Chapter 5
“Where are you? Why aren’t you home yet?”
Mason’s voice cut through the noise of the bar, sharp and crystal clear despite the thumping bass.
Wait – he was already home?
For the first time ever, he beat me back.
“You’re not answering my texts. Not picking up. Where the hell are you right now?”
I glanced at my phone. Missed calls. Four of them
“I’m with Nina. She’s drunk. I’m taking her home.”
“Where are you? I’ll come get you.
His voice actually sounded anxious.
“We’re at Club 97. It’s kinda far. I’ll just grab a ride.”
The words came out without thinking. I didn’t want to wait around in a bar for him to show up. It’d be faster to call a car myself.
“I’ll be there in twenty.”
And then click. He hung up.
I checked the map. From our place to here? No way he’d make it in twenty. It was a solid thirty, minimum.
Whatever. I’d wait. I was used to waiting.
So Rolin leaned in after ushering his friends elsewhere. “Miss Artist Extraordinaire, where are you working now?”
I smiled but didn’t answer.
What could I say?
My whole life for the past few years had revolved around Mason.
Where was I working? I didn’t even low how to answer that.
Maybe he noticed the shift in my mood because he didn’t press.
“Their jokes were out of line, sure,” he said, swirling the drink in his hand, “but they weren’t lying about one thing ”
He lifted his glass toward me, eyes glinting in the low neon glow.
“You really were my muse,
“I moved to Paris after graduation Started my own fashion label”
“I’m thinking of launching something new back here. Do you want to relive the old late–night creative chaos with me?”
He grinned, pulling out his phone,
“Here, give me your contact. I’ll send you the files.”
Before he could say more, my phone buzzed again.
“Come outside. I’m here.”
Mason
I looked back at Rolin. He was so much more confident than I remembered. And that spark in his eyes–it was something I hadn’t seen in a long time. Not in Mason. Not even in myself.
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“I’ll check the files later,” I said, standing up. “But I gotta go. Let’s talk soon.”
Rolin gave me a loose, one–armed hug with his usual swagger.
“I’ve pat
got you now, Miss Wells. You promised–don’t go backing out on me.
Just as I laughed and tried to pull away-
I felt someone yank my arm hard and then stumbled right into a firm chest.
“Sabrina! What the hell are you doing?”
Rolin and his friends looked up in surprise as Mason shoved me behind him and pushed Rolin backward onto the couch.
“Whoa, man! Chill out! We’re just talking–what’s your problem?”
Rolin’s friends started to rise, crowding toward us.
I shot Rolin a pleading look
He caught on fast and quickly pulled his group aside. “Guys, it’s fine. Just a misunderstanding ”
But for some reason, Mason looked even more pissed now
“This is Mason?” Rolin said first, trying to break the tension. “I’m Rolin Carter–Sabrina’s friend from college.”
gave him the coldest, most forced handshake I’ve ever seen
He glanced down at me, still tucked against his side, and Rolin seemed to register how awkward I looked.
“I just got back to the States,” Rolin added. “Still a little wild from overseas, you know? Didn’t mean anything.
Then he looked between us and asked, “So… are you her husband now?”
Mason stiffened
“Our relationship isn’t anyone else’s business,” he said flatly.
And with that, he grabbed my hand and pulled me away.
As we passed the booth, I glanced back at Nina, still half asleep.
“Rolin, can you bring Nina out for me?”
Mason’s grip tightened and he didn’t let go.
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