to leave. He only stepped closer to me, moving up the few steps on the porch and staring at me with that knowing expression. “Let’s go inside.” He reached for me, rubbing my arms up and down; he must’ve thought I was cold.
I was, but that didn’t matter.
Jerking away from him, I nearly dropped the glass onto the ground. “No.”
“Fine,” he said, starting to take off his hoodie. “Then take my jacket, because you’re freezing.”
“I don’t want it.”
“I don’t care. You’re going to take it.” Mason was never pushy, but he sounded exactly that as he tore the glass out of my fingers and set it on the step he stood on, returning his attention to me as he helped me into the hoodie. He wore nothing but a t-shirt under it, though he didn’t shiver or anything as he looked at me.
Again, I muttered, “I don’t want it.” Too late now, since it was already around me, warming me up immediately with his heat.
“What’s going on, Bree?” Mason asked, pleading. “Michelle wouldn’t tell me anything.”
I met his eyes, wondering, if I told him the truth, what he’d do. Maybe I could cut ties with both of them tonight, kill two birds with one stone, and be free of them. I’d hate myself forever, but at the same time, it was best to let these things go early.
My eyes threatened to burst again. I had to turn my face away and close my eyes before I whispered, “I’m not seeing Calum anymore.” I nearly said I broke up with him, but he’d never asked me to be his girlfriend, so I stopped myself. The words still felt wrong on my tongue, but that did not change the fact that it was true.
No more Calum.
A silent tear escaped, curving down my cheek as it went. Mason must’ve seen it, for the next thing I knew, his arms were around me, and he was pulling me into his chest, holding me there, refusing to let go.
“What happened?” he asked, his chest humming with the words, and for a moment, I lost myself to the sound.
“His ex…” I could say no more, my shoulders once again starting to shake as I let my emotions take control of me. I didn’t want Mason to see me like this, but I couldn’t help it.
Mason’s grip around me tightened, hard as steel as he muttered, “I’ll fucking kill him.”
“No,” I whispered, my heart hurting inside my chest, “it’s for the best. I knew I’d never…I’d never be able to keep him.” I snaked a hand between us, and though it was the hardest thing I’d ever had to do, I pushed his chest away from me, meeting his eyes as I added, “Or you.”
“Me?” he asked, shaking his head once. “I’m not going anywhere, Bree.”
I started to take off his hoodie, my intent to give it back to him and send him off—we’d still have to work on the project, but I could do the rest of it myself and just share the presentation notecards with him—but he stopped me.
“I mean it,” Mason said. “I’m not going anywhere, no matter what you say. Do you understand? I’m here, and I’m staying—I’m not going to let you push me away.”
I burst into tears at that, wanting to believe him, but at the same time knowing he had to be lying. He had to. I wasn’t worth it. I really wasn’t worth it. There were so many other girls out there, girls who were prettier and more normal, girls who weren’t broken like me. Why would he want to stick around my side when there were so many other better options out there?
Mason hugged me close, murmuring, “It’s okay, Bree. I’m here. I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.”
The stupid thing was, I believed him.
I closed my eyes, my tears slowly drying as I found my strength inside Mason. So collected, so calm, even when I was falling apart. Why couldn’t I be more like him? He seemed so sure of himself, too.
God, I was pretty sure I loved him.
What made that statement so strange was the fact that I was also pretty sure that I loved Calum.
Eventually, Mason and I sunk to the steps, sitting on them, leaning on them as he held onto me, refusing to let me go. I felt at home in his arms, like I could temporarily push away all of my worries, all of my doubts. I never wanted to be anywhere