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Hey guys, time for another chapter! Sorry this one is a day late, I was quite busy.
Please comment and vote if you like, my work, it means a lot to me :)
The hospital finally gave me the all clear to go home, so when Mason and I had finished packing and he took my bag down to my jeep I went to see dad who was also being sent home tomorrow.
"Hey dad, how are you going?" I asked, standing at the end of his bed.
"Good sweetie, I'm just thankful that I can leave tomorrow. No matter how short the period of time, being in hospital is just no fun at all." I gave him a sympathetic smile and waited for him to speak again.
"I was thinking, maybe you could bring Mason up to the house? I'm sure the cat would love to see you and you could go berry picking at the farm..." I raised my eyebrows amused at his not so subtle hinting.
"Yeah I think he'd like the berry farm, and I'm sure the cat really misses me." I smiled and walked around the bed to kiss him on the forehead.
"We'll come up in about a week or so when uni breaks." He nodded and we said our goodbyes.
It was weird to say goodbye to the nurses who I had become so accustomed to seeing everyday as much as I hated to see that lovely eye candy of a nurse go to waste, I needed to get out of there. When I got in the passenger side of my jeep - albeit incredibly weird to do so - I was just so happy that I was able to finally go home.
"I haven't been back to the apartment in a while so we probably don't have any groceries." The engine roared to life as Mason drove out of the car park.
"Okay, we'll stop off at the supermarket on the way." I nodded, staring out the window and watching the trees and houses pass in a blur.
"Dad offered for us to go up to his place during uni break," I added, watching his reaction carefully.
"Go to your old place? Like with your room and everything?" I rolled my eyes.
"Yes my old place with my old room." I laughed and he blushed. God, Mason blushing is something that would occur as rarely as a blue moon, but it sent butterflies through my stomach and heart.
"Uh yeah... yes, yeah. I'd like to go, you know, see where you grew up, stay in your room - I mean, if, you know, your father is okay with it." I had a tight lipped smile adorning my face as I tried to hold my laughter in from watching him fumble with his words.
"Oh god, no. Father would never let us sleep in the same room, you'd have to sleep in his."
"Ha ha, very funny." He said sarcastically and continued driving to the shops.
When he found a park we got out and walked up the damp road under the grey clouds to the entrance.
"Don't worry, I'm sure he'll just do the lie detector test and you'll be fine." I sped up a little leaving him behind.
"Mason, peanut butter does not go on pasta." I groaned as I pulled the jar from his hand and put it back on the shelf. He let out a loud hmph and when I turned away I heard the distinct sound of a jar being dropped into a basket.
We shopped around for another fifteen minutes before going to the counter to pay for everything.
I smiled up at Mason as he pulled out his card to our bank account that we put in money for groceries and bills when a hand touched my shoulder.
I turned around expectantly with the smile still on my face when I was met with Lucas.
I cowered away back into Masons chest and he wrapped a protective arm around my waist. My heart began to beat faster and I thought it might burst from my chest. I instinctively curled into Mason as soon as his skin touches mine.
"Ashley, how are you?" It was as if I was hit with a brick full of memories. I saw the teenagers walking across the road, I saw the lamppost and heard Mason calling my name. I heard my own scream and saw my face as though I was having an outer body experience.
"I'd be more worried about yourself, Lucas." Ground out Mason through gritted teeth as his grip on my waist tightened almost painfully.
Mason was right, there wasn't a scratch on him and I could feel the blood boiling up to my face.
"You nearly killed me." I said with as much venom as I possibly could muster and I watched his face flush.
"It's not like I meant to-" he retaliated and I heard a growl rumble from Masons chest.
"Next." I heard the woman at the counter call.
"Get the hell out of here before I break your neck." Lucas deliberated for a while, opening his mouth to speak but making the right decision to just walk away.
Mason picked up the bags as I stayed in my place, staring that the spot that Lucas had just occupied.
"Come on, Ash, let's go." He muttered, as he started to walk away but I couldn't move. I was stuck in this odd sense of deja vu and Lucas had just told me to get into the car.
I could feel the world spinning and my legs became weak.
"Ashley, sweetheart, are you alright?" He asked, coming in front of me and lifting my chin.
I nodded a few quick nods and he held my shoulders as we walked back to the car.
He threw his keys on the counter and left the groceries on the floor by the fridge before coming over to me to pull me into a hug.
I rested my head on his chest and listened to the calming and steady beats of his heart. He rubbed calming circles on my back from the base of my spine to my shoulders and back again.
I let my eyes close and synced my breathing with his.
"Are you alright?" He murmured, his chin resting on my head. I brought my good arm up and around his waist to pull him tighter to me. I took in a deep breath through my nose, inhaling his smell.
"Yeah, I think so. I just want to forget all this." He nodded but stayed silent.
When I pulled away his eyes were distant and his mouth set in a straight line.
"What's wrong?" I ran my fingers over his lips before settling my hand on his neck.
"I just can't believe I let this happen." He said, rubbing his eyes with his forefinger and thumb.
"You let what happen?" I already knew the answer, who am I kidding?
"This," he gestured to my arm and ribs. "Everything." He whispered, closing his eyes and hanging his head.
"You couldn't have done anything, Mason." I said, climbing onto my toes and touching his face to get him to look at me.
"It was my decision to get into the car. In a way, I owe you an apology." He shook his head at my words and opened his mouth to speak but I put my finger over his lips.
"You told me to stay away from him but in my own stubbornness I ignored you. You two have a history of some sorts and I'm still trying to figure it out but I should have trusted you." Both his hands were gently sitting on my neck, his thumbs caressing my jaw and he kept softly shaking his head as if to deny I had done the things I was saying.
"We've had a lot of heart to hearts recently, haven't we?" He chuckled and I smiled up at him.
"Let's hope there's more to come." I whispered.
He bent his neck down to press his lips to mine softly for a very sensual kiss... which quickly turned into something a little more heated.
As his lips left a hot trail down my neck giving me a chance to breathe I had to push him back.
"We need to stop."
"Why?" He panted, his voice husky and his eyes ablaze.
"Because it's dinner time and I'm hungry." Right on cue my stomach made a gurgling sound and I pulled my lips into a tight line to suppress my laughter.
"Fine, fine, fine!" He groaned, turning away with a pout to the kitchen.
Homemade pasta. Oh how long I have waited for this!