Please, someone, give me a bucket!
“Ah, here she is! My only daughter,” she cooed.
I rolled my eyes before the man came into view. I secretly hoped he wasn’t like the other scumbags. I really couldn’t be bothered with having to kick someone else’s balls.
As I neared the next step, I saw his legs, then his torso. Hmm... seemed okay so far. He was actually dressed to impress with a suit. He even looked like he was in good shape.
Next step down.
My heart was beating wildly as his mouth came into view. That mouth looked awfully familiar. The lips were full and pouty. Just like the pair of lips I remembered sucking on the night I had lost my virginity. Just like the pair of lips that had licked...
Next step down.
Oh. Fuck. Me.
Deer caught in the headlights. That’s how both of us looked. If it wasn’t so serious, I would have been laughing my head off. This was no laughing matter, though. None of it was funny at all.
It was only when I got down the next step and noticed that my hand wasn’t moving that I realised I had it gripped to the banister like it was my only lifeline.
I really hoped he was the mail man or something. Maybe just a delivery guy? Jehovah’s Witness, perhaps?
“Ayden, I would like you to meet Mason Davenport.”
Maybe not then! I was so screwed.
She smiled sweetly and placed a loving hand on a very shocked Mason. “Mason, this is my daughter, Ayden.”
Mason stared at me a little longer. It was beginning to look and feel a little awkward all of a sudden.
As if he sensed this, Mason cleared his throat, smiled, and leaned forward to take my hand. “Nice to meet you, Ayden. I’ve heard so much about you. I practically feel like I know you already.” The undertone to his statement didn’t go unnoticed.
At least he remembered me . . .
God, what was I saying?
I cleared my throat. How much more agony did I need to endure? “Nice to meet you, too.”
My mother made a noise like a little chipmunk. “It’s so nice that you’ve finally met each other.” She looked around. “Where’s Hunter? He is coming, isn’t he?”
Mason managed to pry his eyes from mine to look at my mother. “Erm... yes. He’s just gone to the local shop to get us a couple bottles of champagne.”
My mother cooed, “Oh, that’s great. Would you like something to drink now?”
I shouted, “No!” just at the same time as Mason shouted, “Yes!”
I didn’t want to be alone with this guy, but it looked like he had other ideas.
My mother laughed. “Mason, what can I get you, darling?”
Mason smiled. “Just some water for now, Kat. Thank you.”
She tapped his shoulder, glared at me to behave, and moved away. I really didn’t want this. “Maybe I should go and help—”
I made a move to go, but Mason grabbed me. “I had no idea.” At least he had the sense to look panicked.
“Oh, and you think I did? This isn’t exactly a picnic for me either.”
His eyes widened. “You won’t say anything?”
I gave him a look. “You really think I want to tell her that the man I lost my virginity to is the same man she’s dating?”
Mason’s eyes went wide again. “I didn’t know you were a virgin.”
I shook my head. “This is so not the time to be discussing this.”
He nodded. “Yeah. You’re right.” He paced a little, looking seriously stressed. “Fuck.”
“Darling, here’s your water.” My mother walked in with a spring in her step. You would think she had won the lottery the way she was parading herself though the house.
“So, what is it you wanted to tell me?” I asked, wanting to get to the bottom of it.
“All in good time, sweetie. Hunter hasn’t arrived yet.”
I didn’t know which was more sickening—my mother being nice or calling me “sweetie.” I guess it had to be a mixture of both.
I couldn’t understand this. When I met Mason, he seemed like an intelligent man. How the hell he could have failed to see past my mother’s fake smile was beyond me.
I barely had time to comprehend all of this when I heard a car horn blaring outside. Mason smiled and turned to my mother. “That must be Hunter.”
I soon heard a knock on the door, and my mother turned on her heels to answer it. In that brief moment alone, Mason gave me an apologetic look.
Yeah, buddy. You and me both.
I heard my mother greet Hunter in the hall, and then I heard his voice filling the air.
I inhaled sharply. My nostrils flared, and the tiny hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. I would know that voice anywhere. That voice was nearly identical to the one that was whispering sweet words into my ear not so long ago.