Page 76 of Rival for Rent

“You’re not supposed to be on your feet,” I said. “Cooking requires being on your feet.”

“This wasn’t cooking. It waspreparing.”

I wanted to argue that he was splitting hairs, but then he sat down on the edge of the bed, and I realized we were in the same positions as last night. Only now, I was the one falling apart.

Last night.

Heat crept up my face. I wasn’t embarrassed, exactly. But it felt like that had happened a lifetime ago. Back when my biggest worries were getting Mason to open up. And the stalker. That felt quaint now.

I set the bag on my lap and glanced at him. “So, what? Are you going to sit there and watch me eat?”

“You got a problem with that?” he said. “Because I might be injured, but I could still take you.”

He gave me a crooked smile to show he was joking, but I wasn’t in the mood.

“Have you called anyone back yet?” he asked, back to brisk, no-nonsense Mason. Comfort-mode deactivated. I was grateful. I couldn’t handle softness right now.

“No,” I said, digging into the bag.

I wondered how much I had to eat to make him leave. I grabbed a grape and popped it into my mouth. The sweetness exploded on my tongue, and I chased it with a long drink of water. I expected Mason to smirk or say something smug, but he just nodded.

“Did you at least read their texts?”

I sighed. Looked like I wasn’t getting out of this without giving a report. “Yeah. Not that they’re helpful. Most want to know if it’s really me. A few are supportive, but then there are the freaks coming out of the woodwork to gloat.”

“What about work? What did Carolyn say?”

“Nothing useful. She wants me to call her so we can figure out a statement.”

“That doesn’t sound unhelpful. Sounds like she’s doing her job.”

“Yeah, well, she’s probably disgusted with me underneath it all.”

“Kai, I met her. She seems to genuinely like you. I’m sure that’s not what she’s thinking.”

“You don’t know that.”

“And neither do you.” He paused. “What about your parents?”

I rubbed the bridge of my nose. “Same deal. My mom says they still love me, but I need to call them because my dad’s going to have to make a statement. And she thinks she knows some people in the press who could help.”

“How is that a bad thing? You should call her. Maybe they can help.”

I dropped my hand. “What, no lectures about how privileged I am?”

“This isn’t the time. And they’re your parents. Of course they want to help. You should use every tool available.”

“I feel so fucking stupid,” I said, growling low in my throat. “I was so reckless. You must think I’m pathetic.”

“Why would I think that?”

“Because you’d never let something like this happen. And if it did, you wouldn’t fall apart.”

He stared at me for a long moment. “You think I don’t fall apart? When things get hard?”

I shrugged. “I’ve never seen it. Maybe you’ve never done anything this idiotic. God, I wish I could go back and smack my younger self.”

“You’re not the one to blame here. If anyone is, it’s me. I was the one convinced I could handle this.”

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