35. Bridget

THIRTY-FIVE

Bridget

It's been a few hours since Mason left for work, and I'm starting to feel more like myself. Nothing more has happened this morning, and I've been sure to keep the windows and doors locked.

I have the alarm set for us being home, too, which means the front door is currently being monitored.

I even went outside to check on the gate that surrounds Mason's property. It's locked, which is great, but Mia noticed, and she begged me to play outside.

I'm not entirely comfortable sitting outside with her, but I want to give the kid as normal a day as possible.

We sit in the shade beneath one of the tall trees that hangs over Mason's backyard, and I'm playing with her in the sandbox that's set up in the corner.

We've built a number of structurally questionable sandcastles, and little Mia is covered in sand. I can't help but laugh as she plays in the stuff so happily, and it just hammers home my concern for her.

I love Mia like she's my own daughter, and I won't let anything happen to her.

I've also got my phone right next to me, just in case, and I've been religiously checking it for messages from Mason.

Nothing.

I want to believe that's a good thing, but I'm so on edge that nothing feels comfortable or safe right now.

My heart rate is consistently higher than usual, and I've been fighting off memories of the past at every turn.

I remember being this filled with dread when I was living with Jai. He didn't start so cruel, and that steady build-up was like a frog sitting in a pot of water.

Mom always liked to talk about that one. She'd say, "Try to put a frog in boiling water, and he'll have none of it. Hop right out. But, if you sit him down in room temperature water on the stove and slowly let it heat up, he'll cook himself."

It's a less-than-charming way to point out that it's the slow kind of pain that tricks you.

And she was right.

You don't realize when someone is conditioning you when they do it so insidiously.

Jai was charismatic and affectionate. He paid attention to me and took me places. It wasn't like one day it suddenly changed.

The descent into pain was gradual.

It started with little nit-picking things here and there. Getting on me about not keeping the house clean or letting myself go when I chose to wear sweatpants on a day off.

And any time I tried to talk to him about my concerns, he brushed it off like I was being irrational. He convinced me that I was , convinced me that all these issues I was seeing were all in my head and I was being too sensitive.

I didn't understand then, but now I know it was classic gaslighting.

And I fell for it—hook, line, and sinker.

"Bridgey! Look!"

Shaking myself, I look down at Mia's beautiful little sandcastle. The packed sand came out of the mold, cracked and missing chunks, and she's put in little sticks to be the flags.

"Wow! That's amazing, muffin!"

Crack.

I jump, my spine tingling as my heartbeat shoots up even higher. Something in the bushes moved, and the hairs on the back of my neck are standing on end.

It's just as likely that a bird or animal made the sound, but I can't keep myself from imagining the worst.

All I can see in my head is Jai emerging from the bushes like a damned serial killer in a horror movie.

And I have Mia with me.

The trees around us rustle, the wind moving them easily, and I can't stay out there in the yard with Mia for a single second longer.

"Amazing job, honey. Let's go inside and get a popsicle, huh?"

I don't want to freak her out, but I'm still scooping her up into my arms and practically running for the screen door.

"Bridgey!" She cries, surprised and a bit amused, while I try to prevent myself from having a damn heart attack.

My steps hurry all the more as I get to the deck behind the house and make for the door. I feel eyes on me from every direction, and I throw open the sliding door and fling us both inside.

"Oof!"

I yelp loudly as I crash into something solid, forced to take a step back. As I look up, squeezing Mia to my chest, I see Mason standing just past the door to the backyard.

"Mason!" I sigh, trying to catch my breath. "You're home early."

"Hi, yeah. Are you…" He looks between me and Mia, his brows down over his eyes. "Did something happen?"

I shake my head, but then I'm wobbling the damn thing in every direction because I have no idea how to feel right now. I'm all flustered and upset, and poor Mia has no idea what's going on.

Mason can tell I'm shaken and takes Mia, who's reaching out for him.

"Dada!"

"Hi, baby girl." He glances over at me again. "Bridget, what's up?"

"I just…I don't know. I heard a branch or twig or something outside, and I got freaked. I feel like someone is watching me all the time. I can't stand this, Mason."

"Here," he hands me Mia again, "I'll go take a quick look. I'll be right back."

Before I can say anything, which I really want to because I don't want Mason going out there if Jai is actually here, he's out the door and glancing over the backyard.

I watch with Mia in my arms as he circles around the yard and pool, checking the bushes and shadows.

My brain is whirling through all the things that could go wrong; images of someone rushing up behind Mason and tackling him superimposing over reality.

Mason starts walking back, shrugging at me as he approaches the sliding door, and I let him in.

"I don't see anything now. But I get it, okay?"

He wraps me up in his arms, Mia hugged between us, and he takes my head, guiding my forehead to his lips as he lays a gentle kiss on my skin.

My heartbeat is still way too high, and the panic surging in my veins doesn't look like it's going anywhere any time soon.

"Mason, I just…I didn't know if it was him, and I have Mia here with me."

The sweet girl in question is thoroughly confused, and Mason takes her again, kissing his daughter's forehead like he did mine.

He walks her to the living room, plopping her down to watch a bit of TV so that we can talk. When Mason's chosen a show for her and he comes back to stand near the patio with me, he slides the glass door closed over the screen.

Locking things up, Mason is sure to use the bar that prevents the door from being pushed open and inserts the little pin in the top to help keep it in place.

It's a regular habit at night, but it's the middle of the day, and I can tell that Mason is just about as tense as I am.

Which begs the question.

"Mason?" I look up at him as he stands before me and wraps me in his arms again. "Did something happen at the office?"

After a moment, he sighs, his breath fluttering the hair on the top of my head. He kisses the spot before leaning back to meet my eyes.

"Yeah." He nods, his expression grim. "Another rose."

My stomach drops as my eyes flare wide. "What?!"

Just as the word leaves me, we both look over at Mia and offer reassuring smiles. She goes back to watching TV, and Mason pulls me into the kitchen, closing the drapes over his patio doors as we try to keep our conversation from affecting Mia.

"I know, I know. The asshole found me at work. Jai left another of his gifts, okay? I have it in a bag to give to the police."

My eyes sting, but I don't want to let the tears fall. This is all getting way out of hand.

"Mason, this is getting ridiculous. What are we supposed to do? Two roses aren't going to be enough to get the police to do anything."

He walks over and hugs me again, keeping me pressed against his chest.

"I know, hun. I do. I think…I don't want you going back to your mom's. Okay? Jai could find you there, and your mother?—"

"She can't be around if Jai's there. I…no, I agree. I'll stay here. But I don't like the idea of leaving her alone. I could call Hudson, but I don't…I don't want him to panic about all this."

"We won't leave her alone. Umm…I'll call Easton. Fuck, I never did because I got distracted by that damn rose and forgot. I'll call him now and have him go over there. He'll be able to ensure your mom is safe. He's a bodyguard, after all."

I nod, the knot in my stomach over her safety backing off a bit. "Okay. Yeah. Do that."

Mason turns to the side, pulling his phone out of his pocket, and I give him space to call Easton. As he chats with his friend, I lean over the kitchen island, my thoughts spinning around like a dizzying merry-go-round.

I can't believe I led Jai right to Mason's doorstep. I brought this on him. On Mia.

My throat is tight, and I try to force myself to swallow down the dread that seems ever-present. Mia is an innocent child, and I know that Jai won't care about that.

He was never kind or understanding around the children in our friends' lives. That chance was taken away from me when we were together because he absolutely would not have children.

Mia is so important to me, and if something happens to her, I'll never forgive myself.

Mason looks over as he talks with Easton. I meet his eyes, but I don't bother hiding the worry I'm feeling.

"Yeah, I'll want you with Bridget, too, but for now, can you keep an eye on her mom? She'll stay here with me tonight, but we don't want Bev alone."

I can't hear the other half of the conversation, but Mason nods and offers a small smile. After a moment, he says, "Yes, perfect. Okay. Thank you. Talk later."

With that, he hangs up, and I pull myself off the counter to get right back in Mason's arms.

"He's going to head over now and send us regular updates. He's also happy to help keep an eye on things if you'd be comfortable bringing your mom here."

I raise my brows. "Oh, that's actually not a terrible idea. Maybe tomorrow?"

"Yeah, that's what I was thinking. We'll get through tonight, and I'll be right by your side the entire time, okay? I'm not going to let anything happen."

Burying myself in his arms, I squeeze Mason tightly as I pinch my eyes closed.

"Okay." My voice is muffled and quiet. "Okay."

"We'll get through this, Bridget. We will. We'll give what we have to the police, and I'll get everything I can from Easton to be sure they take us seriously. I won't let him ruin your life for another moment."

The air hangs tense, and I can feel the words just out of reach in Mason's heart. I want to say them, too, but now does seem like the wrong time.

We have to get through this. I need this life with Mason. I want it. I…I love him.