11. Chapter 10
~ Mason ~
After they left, Patty took her son to her place and I sat down on the couch, my head spinning.
Because what the hell was I doing?
Where had I gotten to the point of a son threatening me?
Not that I was worried, because I could take him down, but that wasn’t the point. Dixon shouldn't have had to come up to tell me anything, regardless of what his mom said or told him.
And yet, this is where I was. Sitting down, thinking about a young man who was worried about his mom and for something that I couldn’t offer her.
How jacked up was this whole thing actually?
I ran my hand over my face, thinking about this.
I didn’t want to end things with Patty, and she was pretty open with the fact that she didn’t mind the status that we had. However, I also wasn’t foolish. Eventually she would want more, and I couldn’t give her that. I wasn’t ready, still didn’t think I ever would be.
Patty was a great woman, who had an amazing head on her shoulders, so the only thing I could think about that would be good for both of us was for me to pull away.
She deserved someone who could treat her right and give her the things I couldn’t, like a relationship.
Was it something I wanted?
Of course not, because I didn't want to share that amazing woman, but I had to let her go, had to let her find someone that would be a better catch than me.
The other problem, I would never find another Patty, another woman that matched my sexual drive or who could be as different and sassy as I was.
I’d be stuck dealing with the bimbos, and they didn’t hold any damn appeal after someone like her.
“Fucked this one up, Mason,” I muttered to myself.
Days later, Dixon left and I saw him one more time at the diner before he did. His look told me everything I needed to know; back away while I could or else.
Yeah, well, buddy, you didn’t need to worry.
I already was because I knew better.
“So,” Patty said, walking up behind me, her hand resting on the counter, “he’s gone and I’m free.”
“I’m glad you got time with him,” I told her, and I honestly was. She wasn’t going to like what I was doing, but it was an ‘oh well’ type deal too.
“He's a good kid, and I missed him.”
“Yup.”
“But since he’s gone, I figured I could come over…,” she said, giving me a smirk and holy hell did I want to take her up on that.
I really did.
But again, I needed to do this. Needed to end it. To back off. For both of our sakes.
“Can’t. Need to fix a water line,” I told her, not looking up from my job. I knew if I did, I'd see her crushed look, and I would have to recant my lie.
“Oh, I didn't know something happened. Mason, you don’t have to be here, you can go home to fix that.”
“Thanks, but I hold true to a promise, and I said I would help, so I’ll be here. I’ll just work on the line later.”
I finally looked up, seeing her eyes narrowed slightly and her arms crossed.
“Right, makes sense. I thank you again for everything you’ve done for me. I can get going on some other stuff then I’m closing early, so if that’s all you need to finish up, you can go home too.”
I got the hint, she was dismissing me today, and while I should be happy, she was picking it up, I wasn’t.
Why couldn’t my heart let me move on and be with someone like her?
Why did it have to stay in the past?
Or was I just using that as an excuse?
~ Patty ~
I wasn’t dumb. I knew something was going on. In all the time I’ve known this man, he has never turned me down. And if he had a bad line that needed work, he would have gone to fix that. Because he had something similar happen a few weeks back.
So, did I think he was lying, yup.
My only thing was why.
However, I was a mother, so I was always really good at digging for truth and often getting it. I just hope that when I did figure it out, it wasn't him being such a dick that things couldn’t be fixed.
But a gut feeling told me that was really wishful thinking on that part.
Three days later, after being ignored again, I headed to the bar, needing a drink because that man was driving me utterly crazy.
I wasn’t sure what he was hoping for, but he barked at me earlier when I tried meeting up again.
And I laid into him, letting him know he didn’t get to treat me like that.
He packed up his tools and left, and honestly, I was okay with that.
I was over this attitude and was determined to find someone else to please me. I just didn't think it would happen.
I hopped up on a stool, ordering a beer, smiling my thanks when Charlie placed it in front of me. I took it, taking a long gulp from it when I felt someone walk up to me from behind.
“Do you always come here alone?”
I rolled my eyes to myself.
“No. But the guy I wanted to join me thought it best to stay home and organize his underwear drawer. Shouldn’t take him long, he’s only got a few pairs.”
Mason sat next to me, busting out laughing.
“That sass,” he said, shaking his head.
“Thought you were busy?”
“I was, but I needed a drink. Seems I need to clear my head.”
“Oh, you think? Think you need to clear a lot more if you ask me.”
“You’re probably right on that one.” I watched as he took another drink before he glanced at me. “I owe you an apology.”
That had me narrowing my eyes. Not because I didn’t deserve it, because I did, but because there was something going on and instead of being a man and talking to me, he thought it best to be a douche bag and piss me off.
“Yeah, I think I need something stronger than this beer for something like that.”
“You might not be wrong. I just don’t want you to come to my place where you’re likely to throw heavy shit at my head.”
“Don’t come to mine. Dix helped me spruce it up and there’s lots of things to toss.”
He winced and I enjoyed that look.
But I also wasn’t heartless and was willing to extend the olive branch.
“Can we finish our beers and then head to your place? I promise not to throw anything that would bust your head open.”
“Deal.” He took another gulp before slamming his bottle down and I lifted a brow. “What, I was almost done. Just waiting on you, woman.”
I lifted my shoulder and chugged back the last of my beer, making him smile.
“There, I’m done.” I laid some money down for Charlie, waving my thanks as we walked out. He walked me to my truck and helped me in, but my stomach was turning.
I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear what he had to say after all. Because I was worried it was going to hurt a lot more than I thought and I wasn't okay with that.