I gave Payton a quick glance to make sure she was okay, then stepped over the lamp and ran for the door.
“That’s it!” Payton screamed from the bed, scrambling to get her bearings.
“I hope it is, bitch!” he screamed from the hallway, startling a woman walking past us. I looked away, embarrassed, and scared that someone would call the cops.
“Mason, calm down, someone is going to call the law,” I warned him, grabbing his arm. His body was rigid with anger, like a wild dog ready to attack.
“Let them. I don’t give a shit!” He pulled away from me and stomped down the hallway.
“I want you to give a shit, Mason.” I yelled at him, trying to catch up with him. My nerves could not handle much more.
“You and the world, Kendall,” he said.
When the elevator door opened, I stepped inside and leaned against the wall, staring at Mason. I wanted to smack him for his outburst. It wasn’t that Payton didn’t deserve it, because she did. But this wasn’t the time or place for their fight. I wished he’d just given in and done her dirty work for her.
The elevator came to a stop. He sighed and took my hand. “Let’s go eat. I’m sorry for snapping at you.”
I kept quiet, a million thoughts running through my mind as we headed downtown. My head and body ached and I had to push myself to keep moving. I felt worse with each passing minute.
“Mason, I know this sounds stupid, but I feel like crap,” I said, clutching my stomach. I stopped in the middle of the sidewalk. The people behind us moved around but not before glancing back to see what was going on. Mason took my arm and pulled me toward him.
“What do you think it is?” he asked, rubbing my back gently trying to make me feel better.
“That crap,” I muttered. I stood up straight and forced myself to walk.
We headed into the diner—the same one Renee worked at. Mason held onto me as we waited to be seated.
“Hola,” Renee said, coming to us. She had a smirk on her face as she took the two of us in. She looked fine. You’d never have guessed she’d partied the night away. Must be she’d grown accustomed to the drugs and could handle herself. I couldn’t.
“Hey,” Mason and I said in unison. We followed her to a back booth. Renee looked confused when she saw Mason’s hands on me—confused, but not upset.
“What can I get you to drink?” she asked, shooting us a warm smile. I admired how fresh she looked, makeup and all. I’m sure I looked like death warmed over.
“Two cokes,” Mason said, grabbing a menu. “That should help with what ails you.” He shot me a look.
I nodded and grabbed my own menu, not sure that food was the best idea for me at the moment.
“Just some french fries and the Coke,” I told her.
“I think Renee is weirded out by you,” Mason pointed out after Renee left to fill our order.
“Why would you think that?” I challenged, thinking the same thing myself.
“I know girls. And I can tell when they are weirded out by other girls,” he said. “They get especially weird after they’ve had sex with someone.”
I laughed out loud at Mason’s theory on women.
“That’s funny because I’ve slept with you for years and it hasn’t affected me at all.” I grinned, amused by him even in my sickness.
“Believe me, I know it hasn’t.” Everything fell silent. Mason was obviously bothered. He jumped out of his side of the booth and climbed in across from me.
“Mason, what are you doing?” I asked. He took my hand, but I pulled away, looking around to see who might be watching.
“We never finished our conversation back at the hotel. I think you wanted to know if I care about you. I don’t think you believe that I do,” he said. He grabbed my hand again. His stare was intense. My eyes drifted from Mason’s hard stare to the grip he had on my hands and then to the people in the diner.
“Kendall, I tell you all the time I care about you. You’re more important to me than anyone else. What happened the other night with Renee would never compare to you. And I was stupid to even do it…high or not. And that’s the God’s honest truth.”
I swallowed. I didn’t know what to think. I didn’t realize I had such feelings for Mason until now, but I didn’t know what I was supposed to do. Mason was my best friend and I realized he’s all I wanted. I knew I wanted him to be a part of me, more than I knew how. And, I wanted him to pick me.
“And you don’t even need to say anything. I’m screwed up. I don’t know how any of this works any better than you do. But I do believe you’re worth every second it would take to figure it out,” Mason said. The look on his face pulled at my heartstrings.
Renee returned with our food, the tray resting against her hip.
“French fries, two Cokes. Mason did you figure out what you wanted to eat yet?” she asked, eying us. I pulled my hand free from his.
“Cheeseburger and fries,” he said, looking at Renee.
He leaned back in the booth. I studied him as he sat there. There was one things I knew about Mason for certain. He was as honest as the day was long. He didn’t care if it hurt your feelings. If he had something to say, he was going to say it. I was sure he’d never lied to me…ever.
“So, hey,” Renee said, turning back around to face us. “What are you two doing later? There’s a lot more fun to be had before you leave beautiful Virginia.”
Mason looked at me for a signal of what I might want to do. I thought it strange she was so easy to forgive him after nearly tossing Shifty over the balcony.
“I don’t know. I’m not feeling that good,” I said. It was the truth. I felt like I’d been dragged for miles and hit by death himself.
“What about you, Mason?” she asked.
“If Kendall is feeling better in a few hours and wants to come, we’ll give you a call or something,” he said, shooting me a look.
Renee nodded and hurried off.
Mason grinned, stealing one of my fries.
“I wonder how much longer we’ll be here. Every day we sit puts me closer to my grave,” he said with a laugh.
“Keep your mouth shut if you have nothing good to say, Mason. I don’t think it’s funny at all,” I warned him, sinking lower in my seat.
“It’s funny. We’re sitting ducks. Sometimes I wonder if we’ll even make it out alive. You can’t say you haven’t thought the same thing. I know I’d fight tooth and nail before I sat the rest of my life in a cell. They might as well kill me. Jail is no life at all,” he said.
He hadn’t gotten the hint that I didn’t want to talk doom and gloom. It was misery and it made me feel even worse. It promised only despair with no chance of achieving our dreams.
I covered my mouth, afraid I was going to be sick, and ran to the bathroom, nearly knocking down an elderly couple in line to pay for their meal.
I pushed open the first stall door and dropped to my knees losing what little I had in my stomach.
“Are you okay in here?” Renee called out from the other side of the stall. I grabbed some toilet paper and wiped my mouth.
“Yeah, I’m all right. Just an upset stomach,” I said, coming out of the stall.
“So what’s the deal with you and Mason if you don’t mind me prying?” she asked. Her smile faded a bit as we stood there staring in the mirror.
“I’ve known Mason for too many years to count. He’s always been a part of my life,” I said short and to the point.
“He loves you. It’s written all over him,” she said, giving my arm a squeeze. “And you’re lucky, he’s a cute guy. His eyes are incredible, amongst other things,” she said, giggling at the last part.
I understood all too well what she was referring to.