Page 43 of No Control

“So you and Mason broke up?”

Uh oh.

I facepalm myself. “Yeah…I was meaning to tell you, but—”

“He’s run off to Vermont,” she snaps, her tone accusatory and sharp. “Did you know that? The poor guy is heartbroken, and he told Jim that you were the one who called it off. And then you called the cops on him?”

I shake my head, trying to process what she’s saying. It’s relieving to know he’s on the other side of the country—but I still have to defend myself when it comes to my mother. “He stole my guns out of the house—”

“He said he felt like you were unstable.”

“Well, I’m not,” I say with confidence I don’t feel. “And I don’t want to talk about all of this if you’re just going to take his side. He completely creeped me out, sneaking around in the woods by my house and trying to scare me. He’s a psycho.”

She lets out a sharp breath, and I brace. “I don’t know.”

My shoulders relax. She’s taking this much better than I thought. “Well, it is what it is. Things haven’t been good between us for years.”

“I know. He just couldn’t figure out what he wanted in life.”

That’s one way to put it.

“Do you want us to help you pack his things?”

I shake my head—like she can see it. “Uh, no. I’m not home, and he doesn’t have anything there. He took it all the last time we got into a fight.”

“Toxic,” she mutters, which also serves to surprise me. I always thought they were on Mason’s side when it came to our relationship, but maybe I was wrong. “Where are you?”

“California,” I answer. “I took a job for a client and was required to come out here for the duration of the job.” I make it sound like it’s normal, even though everything about what I’m feeling is not normal.

“Like a vacation, I guess.”

I don’t argue with her, letting the silence fill the line as I glance back to the house. The curtains that covered the windows are now pulled away, and there, I can see the outline of someone. I shiver at the thought of his eyes transfixed on me.

“Karen is convinced Mason is missing.”

I wrinkle my nose in confusion, my stomach knotting up but my voice emotionless. “I thought you said he was in Vermont.”

“That’s where he was last seen yesterday, but he hasn’t talked to anyone since. I think they’re going to report it.”

“He’s probably just passed out drunk somewhere,” I scoff, heading back toward the beach house. “I’m sure he’ll show up. It wouldn’t be the first time he’s done something like this.”

“Well, you’re a little cold.”

“He burned me, and I’m done with it,” I clarify. “I’ll talk to you later. I need to get to work.”

We hang up without the use of I love you, because that’s not a phrase that’s ever been used in that household. I’m not even sure my parents say it to each other. I shove my phone back into my pocket and trudge back to the house, trying to push the thought of Mason out of my mind. He’d run off to Vermont before, making the ungodly long drive straight through just so he could make it in time to hit the bars with one of his old friends.

As I step inside, I’m met with the scent of fresh coffee, and I look over to see Henry, now fully dressed in dark jeans and a white T-shirt. His wavy dark hair is fixed in a way that’s unkempt yet sophisticated. My mind flashes with the image of my fingers threaded through it.

Whoa. That's a bad idea.

Men are nothing but bad news, and I’m pretty sure Henry is the epitome of it. He’s too handsome and mysterious to not be.

“You don’t have to keep him on a leash.” His voice draws my gaze back to his eyes.

Was I staring? Jeez, I hope not.

“Are you sure?” I ask the question stupidly, and Henry nods in response, filling a mug with coffee. I lean over Duke, removing his harness and leash. He takes off across the kitchen…

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