Sometimes Never (35 page)

             
“No. Laundry room,” she gasps before bringing her mouth back to mine.

             
I turn and kick at that door. She reaches behind her and turns the handle and we’re in. Leaning her into the washer, I jerk her shirt over her head. She pries my belt open and I help her with the button. I tear at her shorts, trying to get them out of the way.

             
“Condom,” I say as my bare flesh caresses hers.

             
“I don’t have any,” she breathes. A whimper escapes her lips and she wiggles closer, fighting to feel me against her. “Mason.” My arms are locked, holding us less than an inch apart, but I can feel her heat and I want it so badly. “Please. I need you.”

             
A shiver runs through me. I’d like to say I think it over, weigh my options, but I don’t even hesitate. I slide inside her and find a way to take some of the hurting away for both of us.

38

Hope

I open the door to a woman, bright red oven mitts on her hands, holding a large, steaming pot. Even if Kellin wasn’t beside her, I’d know exactly who she was. It only takes her wide smile, complete with dimple, for me to know she’s Mason’s mom. I see where his dark hair and skin tone comes from. Although, Mason’s dad must have been tall because she is smaller than me.

             
“Hope?”

             
“Yes, hi,” I say, pushing the screen door open for her.

             
“I’m Mason’s mom. Gabbie.” She raises the pot. “I made soup.” I step out of the way to let her in and lead her into the kitchen. Kellin avoids eye contact with me and goes straight to the living room where Misty is.

My face flushes as
Gabbie sets the soup on the stovetop right next to the counter where her son and I made out just hours ago.

             
“Hey Mom,” Mason says coming around the corner. I watch as he kisses her cheek like it’s something he does all the time. It’s so sweet and even though it’s totally a Mason thing to do, I still find myself surprised by the gesture. “You tried it first, right?”

             
She gives him a sharp look. “Kellin ate two bowls and he’s still walking, so shut up.” She takes the lid off and turns her attention to me. “Bowls?”

             
“Oh, uh, that cupboard,” I say, pointing behind her.

             
She starts filling the right number of bowls without asking how many are needed and places three of them in the freezer to cool. Kellin and Misty bring the kids in and Chase follows behind Dylan. Mason handles introductions as I help get everyone situated. The only one missing is Annie. She’s been hiding all day.

             
Gabbie hands me a bowl and nods at my arm. “What happened there?” she asks.

             
Instinctively I tuck my arm into my side and glance at Kellin. He looks down at the floor and I feel horrible all over again. “Curling iron mishap,” I say. Her eyes bore into me for several seconds and I feel frozen under her gaze.

             
She nods slowly. “Make sure you keep it clean. You don’t want it to get infected.”

             
“We’re on top of it,” Mason offers as he leans into me. “Any excuse to play doctor.” He makes his brows jump and my cheeks ignite in embarrassment. Who says stuff like that to their mom?

             
“Mason Xavier,” she sighs, but she’s fighting a smile at the same time. She shakes her head and hands him his own bowl of soup.

             
I sit down, looking into the bowl for the first time and cringe. Vegetable soup. I look up, wondering how I can get around eating this crap and Mason chuckles. He takes a large bite and winks at me. Jerk.

             
“All right,” Gabbie announces. “I’m out of here.”

             
“Thank you for the soup,” I say, trying to sound sincere, because I am grateful. I just don’t plan on eating it.

             
“No problem.” She pulls a Snickers bar from her back pocket and slides it across the table to me with a knowing smile. “It was nice to meet you, Hope.”

             
I stare at the candy, dumbfounded. “It was nice to meet you too,” I murmur absently. She and Mason both laugh. She kisses the top of his head then does the same to Kellin before she goes.

             
I tear into the Snickers and push my bowl to Mason.

~***~

              I hate hospitals. I hate their smell, what’s meant to be sterile, but really seems like they’re trying to mask the stench of death and sickness. I hate their neutral décor that borders on boring and ugly. Mostly, I hate that people come here to die.

             
I press the number for Guy’s floor three times. It doesn’t make the elevator go any faster, but I do it anyway. Mason laces his fingers in between mine and squeezes. It’s a silent reminder that he’s here for me. I take in a slow breath and blow it out through my mouth.

             
“Better?”

             
I manage a smile. “Yeah.”

             
The doors open and I follow Mason to Guy’s room. He’s propped up in the bed. My heart skips an actual beat as I move to his side. I had this image in my mind. His head bald and wrapped in gauze like a mummy. Tubes inserted in all sorts of orifices. Looking pale and frail. But there’s only a small bandage on the back corner of his head. His blonde locks are still in his face and he looks good. Tired, maybe, but no paler than usual. The only tube is an IV in his arm. He lifts the opposite one inviting me onto the bed with him and I climb in quickly. It’s a tight fit, these beds aren’t made for more than one person, but I snuggle against him and we make it work.

             
Guy strokes the ends of my hair and rests his head on top of mine. “I’m sorry,” he says and his voice is thick, scratchy.

             
Jenny moves to the other side of the bed and fills a cup with water. He sips it and clears his throat as if he wants to say more.

             
I shake my head. “It’s all right. You’re all right. That’s all that matters. Just…don’t do that again. Okay?”

             
His lips press together until they turn white and he nods slowly. His gaze lowers to my arm, to the dressing covering my wrist. “You too.” I swallow, returning his nod tightly. “No more,” he whispers against my temple. “Please, Hope. No more.”

             
“We’re going down to the cafeteria to get something to eat while you visit,” Alec says. He stretches and yawns loudly. “Don’t get crazy in here. He needs to rest.”

             
“We’ll try,” Guy jokes, but he sounds worn, tired. Mason takes Alec’s vacated seat and looks around.

             
“You know, if you wanted to lie in bed and be waited on hand and foot, I’m pretty sure there are easier ways. Maybe just play sick next time.”

             
Guy smirks. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

             
“So, what do you do here for fun?” I ask, trying to keep the light mood in the room. He hands me a weird looking contraption and it takes me a second to figure out it’s a remote then a few seconds more to figure out how to use it. We settle on an old episode of SpongeBob. Guy closes his eyes and his breathing turns deep with sleep. My eyes grow too heavy to fight and I finally give in, nestling closer to him with the reassurance that’s he’s going to be okay.

             
“My turn,” Chase announces loudly. I jump, disoriented. It takes me a moment to remember where I am through my grogginess.

             
“Uhh,” I moan.

             
Chase leans over the bed, his face inches from mine. “You had your turn sleepy head. Now it’s mine.”

             
“What time is it?”

             
“Almost eight.”

             
I sit up, trying to not jostle a still sleeping Guy. I don’t know how Chase didn’t wake him up. Then I see Mason. His legs stretched out in front of him, hands folded over his stomach, chin resting on his chest. Asleep. And completely adorable.

             
“I tried to wait,” Chase says in a low voice. “She was pretty persistent.” I look around him to see Annie hovering by the door.

             
“It’s fine. I didn’t mean to stay so long. Where are Jenny and Alec?”

             
“They went home for a little bit to see the kids. Said they’d come back after you got home.”

             
I nod and maneuver my way off the bed. Guy stirs and I lean down, placing a kiss on his cheek. I have the strangest sensation in my chest. My heart is beating way to fast, making me feel like I’m scared, but I know I’m not. For the first time in my life, I’m not afraid at all. I’m relieved.

             
So I don’t understand where the tears burning my eyes come from, but I blink them back and smile at Guy’s worried expression. “What’s wrong?”

             
“No, nothing. I’m good.” I lick my lips and smile wider. “I’ve been kicked out, so I’m gonna go.” I hug him awkwardly. “I’m so glad you’re all right. Don’t ever do that to me again.”

             
He clasps his hand over my arm and tugs me closer. “I know. I swear.” He doesn’t need full sentences. I get it. I wake Mason up and he says his goodbyes in the sexiest, deep, just-woke-up voice.

             
I take his hand in the hallway and let myself enjoy the way his skin is warm against mine. Appreciate this small thing that means so much to me. I stop abruptly and he cocks a brow at me in quiet question.

             
“Kiss me,” I say.

             
With a wicked smile, he pulls me into an alcove and happily obliges. I want this. For the rest of my life. I want this. Happiness, and kisses, and Mason.

39

Mason

              Mom’s up before me when I wake up Sunday morning. That’s weird, but the fact she’s packing away her DVD collection into one of our mangled, taped up boxes is enough to stop me in my tracks.

             
“What are you doing?” I demand. My gut clenches. What the hell is going on?

             
“Packing,” she says in that tone that makes it clear I shouldn’t push, but I’m in full panic mode. There is no fucking way I am moving again. It’s my senior year and she swore she would let me finish in the same school. And now I have Hope. Kel has Misty.

             
She can’t pull this shit. Not now.

             
I stomp over to her and tip the box upside down, spilling the movies across the floor. She sits back on her heels, shocked. I grab a handful and shove them back onto the shelf. “No. You’re not. I’m not moving. Not this time.”

             
I reach for more and she takes hold of my hand. I jerk away. My head is hot and I’m pissed. I’m seconds away from putting my fist through something. The wall’s looking pretty damn good right now. Why is she doing this to me?

             
“I’ve been up all night thinking about this. We’re on a month to month lease. I can get the security deposit back—”

             
“No.”

             
“I found a couple places online—”

             
“No.” Another handful of chick flicks back on the shelf.

             
“You and Kellin can pick where we live—”

             
“No.”

             
“I was thinking we could go back to Illinois.”

             
That stops me cold. Home? She wants to go home? Why? Why now? I’ve begged to go back. I’ve threatened to go on my own. She’s always refused. “What?”

             
“There’s a two bedroom house, so you’d have to share a room, but it’s close to our old house. Kellin could go to your old school. Or there’s a three bedroom duplex. It’s bigger, but it’s not as nice of an area. Different school district.”

             
She starts placing the DVD’s back into the box. I’m just staring at her. I can feel my entire body shaking. My head and my heart are at war. And I can’t. I can’t do this.

             
“Why?” I choke out.

             
Mom lifts her gaze to meet mine and she sighs. “I knew she was lying,” she begins, shaking her head like she doesn’t want to do this with me, but knows she has no other option. “A big part of my job is reading people. I’m good at it. And I’m a mom, it’s ingrained.” She stands up and picks up the box, moving it to the shelf on the other side of the TV and starts on the CD’s.