“How was class today?” I called as I walked toward my room. I wanted to get out of my bar clothes, but I did I want to hear what she was saying. I tried to talk to her as much as I could. Other than school, Jen didn’t do anything. My job paid for this place, and the money we’d gotten from my parents was enough to cover Jen’s schooling.
“It was ok, I guess,” her voice lowered even more. “I met a guy.” She’d said it so quietly that I wasn’t sure if I was hearing her correctly.
“Oh yeah?” I tried to play it off, but Jen didn’t date so this was big for her.
“He wants me to meet him for coffee,” her voice seemed unsure, and I didn’t know if I should push her to go or support her when she backed out like it sounded she was going to.
“What do you want to do?” I came back into the living room tugging a t-shirt over my head in the process.
“I don’t know,” she tugged at the long sleeved shirt she was wearing. “I don’t know if I’m ready,” she nibbled her lip before peering up at me. “What if he sees?”
“Jenni,” I sighed. “If he says something to you about that, then he’s not the right guy. The right guy won’t care,” I lowered myself onto the couch and pulled her into my arms. I couldn’t believe that we were still here. I’d worked so hard over the years to help her, to get her past this, but it just wasn’t working. She had her good days, but she had some pretty bad ones too, and I couldn’t help but wonder how all the others dealt with what we did all those years ago. Jen was a constant reminder that Mase was an ass, and if I could go back in time I’d beat Chris and Brad to a bloody pulp for ever suggesting that stupid bet.
“Thanks,” she pushed out of my arms as she leaned forward to gather the papers that were spread out in front of her. “I think I just need to get some sleep. I’ll see you in the morning,” she murmured as she began walking toward her room.
“Night,” I called as I leaned back on the couch and stared at the ceiling.
As I sat there in the silence the night began to play over in my head. Was that really her? Was the Danielle that I tried to pick up tonight the Dani that I’d ruined all those years ago? If it was, would she give me the chance to tell her how sorry I was? That I’d changed? Would she even believe it?
I growled as I pushed myself up off the couch. I turned the lights off before storming back into my room. I closed the door before yanking open my closet. There on the top shelf near the back was what I was looking for. I reached up, grabbed the yearbook, and strode over to my bed. After taking a few deep breaths, I flipped open to the page that I hoped held the answers to who this woman was. There in the bottom corner of page seventy-two was the face that I’d stared at a few hours ago. It was her, it had to be.
Danielle Reed and star quarterback Mason Stone was written under the black and white photo. She was smiling up at me, but my mind was in another place when that picture was snapped. I was thinking about what I still had to do.
I scanned the background of the photo, and there they were. Brad and Chris were standing in the bleachers behind us. No one would think to look at the background. In a photo you don’t look at who’s behind you, you look at the subject. Both of my friends are giving me the thumbs up because they know that I’ve won this. I’m one hotel room and a few hours away from sealing the deal. The deal that changed everything. Dani’s looking at me with adoration, and all I was feeling was dread. She didn’t know back then what I was planning to do, or how I really felt. She doesn’t know now that some of what she felt for me was reciprocated. I would never have admitted it then, but I did feel something; I was just too blind and stubborn to admit it. I took something from her that night that I can never give back, and it took me three years to really understand. I know that if it wasn’t for my sister I’d still be the self-absorbed ass that I was back then.
“I’m sorry,” I sighed as I stared at the picture. “I’ve changed. I really have. I just wish you knew that,” I closed the yearbook, and placed it back on the shelf before stripping down to my boxers and climbing into bed. Worrying about this tonight wasn’t going do anyone any good. I needed to talk to her. I needed her to let me apologize. I wasn’t sure how I’d ever convince her to listen, but I had to at least try. I had to show her that I’d changed. I wasn’t Mase anymore, I was Mason, and I was a nice guy. I was the guy she deserved back then.
Chapter 4
Danielle
9 Years Ago…
“We’re going to bed, honey,” my parents offered me a wave as they disappeared down the hallway toward their room. I couldn’t believe that they were letting me stay in the kitchen alone with a boy. Mason hadn’t shown up yet, but still, we were eighteen. Didn’t they remember what it was like to be eighteen? Of course, I’d never given them a reason to not trust me. I’d never had boys over, and I didn’t really date. No one that interested me had ever asked me out. This wasn’t a date though. This was Mason and I working on our history project.
“Ok, Mom. See you in the morning,” I smiled as I spread out all the papers I’d been working on. The least I could do is have everything ready. I sucked at talking to boys, and now that his friends weren’t going to be here to egg him on I knew that I’d probably be leading the conversation. Mason Stone didn’t seem like the brightest bulb in the bunch if you know what I mean, and I needed an A on this assignment.
As the minutes ticked by, I paced the living room and kitchen nervously. What was wrong with me? “He’s hot, you dummy,” I muttered. I could not let him know that though. If Mase knew that I found him attractive, he’d use it against me. I’d end up doing all the work, and he’d just stand there and smile. “Ugh!” I growled as I tugged at my hair. After what felt like forever, I heard a soft knock at the front door.
I rushed over and quickly unlocked it before stepping back, and yanking it open. My parents knew about him being here but I didn’t want to wake them up.
“Hey,” he mumbled as he scuffed his feet on the mat in front of our door. He looked edible standing there. His hair was wet from the shower he took after the game. He was wearing a gray t-shirt that stretched tight across his chest and shoulders, and a pair of worn jeans. They had a frayed tear in the left knee. His feet were shifting nervously around as he kept toeing his sneakers into the front mat.
“Hey,” I stepped back and motioned for him to come in. “I’ve got everything set up in the kitchen.” He nodded wordlessly before stepping through the door and glancing around. We didn’t have a huge house or anything, but it was still nice. My family was the typical middle class family. The neighborhood was full of modest homes, and my parents did ok for themselves.
“Nice house,” he murmured as he followed along behind me.
“Thanks,” I tossed my hand in the air. I wasn’t sure what he was expecting, and the nervous energy that was surrounding him was coming off in waves. “Want something to drink?” I motioned to the fridge. “We have water, tea, juice, milk, some green health stuff my mom drinks,” I laughed as I made a ‘yuck’ face. I was trying to lighten the mood and when Mason laughed I knew I had succeeded.
“Water’s fine,” he chuckled as he slowly lowered himself into a chair at the table.
After getting us both drinks, I made myself comfortable in the chair beside him. I placed the research I’d already done in front of him, and made several suggestions on how we could proceed.
“You really are smart,” he sighed as he rubbed his eyes.
“Thanks?” I looked at him in confusion.
“That was a compliment Dani,” he groaned. When I gave him a disbelieving look, he shook his head. “I told you I’m not like them. Why don’t you believe me?”
Before I could answer, he turned his body in my direction and placed his hand on top of where mine was resting on the table. I swallowed as I stared at it, the warmth from his touch spread up my arm and through my body like wildfire. I think he could sense that he was putting me on edge because it only took him a minute before he removed it.
“Sorry,” he mumbled before turning back to the books on the table. I felt the loss immediately and regretted my reaction to him. Maybe he wasn’t as bad as I thought. “I’m not used to types like you,” he muttered, and that phrase right there cleared up any doubt I’d been having.
“Excuse me?” I glared at him. “Types like me? What’s that supposed to mean?” I tossed the pencil I was holding onto the table and crossed my arms over my chest.
“You know,” he smiled. “The type that doesn’t let a boy be alone with them. The innocent type,” he shrugged. “The type that would assume that I only want something from them, that I can’t be a nice guy.”
“You’re proving you can’t right now,” I growled “and we are alone.”
“I’m sorry,” he huffed before his eyes softened. “It’s been a bad day. I got my ass handed to me during the game, and my dad’s been on my case about college. I’m just tired of everyone always wanting something from me. Just once I’d like to do something because I want to, not because someone else wants me to.”
“So do it,” I turned to face him. “Do something you want to do,” I reached over, and against my better judgment, placed my hand over his.
“You’re touching me,” he chuckled as he stared at my hand. “Sure you wanna do that with someone you can’t stand?”
“I never said that I couldn’t stand you. Now your friends, that’s another story. I don’t know why you hang out with them.”
“Sometimes I don’t either,” he closed his eyes and slowly shook his head. “So how about I do the timeline part? I can use my dad’s computer and print out some pretty cool graphics, and you type this up. We can meet up again and put it all together next week, then we can reevaluate what we’ve got and see if we need to add anything.” His quick change in topics caused my head to spin trying to catch up.
“Ok,” I stood up and began placing all the papers on the table in front of us back into my folder and notebook.
“You know,” Mason stood and pushed his chair under the table, “I like you like this. You’re more relaxed.” He reached out and touched my hair where it was hanging loose over my shoulders. I’d changed into a pair of shorts and a t-shirt when I’d gotten home from school. Since I was planning to go to bed after he left, I’d taken my hair down too. “Why don’t you wear it to school like this? It’s pretty.”
“It gets in the way,” I murmured as I glanced at the floor. The tile in our kitchen had suddenly become very interesting, and I didn’t want him to see my cheeks that were undoubtedly red at the moment.
“Well, I’ll see you Monday,” he picked up his backpack and began walking back towards the front door. “I should have most of this finished by then.”
“Sounds good,” I followed along behind him. I was planning to lock up, and go straight to bed. Mason stopped short of the door though, and caused me to crash into his back. That was probably one of the single most embarrassing moments in my life.
His skin was so warm you could feel it through the soft cotton of his shirt, and he was as hard as a brick wall all over. I hadn’t lifted my hands, so my face smacked into him right between his shoulder blades. The first thing that hit my senses was the smell of his skin. It was a mix of Irish Spring soap and pure male. He chuckled as he glanced over his shoulder, “You ok there?”
“Sorry,” I cleared my throat as I stumbled back a few steps. “I’m such a klutz.” I covered my face with my hands.
“I play football,” he laughed. “I’m used to people crashing into me.” He paused for a second before adding, “Haven’t had any as pretty as you though.”
I stood there stunned as he stepped outside and offered a wave before jogging over to where his car was parked in the driveway. “What was that all about?” I muttered in disbelief. Mason Stone could have whomever he wanted. Why was he being so flirty with me? Was he like this with everyone he talked to? He said I was pretty. Last week he was dating Alexis Sanderson. She’s one of the prettiest girls in our class, and a cheerleader. I wasn’t even on the same planet as her when it came to pretty. “He must have taken a hard hit to the head in tonight’s game,” I sighed as I closed the door, and made my way to bed. I was so confused right now, and sleep was the only thing that I could think of. Maybe Mason wasn’t the player everyone made him out to be. Maybe he really was a nice guy, and the rest was all an act.
ooooooooo
The next day Amber called me wanting to know if I wanted to grab some pizza and hang out. My parents were having some friends over, and said they didn’t care as long as I came home at a reasonable hour. It was Saturday, and I rarely hung out with friends. I think they were just glad that I wasn’t hiding in some corner reading. On most days if I wasn’t at the library, I was curled up on the couch or my bed with a book. I’d finished my part of mine and Mason’s history project this morning, so I told Amber I’d meet her at Pie in the Sky at six. We were planning to walk around the mall afterward.
When I arrived, I found Amber sitting at a table in the back. She waved me over, and as I weaved through the tables, something off to the side caught my eye. I tried to ignore it, but then I heard them.
“That’s her, isn’t it? Hey Dani!” I turned to see one of Mason’s friends waving at me from the other side of the restaurant. I think his name was Brad. I gave him a confused look before continuing my trek to Amber. “Oh don’t be like that!” Brad shouted again.
I looked over just in time to see Mason slug him in the side, and give him a death glare. I laughed to myself as I shook my head at them. I didn’t know what they were talking about, but at the moment I didn’t care. “What’s that all about?” Amber murmured as I sat down across from her.
“I don’t know,” I muttered. “I don’t know why he hangs out with them. They’re such jerks,” I grumbled as I lifted a menu and began perusing it. I’d eaten here more times than I could count, but looking at the menu was a habit. I already knew what I was eating, a pepperoni pizza like always.
“Hey Dani!” Brad’s voice called again. “You have fun last night? Did you come over to the dark side?” he had his hands cupped around his mouth and a giant grin plastered across his face when I looked up at him.
“What’s he talking about?” Amber pushed at my arm that was resting on the table.
“Mason came over to work on our project. Nothing happened. Not what he’s talking about anyway,” I pushed back from my seat, and began stomping over to where they were sitting. The restaurant was busy, and he was embarrassing me.
When I reached their table, I made my way over to Mason’s side. “What did you tell them?” I crossed my arms over my chest.
“He said you were real frigid,” Brad made a shivering motion and Mason went completely stiff sitting beside him as his face slowly reddened.
My mouth dropped open as Brad along with three other guys from the football team exploded into laughter. “You’re an asshole,” Mason growled before glancing up at me. His voice lowered considerably, “I never said that.”
I nodded slowly as I stared at him. He denied saying it, but he didn’t stick up for me either. That moment cemented my original thoughts of him back into place. He was just a jock, and last night was all an act. He wasn’t the nice guy at all. He was just like his friends. “Fine!” I snapped as I turned on my heel and started to walk away.
Mason reached out and grabbed my wrist halting me, “Dani wait!”
“Don’t!” I narrowed my eyes on where his hand was gripping me. “I need to get back to my dinner. I’ll see ya at school, Mase,” I sneered as I yanked my wrist free.
oooooooooo
Mason
“What the fuck did you do that for?” I growled at Brad.
“I had to make this a little more challenging. After hearing you talk about how sweet she was being last night, I knew you were getting too close. Can’t have you tapping that too early,” he snickered.
“The deal was to get laid by Homecoming,” I hissed. “How am I supposed
to do that with her, a virgin, if I don’t get her to let me in? I’m not going to force myself on her,” I glared at him.
“Oh come on,” Brad shoved my shoulder. “She’s gonna let in with just a smile. Look, she’s keeps looking back here from all the way over there,” he tipped his head to where Dani was sitting with another girl.
“I’m outta here,” I shook my head at them. “Let me know when you’ve grown up.” I shoved back from the table we were sitting at and grabbed my letterman jacket off the back of my seat. I shook my head again at the group of douchebags I was sitting with before heading towards Dani’s table.
It took me only a few seconds to get there, but as soon as I sat down I felt her wrath. “What do you think you’re doing?” Dani refused to look at me as she stared across the table at her friend.
“Sitting with better company,” I smiled as I tried to make light of the situation.
“Well, you can keep moving. You’re not welcome here,” she snapped.
“Come on. Don’t be like that,” I leaned closer to her side, but she shifted away from me. “They’re jerks. Ignore them,” I sighed.
“You were in good company then,” she slid in her chair so there was more distance between us. “Why don’t you go back?”
“Because I’d rather sit here with you. Can I have a piece?” I glanced over at her friend who was taking another slice of pizza off the pan in the middle between them. She shrugged and pushed it towards me. “Please?” I begged. “I’ll even pay for it,” I gave Dani the puppy dog eyes and stuck my lower lip out.
“Fine,” she huffed as she continued to avoid making eye contact.
I’m not sure how long we sat there. I learned a lot about her friend Amber since she was the only one who would talk to me. My friends left shortly after I abandoned them, and Dani spent most of the evening staring out the window. “Well, it’s been nice sitting here with you,” I chuckled. “I would say the conversation’s been great, but you haven’t really talked,” I pushed on her shoulder lightly and she shrugged me off.
Say You Remember: book 4 in The Witness Series Page 3