto this one, Ev. He’s something else.” Her eyebrows raise as she glances at the door. “And speaking of, aren’t those the hotties he was here with last time?”
I turn to see Mason’s brothers settling at a corner table. “They’re his brothers. Alex and Parker.”
“Which is which?”
“No idea,” I reply.
The waitress, Lacey, approaches us, smiling at our laughter. “You girls need to visit more often. You seem to bring the man meat with you.”
“They come here a lot?” I ask.
“Not those two, but the one with the bright eyes was here just yesterday for breakfast. I’d set your sights on one of those two, though, sugar. Bright eyes usually comes in with a Latino chick.”
The picture of Selena flashes before my eyes, and I quickly try to change the subject. “Looks like your new waitress is working out.”
“So far so good. I hope I can keep her. You want your usual?”
“Yeah, thanks,” I reply, glancing at Amy. Her face is pure sympathy. “It’s okay,” I assure her, after Lacey walks away. “We’ve only had a few dates. We haven’t made any promises to each other.”
“Ev, I’ve never seen you talk about a man the way you do him. It’s not okay. Maybe she’s a relative or friend.”
That’s seeming less and less likely. “He couldn’t get out of my apartment fast enough when she called this morning.” I explain his odd behavior.
Amy squeezes my hand. “Shit, Ev. Men are pigs.”
“I’m aware.”
“We need a night out. Sunday is race day. Let’s go to the track Saturday night.”
“You’re on. Now, tell me how things are going with Wendy.” Amy and I spend an hour catching up before I head to Striking Back.
I hate the dread I feel walking into a place I love. This is why I don’t date those I work with. I’ve had fun with Mason. I mean, who wouldn’t? He’s gorgeous, sweet, funny, and fantastic in bed. He really seemed to be into me too, but it appears I’m one of many.
If he texts or finds me here, I’ll let him know I can’t see him anymore.
I usually feel relieved when I make this decision, but for some reason I just feel heavy and tired.
It’s ridiculous. I’m in no mood to talk to anyone today.
Fortunately, the kids and most of the parents are on a trip to the zoo.
I spend a few hours doing laundry and helping prepare meals for the upcoming week.
I can’t help but glance at the cameras as I’m leaving.
Was he here today? Was he watching me on the monitors? Is he trying to figure out how to get rid of me, worrying I’ll cause him trouble at work? He doesn’t have to stress over that. I’ve never been the clingy type.
* * * *
It’s been seven days since I heard from Mason.
I take that back. When I texted him on Wednesday with the message Hope everything’s okay, I got back this winner, All fine.
Busy with work. No talk of having me visit his gym.
No flirty funny messages. It’s clear he’s done.
I don’t know why I even care. I’d already decided dating him was a bad idea.
What I need is a crazy night out with Amy, and tonight I’m going to get it.
The night before the Indy 500 is a party like no other.
Thousands of race fans and partiers from all over the country descend on the small neighborhood surrounding the track.
The streets are closed to traffic and stuffed with people.
Cops patrol, but only focus on the troublemakers.
For one night, public intoxication and even public nudity is pretty much ignored. It’s a blast.
Ian shows up at my door as I’m getting ready to go out. “Woo, look at you. Tight jeans and a tighter blouse. Where are you headed?”
“It’s the night before the race!”
“You aren’t going alone,” he says with a frown.
“No, Dad, Amy is meeting me.”
“Well, I’m coming too. Make sure some redneck doesn’t pull you into an RV.”
“Maybe I want to be ravaged in an RV.” I laugh, locking my door before we head to the elevator.
He glances at me after I buckle myself in his car. “You get your car back?”
“Yep. Good as new.”
“Still no idea who did that shit?”
“No, some prank probably.”
After a few seconds of silence, he asks, “Still haven’t heard from Mason?”
“We’re done.”
“Who decided?”
I gaze out the window, watching the city go by as I answer, “Since he never contacted me so I could tell him I’m done, I guess he gets credit for this one.”
“The guy’s a moron to break up with you, pup.” Ian reaches to squeeze my hand.
“We weren’t together, so it wasn’t really a breakup.” I look around with a smile as Ian pays a guy twenty bucks to park on his lawn. “Besides, I’m ass deep in horny men at the moment. I don’t give a shit about Mason.”
It’s far from the truth. I let him get under my skin, and I can’t seem to shake him.
My usual response would be to find a cute guy to bang my brains out, someone who won’t care if I leave right after.
For some reason, it just isn’t appealing this time.
I’m just going to get drunk and have fun with my friends.
We make our way through the boisterous drunken crowd to meet Amy on the corner of Sixteenth and Georgetown. She has her arm around her girlfriend, Wendy, and they wave, excited to see us. “Hey, Wendy, I’m glad you made it,” I say, giving Amy a quick hug.
“If I get fired for calling in to work sick, I’m blaming Amy.” She laughs. “She’s a bad influence.”
“So, where are we going, ladies?” Ian drapes his arm around me.
“The Blue Stripe? I need a drink,” I reply.
“You heard the woman.” Wendy laughs, and we head down the street. The best thing about the night before the race is the diversity of the people. They come from all over the country. I’ve even met people from Australia and England here. And everyone is trashed and happy.