Page 82 of The Ghost of You

I drop the screwdriver in my hand. “You kissed her?”

Mason holds up his hands. “Chill, bro. It was an in the moment thing. Besides, I think she was pissed off at you at the time anyway. It was nothing.”

I see red. Mason knew I liked her. Who cares about the fact I told him I couldn’t be with her? You don’t do that to your fucking family. I charge at him but Carson holds me back.

“Dude, calm down.”

I grit my teeth and stare down Mason over Carson’s shoulder. “He fucking knew how I felt about her.”

“And you made it sound like she was free game.”

“Don’t talk about her like that.” I spit.

“I’m guessing by your reaction you did go over there last night then?” Mason asks.

“Fuck you. Get out of my house.”

“How about you both calm down?” Carson interjects.

Mason smirks at me. “I am calm.”

I can’t believe Anna kissed Mason. Everything I thought about her is a lie. Is she just trying to find a hookup? Does she even really like me? I should cancel on her tonight because right now I don’t want to see her.

Mason takes off the gloves he put on. “I’m going to head out so you don’t break my jaw. But just so you know. I made the move. I kissed her a few days after Thanksgiving. She was hurt over you. Over what you said to her. But the kiss meant nothing. She barely kissed me back before pushing me away.”

I watch Mason walk out the door. I don’t have anything to say to him. I take a few deep breaths before I go back to my cabinets in silence, not even saying a word to Carson.

“I’m going to borrow some of your clothes so I can help you. I don’t want to get my suit dirty.” He walks upstairs and I am left to stew in my anger and confusion.

It doesn’t take long for him to come back down. He helps me with the cabinets for the next hour in silence. We finish the doors just as the doorbell rings.

I let the countertop guys install the white quartz while I sit on my couch and stare at the wall.

Carson sits across from me on the edge of the coffee table. “Did you sleep with her last night?”

I shake my head.

“Did you see her though?”

I nod.

“Am I going to get any words out of you?”

I look up at him. “Fuck man. I can’t take this shit. It was hard enough getting the courage to see her.”

“You mean getting the courage to let Claire go?”

I lean over, propping my elbows on my knees as I rest my face in my hands. “I like her, Car.”

“I know.”

“Is it that obvious?”

“Everyone at Thanksgiving knew you were smitten with her.”

I glance up at him. “I’m not smitten.”

“Yes, you are.”

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