“Is there anything else you want to tell me?”
“Just… don’t mess with him.”
I open my eyes wide, surprised by his words.
“He’s a bit naïve sometimes, and too good. And he falls for it, and…” He sighs. “Go easy on him, will you?’
“I assure you, I’m not?—”
“Paul’s here!” Logan’s voice interrupts our discussion before I can reassure Mason of my intentions.
“Here I am, with beers and ice cream.” He lifts two paper bags to confirm his words. “What did I miss?”
Nothing. Just your friend getting cornered by a kid.
“You’re late,” I say, spoon in hand.
“I’m here now, am I not?” He puts the bags on the countertop. Then he takes off his jacket. “Tell me what to do. I’m ready for anything.”
Save me, Paul. Pull me out of this disaster; save me from myself and these intense, unknown emotions that are consuming me against my will.
Save me before I hurt myself.
Save me before anyone else gets hurt.
Seth
On the fourth ring, Rowan’s voice steals the breath from my chest.
“Hey,” he says simply, as if he’s proposing a night of lust and madness in his bed.
Or, rather, in mine.
“Hi. How’s everything at home?” I ask, as if it’s something we share. And deep down, I feel the same way.
This is all kinds of wrong.
“Everything’s fine. We just finished dinner.”
“What did you eat?”
“I cooked some pasta with vegetable sauce.”
“Really? And did the kids like it?”
“They were hungry, I think.”
I laugh, slowly.
“I left you a plate in the oven.”
I touch my chest instinctively. “That was really thoughtful.”
“It was a kids’ idea,” he says quickly.
My hand slips from my chest, as desolate as I am.
“I invited Paul. I hope you don’t mind.”
