Page 67 of The Masks We Break

I suck in the cool air, enjoying the burn as it fills my lungs. This morning’s run is meant to clear my head and solve the ever-lingering problem with my Cassidy contract. But as always, my little distraction keeps steering my thoughts.

I’ve come to really enjoy our time together, and I’m finding it more vexatious when she’s not with me. Ideas have been spiraling in my head the past few weeks on what I could do to make her stay around a little longer. Because when she’s with me, the dark doesn’t seem so unpleasant, and shit seems more manageable.

Still, even as I plan for her to hang around, I know I’m on borrowed time. Every time I touch her, kiss her, fuck her, I feel the little changes. After a while, being happy and content with what we have won’t be enough for her anymore, and in the end, I’ll have to uphold my promise. If she decides she’s done, I’ll have to let her go, even if Ireallydon’t fucking want to.

My stomach twists, knowing it isn’t just a possibility, but a matter of when.

Rounding the back corner and up the walkway to my door, I slow my pace. Two large boxes sit on my porch—one taller than me, the other requiring two people to lift.

“What’s this?” As if on cue, Bellamy appears, pointing to the boxes as he walks across the grass toward me. “This is what you called me for?”

I nod, checking my watch and counting my pulse.

He huffs, kicking a spot of frozen grass. “Fine, but I’m getting pizza and beer after. Your treat. Plus, I’m probably going to complain the whole time.”

Laughing, I unlock the door and help him carry in the boxes.

It takes us over two hours of arguing, drilling, and him in fact complaining the entire time. But sitting back and looking at what we’ve done, it was well worth it.

* * *

“So tell me,mijo. Why haven’t you come to see me in like, what is it now? Almost two months?”

Lily’s Aunt Mina points a manicured nail at me before taking a sip of her mimosa. In all honesty, this lunch is overdue, but since Remy and I don’t have a shit ton of time, I’ve unfairly put Mina off.

When she moved in with Lily our senior year, her maternal instinct stretched over me, and for some time she was more of a mother than my biological one. We still talk fairly often, but Mina needs physical contact every once in a while to satiate her empty nest syndrome.

I make eye contact with the waitress, tipping a finger toward my water glass. “I apologize, Mina.”

She purses her red lips, gesturing to Lily. “See, this one doesn’t give excuses.”

Lily flips her brown locks over her shoulder, narrowing her eyes at me. “I said I’ll do better, Mina.”

Mina rolls her eyes, cutting into her garden salad. “Nosotras veremos. So, Blaze. You wanted to pick my brain. What’s going on?”

I nod. “Yes. Oh, I had forgotten before. Lily, do you know a William Cassidy?”

Lily tears off a small piece of her croissant, her arch brow raised. “From Idaho?”

“That’s the one.”

She shakes her head, eyes playfully rolling. “Yeah, that’s Spence’s best friend from back home. Why?”

Running a hand through my hair, I lean back, irritation brewing low in my gut at the memory. “Long story short, I have a contract with his parents that takes effect the first of the year. My father fucked me over and had them sign the one with extended documents and I can’t see where he’s changed it. I’m fucking stumped as to how to fix it.”

Mina chews on her bottom lip, twirling her fork absentmindedly. “There’s always a loophole. Can you send it to me?”

I shake my head. “No, I don’t want anything traced that I sent a company contract to outside parties. But I can show you what I have on my personal device.”

“That will work. Bring it by the house sometime soon and we’ll have a look.”

A small balloon of hope expands in my sternum. If all else fails, maybe she can help me come up with a plan B. There was a moment with Mr. Cassidy that has stuck with me since our meeting, and the idea of disappointing him sits heavy on my conscience.

“You’ll get it worked out. Just like that other thing.” A dubious grin pulls up the side of Lily’s mouth.

“And what’s the undercurrent of your message, Lily? Do tell.” I lean back in my chair, readying myself for whatever shit she’s about to spill.

“How’s that chocolate cake?”

---