16. Bridget

SIXTEEN

Bridget

It's been at least twenty minutes, and I'm still lying in bed next to Mason, trying to understand what just happened. I want to stay there next to him forever, but I know I can't.

As I roll over onto my other side, I see Mason's phone open to the monitor app, and Mia is still very much asleep.

God, was this a mistake?

Regardless, I need to go. Sitting up on the edge of the bed, I reach for my clothes and start to get dressed. When I've got my bra and panties on, I look over my shoulder at Mason.

He's watching me with a smile, but I can see the tiny furrow in his brow.

"Do you want me to grab you that sandwich?"

He laughs, and I chuckle back at him.

"Kidding. I should go, though."

Standing, I pull up my shorts, and I'm about to do the same with my shirt when Mason slides up behind me on the bed and grabs my wrist.

"Hey, I'm not kicking you out, okay?"

His brows are still knit together, but that lift to the corner of his mouth makes my pulse flicker.

"You don't need to hide from me, Bridget, and nothing needs to change either."

He makes me spin around to face him and then kisses my forehead.

"You can tell me to take a step back at any time, and I will, you know that, yeah?"

He meets my eyes, and I try to nod, but it's mostly just me dropping my head on his chest. Mason is saying all the right things, but after everything with Jai, I don't know if I can trust that.

"So until then, let's just see what happens, okay? No pressure."

When I look up at him, Mason takes my chin and kisses me again. "Though I'll admit that I prefer the option where you stay, and we get to do this some more."

I can't help but smile, a soft laugh slipping from me. My shoulders relax, too, and as much as I'm terrified, Mason isn't exhibiting any of the same signs that Jai did.

Still, there's a nagging insecurity that I don't deserve him. I chose Jai over him all those years ago, and according to everything that Jai said, I'm just a nobody who failed at a singing career and eats too much.

I want to ignore those insults. I want to remind myself that Jai was just a jerk who needed to control me, but it's damn hard.

"Okay." It's all I can think to say. "I…okay."

Mason seems to understand—because, of course, he does—and he squeezes me against his chest again. I melt into the hug, loving every damn second of it.

My brain won't let it last long, though. Images of Jai and worries of him being right behind me creep up like they always do.

And I can't tell myself that I'm being ridiculous. Because Jai has tracked me down before—several times, in fact.

Panic grips my throat, and I try to breathe in Mason's comforting scent even as my mind kicks up image after image of Jai hunting him down and hurting him.

Or worse, hurting Mia.

I wouldn't put it past him. He's said more than a few times that he would end anyone who stood in his way to get me.

And I don't think that it would matter to him that Mia is just a kid.

That little girl is too damn precious to be caught up in all this, and she's already lost her mom. I'd never forgive myself if my stupid past took her father from her or her own life.

It's too selfish of me to take more of this.

I want Mason. I've wanted him since I was young, but going for it with him just seems like too big of a risk.

This evening was a blessing, and I'll carry the memory of it with me forever.

But I won't lead Jai to them.

"Hey," I look up, and it's clear that Mason knows I'm too in my head right now, "there's no rush. We both need to…to think about all this. I don't regret it for a second, but…but I know that we have lives to consider. And I want you to know that you can do that. I don't expect anything from you."

My heartstrings tug again, and I smile at him. He's especially understanding, it seems, and knowing that he's as up in his head over all this as I am, at least to some degree, is comforting.

"Thank you, Mason. I reach up on my tiptoes and kiss him. Truly."

Stepping back, I pull my shirt on.

"I'm going to go, but I'll see you tomorrow. We can…we can just see how it goes, right?"

He nods with a smile. "Right."

We're both a little awkward again, but part of me knows that this is normal. People struggle with nailing down relationships all the time.

Still, I have to assume that stalker exes aren't as common.