Page 66 of Raised On It

“I can’t,” she says softly, stepping toward the front door. “I told myself I would never again give up my life for a man. I have to put myself first and moving to Eastlyn is not in the cards. I’ve worked too hard to get my life back. I refuse to lose it all again.”

Her tears have dried. Her resolve has been found. She opens the door and closes her heart simultaneously.

“Mason, this is ridiculous. I would never ask you to give anything up.” I plead with her, but she won’t look at me. She’s done with the conversation.

Done with me.

If she thinks this is it, she doesn’t know me as well as I thought she did.

Grabbing my bag, I start to leave but stop in front of her where she stands with her hand on the doorknob, ready to shut me out the moment I cross the threshold.

“We aren’t over, Mason, not by a long shot. I’ll give you tonight, but I’m not giving up so easily. You’re scared. I get it. But, baby, we’re the real deal, and I fucking love you. Do you hear that?” Still looking at the ground, she gives me no reply. “And you fucking love me.”

With my words lingering in the air, I leave.

Leave the house where I just experienced the best couple of days of my life.

The house containing the woman I love.

I’m not leaving for good, though.

She better believe I’ll be back.

CHAPTER 20

Mason

“You guys, it’s really sweet that you want to include me, but I don’t think I’m up to going out.”

“Nonsense! It’s my last night in town for quite a while, and you already RSVP’d,” Rachel says as she slides hangers back and forth in the closet.

I’ve gotten to know Rachel and Reece as well as the other ladies, and the way they’ve taken me in as one of their own in such a short span of time really is quite touching, but I still don’t want to go out. Not when I know Miles is going to be there. Not even the adorable pixie cut blonde can make me feel like going out tonight.

“I RSVP’d when I thought I would be going with Miles. Tonight is for The Crew.”

“And their significant others,” Emmett chimes in from her spot on the bed.

“Well, I’m neither of those things.”

She’s lying down on the bed with her hands behind her head and her feet crossed. “Katie really has great taste. I wanna do a house swap with her when you're done. Oh, and you’re funny, Mason. You really think you and Miles are over? Come on. We all know better.”

“Listen, I’ve been here before. My ex was charming too. The life of the party. Everyone loved him, and his flirtatious nature was endearing. When in all actuality, it was just a way to cover up the fact he was sleeping with half the city. If he flirted with the little kids and the old ladies, then how could I get mad when he flirted with the young twentysomethings? He cheated on me for years, and no offense to you guys, but my friends all knew and didn’t tell me. I’m not saying you would do the same, but these were friends I had had for most of my life. So, when I say I’ve been here before, I mean it. Sorry, Emmett.”

“Mason, I am so sorry your ex was a lying, cheating bastard, but that just isn’t Miles. He’s fallen for you hard, and there’s nothing he would do to jeopardize that. Miles lives life to the fullest, and he loves people, especially the people in this town. You can’t ask him to stop living that way because you wouldn’t have the feelings you have for him if you did.”

Emmett’s words are true. I wouldn’t want him any other way.

“How do you know he’s fallen for me?” I ask like an insecure teenager.

“Mason, listen.” Amelia speaks up from the chair in the corner. “Miles Montgomery is loyal. Has he slept with a lot of women in this town and the surrounding counties? Sure. Has he ever really committed to any of those women? Nope.”

“I know but…”

“He is committed to you, honey. I talked to him earlier, and he told me what happened. I told him I was sorry because it was all thanks to the pictures I posted while we were at the wedding, and you know what he said?”

“What?” I ask quietly but inside I’m screamingWHAT?!

“He told me not to sweat it. That he didn’t do anything wrong, and he knows that you know that. He followed that up by saying he was in love with you, and he knew you loved him too and the two of you would figure it out. He said he didn’t need to hide who he really was because you loved him, and you know deep down the man he is.”

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