The Price of Mason

by Linda Kage

  I blinked, suddenly remembering Glowing Girl and how she’d not only walked into a column at school but also how she’d walked into me.

  Wow, I hadn’t thought about her all day, which was strange since she’d captured so much of my attention on Monday.

  Just as I wondered why I hadn’t seen her since Monday—when she’d been everywhere that first day—Mom asked, “Reese? Are you okay?”

  The sitter whirled guiltily our way, shifting so that the light in the kitchen was finally able to splash over her face, and… Oh my God, holy shit, no.

  “I’m fine,” Glowing Girl said, waving her hand in apology and laughing nervously as she popped awkwardly into the kitchen with us. “Sorry about that. I’m just the queen of clumsy.”

  That’s when another dose of hot and then cold rushed over me, because Glowing Girl was standing in my kitchen. Three feet away.

  How was this possible?

  Except I already knew.

  Karma, you son of a bitch.

  Confession #5: So I wasn’t the best at introductions.

  “Reese,” Mom said, causing a wave of shock to ricochet through me.

  Reese.

  Glowing Girl had a name, a real, legitimate name.

  I didn’t want to know her name. I didn’t want to learn another single detail about her. This was so not going to help me stay away from her and never think about her again.

  “This is my son, Mason,” Mom went on. “He works most evenings at the Country Club, so you may or may not see him coming and going whenever you’re here. Mason, this is Reese Randall.”

  God…damn.

  I got the last name too? No! Why did I have to learn her fucking name? Now it was going to repeat through my head like a skipping record. Reese Randall, Reese Randall, Reese—there it went already.

  When I felt Sarah nudge me in the leg, reminding me I was staring badly and hadn’t said a single word in greeting, because my brain was already whirling her name through the fourth cycle, I shook my head and cleared my throat before glancing away and mumbling, “Hey.”

  “H-hi,” she croaked just as nervously, which pretty much told me she remembered me.

  Shit. Had I affected her the same way she’d affected me? Or…no. What was I thinking? She probably only remembered me from whatever gossip Eva had told her, except she didn’t seem horrified to learn she was going to be babysitting for the infamous gigolo’s little sister. She just seemed rattled and dazed, which made me wonder if—huh—maybe I’d left a good impression on her, one as big as the impression she’d left on me. But that didn’t make sense either, because I’d pretty much only been a moody, silent jerk to her so far.

  It must be a bad impression, then.

  Except, her curious blue gaze drifted over my work uniform and her face seemed to go flushed as if embarrassed about so openly checking me out—because she liked what she saw—which made me feel all hot and needy for things I should not want. I squinted, trying to abate the rush of blood that flowed south, but it didn’t help.

  “Mason just started taking classes at the community college this semester too,” Mom told Reese. “Maybe you two will see each other there.”

  “Yeah,” Reese murmured vaguely, smiling tightly at Mom before turning back to me. “I…I think I might’ve seen you around campus already.”

  I don’t know what made me say it. She clearly didn’t want to let on that she remembered me as much as I knew she did. Maybe I wanted to be vindictive and pay her back for making me feel shit around her when I most certainly did not want to. So I dryly reminded her, “You dumped a bag full of books on my feet before my calculus class on Monday.”

  Her eyes narrowed slightly as if she were mentally flipping me off for calling her out. Then she feigned surprise and said, “Right,” before she blurted out a nervous laugh. “That was you, wasn’t it? Yeah, sorry about that…again.”

  That’s when I knew for certain. She’d heard the rumors. She knew the truth.

  I hated how much that bothered me. I didn’t want to care what she thought of me. I’d never cared before, otherwise I certainly wouldn’t have started selling my body for money. All that mattered was providing for my family and making sure they had everything they needed. So what if this cute, clumsy bundle of pep thought I was trash? Wasn’t any skin off my back. Except, it really freaking bothered me to think about her knowing what I was.

  “Oh, so you two have already met, then.” Mom brightened. “That’s great.”

  Yeah. Great. About as lovely as a bullet to the brain.

  This entire situation had trouble written all over it. I could just feel it.

  “I guess that leaves one introduction left. Reese, this is Sarah.” Mom grabbed my arm and nearly yanked it out of its socket in order to drag me out from in front of Sarah so Reese could finally meet her.

  My stomach swished painfully with anxiety. I knew—deep in my bones—that Mom hadn’t mentioned a single word about her CP. Reese was about to get a shock, and I should’ve felt some pity for her; she was about to get thrown into a situation she was not prepared for.

  But if she did one fucking thing to upset my sister, I swear to God...

  I had no idea what I’d do, but I’m sure it wouldn’t be pretty.

  Please don’t be a bitch, please don’t be a bitch, please...

  Even as I prayed, I narrowed my eyes, watching every move she made as her gaze fell on Sarah. At first, her expression froze. Then she clasped slightly trembling hands together and forced a huge, fake smile.

  “Hi, Sarah,” she said in that voice you used to talk to babies. “I’m so happy to meet you.”

  If it were anyone else but Sarah, I’m sure I wouldn’t have judged her so harshly; she technically wasn’t rude, but still… Her initial reaction did not pass my test.

  As Sarah waved unenthusiastically and said, “Hello,” I watched a myriad of panic flash over Reese’s face.

  But she didn’t run off; she just stood there, her chest heaving with fear, while Mom knelt next to Sarah.

  “Sarah, this is Reese. She’s going to stay with you in the evenings now that Ashley’s gone.”

  Reese nodded and smiled encouragingly, even though her eyes were bright with fear.

  Dammit, if she treated Sarah badly because of her ignorance, I was going to make her life a living hell.

  “Sarah has CP,” Mom was saying, addressing Reese.

  “Oh.” Reese nodded and sent me a questioning glance, clearly not understanding.

  Damn you, Mom, I wanted to mutter. The girl didn’t even know what CP was.

  “That’s short for cerebral palsy,” I explained harshly, displeased with the entire situation.

  She nodded again as if she understood, but I could tell she had no clue.

  “It’s a muscle disorder,” Mom explained. “Sarah was born premature, and it injured the motor part of her brain, affecting the muscles in her entire body, from her limbs to trunk to even her tongue and eye muscles. It takes an extreme effort for her just to talk, or chew, or even blink.”

  Reese’s eyebrows lifted and she nodded as if she were finally catching on, though I’m sure she hadn’t.

  I decided I couldn’t watch any more of this. I was already too close to being late to work, and if I stayed, I’d probably do something I would regret like send Reese, the glowing girl, as far away from my sister as possible.

  “I need to get going.” Bending, I kissed Sarah’s cheek and said, “Take care, kiddo,” before I added a whisper. “Call if you need me.”

  I waved a mute goodbye to Mom, sure I’d say something cutting if I actually spoke to her. Then I turned Reese’s way. I wanted to say something, something like, Don’t hurt her. Her CP isn’t scary at all, I swear. She’s really the sweetest kid. Don’t treat her like she’s a freak, because she’s not.

  But she merely stepped to the side as if she thought she was in my way and I needed by her to leave. Honestly, I usually left through the back door, but since I was
a chicken shit and couldn’t beg her to be good to my sister, I passed by her, gritting my teeth when that smell I remembered from Monday swirled up my nostrils.

  This was going to be a long night; I could already tell.

  Confession #6: I hated having sex with strangers.

  Some old guy was having a birthday party in the Country Club’s banquet hall when I arrived at work, so I was swamped with parking cars from the moment I clocked in until way past time for my first break.

  Just as the rush started to abate, a black Maserati with shaded windows zipped into the valet station and screeched to a halt. The driver’s side door flew open and Alec Worthington slid out.

  Like Ethan Riker, he’d been a year younger than me in school. But unlike Riker, he had an easygoing personality and no problem shooting the shit with lower lifeforms. Like me. Not that he and I were friends in any universe. Worthington was a rich kid to the extreme: pampered, entitled, selfish. If he didn’t get his way, he’d lie, cheat, or stab you in the back until he did. I wouldn’t trust the douche with my least favorite pair of shoes, but he tipped well when he was in the mood, so I stepped forward eagerly to take his keys.

  Maybe if I raked in enough tip money, I wouldn’t have to accept any clients from my other line of work for another couple weeks.

  A guy could always hope.

  “Lowe!” Alec greeted with a wide, friendly grin as he spread his arms wide in welcome as if he might hug me. But then he came in to slap a bill into my palm and shake with me instead. “My man. How’s it hanging? Bang anyone hot lately?”

  I chuckled at his question, masking my disappointment when I realized he’d only handed me a single crumpled dollar bill. Feeling spiteful, I teased back, “Just your girlfriend.”

  Though he laughed as I knew he would, on the other side of his car, the passenger door slammed shut, cluing me into the fact he had a passenger with him.

  “Oh, really?” a cold, condescending voice asked. “When was this? I don’t recall being banged by you.”

  Trying not to swallow my tongue for getting caught talking smack, I peered over the low roof of the Maserati and immediately winced. Eva Mercer folded her arms over her chest and glared back.

  “Ah, hell,” I muttered, flashing Alec a cringe. “You’re dating that now? My condolences, man.”

  Instead of defending his girlfriend’s honor, Alec merely laughed and slapped the back of my shoulder as if congratulating me for my zinger. “I take it my granddad’s birthday party has already started?”

  I nodded. “Only about an hour and a half ago.”

  “Perfect.” Grinning, Alec nodded his approval and slipped off his sunglasses to hang them from the front of his shirt. “Come on, muffin.” He held his hand back behind him, waiting for Eva to prance around in front of the headlights to his side of the car in her stiletto heels to take his hand. “Let’s give the old man a heart attack with that dress you’re wearing.”

  The short, tight red contraption that was wrapped around Eva made each step come slowly, so it felt as if we had to wait forever for her to reach us.

  “Prick,” she said coolly to me as she passed by and took Alec’s hand.

  I smirked back, greeting her with, “Muffin.”

  Jerking her attention to me, she narrowed her eyes and hissed. For some reason, the pure blueness of her eyes reminded me of her friend.

  Reese.

  Dammit, I hated knowing that name. I hated being reminded of her. I’d been halfway successful about ignoring the fact most of the evening that she was currently in my house, watching my little sister. But looking at her friend brought it all back.

  A wave of strange heat passed over my body. To mask its effects, I turned bluntly away from Eva and slid into the driver’s side of her boyfriend’s ride. By the time I returned from parking it, she and Alec were gone, but thoughts of Reese remained.

  I was tempted to call and check in, make sure Sarah was doing okay. She’d looked freaked out of her mind when I had left. I didn’t think Reese could do anything too damaging in one night—Sarah would probably be okay by herself for a few hours if Reese abandoned her—but that didn’t account for any mental harm Glowing Girl could wreak on my sister if she were cruel.

  Then again, everything I knew about her so far led me to believe she wasn’t the bullying type. She had defended me from Eva, she apologized to things she ran into, whether they were human or not, and she laughed all too freely to be the snide, bitter, hurt-others-to-make-herself-feel-bigger type.

  But thinking positive things about her made my skin crackle with awareness.

  “Hey, man. You taken a break yet?” Tex, one of my coworkers, asked, drawing me from my zone.

  I shook my head as I hung up the keys to the Maserati. “No. Not yet.”

  “I didn’t think so. Why don’t you go snag one? Everyone else has already had theirs, and it’s pretty slow right now.”

  “Yeah, okay. Thanks.”

  I grabbed a drink and mini bag of chips I’d stashed in the valet podium and headed to the break room, where I played a game on my phone and polished off my snack. I wasn’t even gone fifteen minutes, but Eva and Alec had already returned when I strolled up, turning in their ticket to Tex to retrieve their car.

  As my coworker took off, leaving the couple standing there, waiting on him, I paused and remained hidden from view, not wanting to engage with Eva again.

  “Well, that was some kind of record,” Mercer announced after a long sigh. “Definitely the fastest your mother’s ever kicked me out of one of your family functions before.”

  Worthington chuckled and began to play with a piece of her light hair. “You do have a talent for pissing her off. Reason number one why I keep you around.”

  “Hmm,” she murmured, turning her face away from him as if checking on Tex’s progress.

  Meanwhile, I tried to meld into the shadows against the side of the building so they wouldn’t notice me.

  “Why didn’t you invite your little cousin along?” Alec asked after a moment of silence. “I told you you should.”

  Mercer lifted her face to look at him before she narrowed her eyes. “What? You think she’s pretty or something?”

  Worthington’s grin was slow. Then he shrugged. “She’s not bad. I wouldn’t turn down a threesome, if you two offered.”

  “Pig,” Eve muttered, jabbing him in the stomach with her long fingernail. Then she pointed it at his face. “That’s a hard no, by the way. She’s off-limits.”

  Worthington just laughed and lifted his hands. “What? Hey, you know I’m just teasing. I wouldn’t touch your cousin. I mean, not as long as you give me another one of your amazing blowjobs on the way home, anyway.”

  I pulled my face into a grimace. God, why was I stuck here listening to this shit?

  Expecting Eva to call him to task for such a sentiment, I was surprised when she merely turned her face away from him again and stared up at the few stars that could be seen in the sky from here. I swear, something almost sad crossed her expression. I didn’t want to feel any kind of sympathy for her, so I looked away as well, wishing Tex would hurry his ass up so they could go already.

  “Where’d she come from, anyway?” Alec asked. “How long’s she going to be staying with you guys?”

  At first, Eva was quiet. I didn’t think she was going to answer, until she said, “Illinois. She’s from a place called Ellamore, Illinois.”

  “No shit?” Alec answered, pulling back, his face full of surprise. “My dad’s family is from Ellamore.”

  Eva turned to him, blinking as if confused. “What? Really?”

  “Yeah. My dad’s two sisters, Cynthia and Marilyn, still live there, plus three of my cousins. Max is okay, I guess, but the other two are worthless. They left home a couple years back, and who knows what happened to them. Garrett turned out gay, probably has some STD, and Felicity got caught fucking some lowlife who ended up in jail for rape. I bet she’s a crack whore and living on the streets by
now, if she hasn’t already overdosed.”

  Ignoring his disrespectful estimations, Eva shook her head slowly. “You really have relatives living in Ellamore? Ellamore, Illinois?”

  He laughed. “Yeah. Strange, huh?” He bumped his shoulder playfully into hers. “And you say we have nothing in common.”

  She turned away again and sounded almost wistful when she said, “We don’t.”

  Again, I thought I saw a flicker of something different from Eva. Something more. It was almost as if she’d just let her guard down, but then my phone beeped from my pocket with an incoming message and she jolted, her attention veering straight to where I was waiting in the shadows.

  “Eww, are you spying on us?” she charged with a repulsed grimace as she stiffened her spine and squared her shoulders defensively. “God, you sicko. Can you get any creepier?”

  I opened my mouth to tell her this was where I was supposed to be, where I worked.

  But her boyfriend merely burst out laughing, thinking it was funny. “Wow, Lowe,” he teased, cracking a grin. “If I knew you liked to watch, I would’ve put on a better show.” He reached for the backside of Eva’s little red dress and grabbed a handful of her ass.

  She gave him no response whatsoever, except to step away from him, moving toward his car when Tex pulled it under the overhang.

  A good employee would’ve hurried out there to open her passenger side door for her. I remained leaning against the brick wall of the club and pulled my phone from my pocket. After Eva let herself into the car, we shared a glare through the front windshield of the Maserati before I lowered my attention to the message I’d just received.

  Unknown: 318 Willowbrook Terrace. 11:30. NW Back Entrance.

  My stomach instantly burned with dread. But goddammit. A new client request. I wanted to ignore the message. Hell, I wanted to decline it in the nastiest way possible.

  You want to be fucked? Well, go fuck yourself.