Prologue

Bridget

God, I hope I'm doing the right thing.

My back aches from packing the car, and when I turn around to check the house, I crash smack dab against a firm chest.

"Oof."

Strong hands steady me on my feet, and then I hear, "Bridget, I…don't think you should do this. I don't like that guy."

Mason?! What the hell…

"What are you doing here?" I stumble out, my heart hammering against my chest. "Aren't you supposed to be with Hudson?"

Mason shakes off the collision, straightening his shirt with a frown.

"I was. But I wasn't interested in sticking around to see him make out with Meredith. Besides, I…"

His words trail off, and as we hang there in the silence, I realize that Mason hasn't backed up from catching my elbow with his grip. He's so close, and my heart hammers against my ribs.

The car has officially been "Tetris" packed with boxes, and my spine tingles as thoughts churn.

You're okay, Bridget. You want to do this—with Jai.

"Mason, you're being ridiculous. I'm going."

All the way to LA, in fact. A measly one thousand two hundred and seventy-six miles away.

Which will make it the farthest I've been away from home by one thousand two hundred and sixty miles.

The flare of annoyance that took over Mason's features burns, mixed with an expression so stuffed up with disappointment that I consider whether my dad has come back from the grave to yell at me.

Nope, still just Mason.

My stomach clenches again, and I take my arm back, sidestepping around him to start for the house. Jai's been on the phone for hours, and we need to go.

"Bridget, this isn't right. I really think you're making a mistake."

"Well, it's not your decision, is it?" I shake my head, trying to offer a slight smile. "I'll be fine."

"You don't understand." Mason spins around, interjecting himself into my path, so I have to stop. "I have a bad feeling about this guy. I'm wor?—"

I scoff, and part of me immediately regrets it. But I need to stick to my guns. I need to get going, or I'll never leave this place and wind up trapped here like everyone else.

"You're jealous, aren't you?"

Shutting the car door, I try to step around Mason. Jai doesn't like it when I make him wait.

"I'm sorry, but Jai has been…he's been more persistent. He made it clear that he wanted to be with me. From the beginning."

Hurt flares across Mason's face, and I know I hit pretty low with that one. But it's the truth, and we both know it.

Mason beat around the bush. He didn't say anything for ages, and we both missed that opportunity because of it.

Still, as he stands there, his hand on my bicep keeping me from leaving, my heart thuds all the harder. I can smell Mason's crisp cologne, and the warmth of his skin on me is just too damn much.

Stepping closer, Mason slides his hand down my arm, taking my hand. He squeezes, and there is so much behind that unspoken gesture.

"Maybe I am."

My brows shoot up to my hairline. "What?"

"Bridget, I…hell, you have to know, right? It didn't change for me. I know you've been with Jai for six months now, but I've adored you for six years."

A deep burn sets up shop in my eyes, in my chest, and I shake my head.

"Why are you saying this? I'm about to leave. The car is packed for LA. Jai and I are hitting the road any second."

He nods. "I know. I know that, Bridget. It's why I had to say something. Before it was too late, and I regretted it forever."

"Mason." My voice is low, and I shake my head, now staring at the ground.

My eyes find my toes, staring at the pale pink nail polish against my lightly tanned skin. The leather sandals are comfortable and easy to take off in the car.

Everything today has been about comfort. I'm wearing one of my favorite tees, the light green one with a white graphic of a winking smiley face against a checkerboard pattern.

My shorts are jean cut-offs, and I've pulled my long blonde locks into a ponytail, so it's out of my way.

But then his other hand comes up, tucking a loose strand behind my ear, and nothing is about comfort anymore.

Electricity whips through me twisting everything around—my guts, my heart, my head.

Another step forward and Mason is right in front of me, only a few inches separating us.

Bridget, you need to leave. Think of Jai. You need to?—

"If I can't get you to stay, you need to know that I'll be here. Waiting."

My mind fractures again, splintering into the bits that love and care about my boyfriend and those that wonder, "What if?" What if I choose Mason? What if I stay?

Leaning forward, Mason cranes his head down closer to me, his lips so damn close.

"Bridget, if anything happens, or you need to come home, I'll be here." He grips my hand, cupping my cheek with the other. "But don't make me wait forever. I'm a patient man, and I hope one day you'll realize you made the wrong choice, but if you give me a reason to walk away, I will."

I don't know what to think, what to feel, and my heart is going to rip itself out of my chest at this rate. He can't kiss you. You have a boyfriend. But…

"But until then, I'll be right here, Songbird."

I tremble at the familiar nickname, goosebumps skittering across my skin as Mason's lips hover just above my own.

He's the only one who calls me that. Songbird. God, what is happening?

I'm sure Mason is going to kiss me when I hear the pound of feet on the house's wooden stairs. With a hard jerk, I pull back, looking over to the porch to see Jai rushing down the steps.

His brows are down low over his eyes, and I can see the fury behind his glare. Jai levels it at Mason, but I know that all too soon, it'll be my turn.

Fuck. And I have this fucking drive with him. Shit.

"Hayes, I think you best be getting the fuck away from my girlfriend."

Jai's voice cuts through the echoey area in front of the house where we parked the car, and I flinch as he comes up and shoves himself between Mason and me.

My skin still tingles from where Mason touched me, and Jai puts a hand behind himself to push me farther away.

"We're just talking," Mason offers, his tone even but edged in anger.

"You can talk with your own woman." Jai scoffs. "Oh, wait. That's right. You ain't got one."

"Jai, I promise Mason just wanted to?—"

In a quick turn, Jai glares at me over his shoulder. He jabs a finger in my face and shoves me backward into the car with a step toward me.

"I know exactly what he wants. Now, shut it."

When Jai looks back at Mason, I can see my brother's bestie about ready to swing at my boyfriend. I am not built for drama like this, and my legs tremble.

"Leave Bridget alone. She's mine."

Mason glares, but after a moment, he backs up, raising his hands in defeat. "Of course, Jai."

Over Jai's shoulder, Mason makes eye contact with me.

"Like I said, Bridget."

And then he turns and leaves, his heavy steps crunching over the loose gravel drive. I watch as Mason walks around the hood of his truck and hops in.

The door slams loudly, and then I'm left alone with Jai, who's continuing to watch the truck drive off.

My shoulders slump, and it's like the air has gone out of my lungs. I try to fill them back up, but my body is sluggish, my heart struggling to slow back down to a normal rhythm.

Shit. Is this what I should be doing?

Before I can say another word, Jai spins to face me, boxing me in between his arms as he leans on the car at my back.

"Don't worry about that asshole, B. We'll be in LA by tomorrow and ready to start our new lives."

His lips crash against mine, and I give into it after a moment of shock. My muscles are still tense, but after all that, I'm not surprised.

Jai pulls back with a grin. I smile back, and then he circles around to the driver's side. "Go check the house one more time and fucking pee, would you? I'm not stopping every five minutes for your tiny ass bladder."

My brows raise as I back up toward the house. "Oh, sure."

I run up to the porch, jogging up the stairs to take one final look at the place. There's no point in making a big deal out of everything that happened, so I swallow hard and make sure to lock up before I go back to the car.

I think Jai's parents will still be using the house for something, so I tuck the key under the floor mat as instructed.

Hurrying back to the car, I try not to let my brain spiral any more than it already has. A new life is starting, and who knows, maybe LA will hold all the opportunities I'm looking for.

I could sing at a club somewhere or something. I'm not sure how it works.

Sitting in the passenger seat, I buckle up and crack the window a little to let in some fresh air.

The world starts to move around me as Jai reverses out of the driveway. My mind circles back to one particular word Mason said.

"Songbird."

"What's that?" Jai asks, and I shake my head.

"Nothing." I smile before looking back out the window. "Absolutely nothing."