I nodded to myself as I loaded up the car.
Michelle would just have to accept that.
Chapter Twenty-One
Michelle
“What… did you do?”
I was sipping my coffee, staring bleary-eyed at Mason as he laid out bag after bag of new clothes.
Clothes… for us.
“Paton needs new school clothes. And I figured you needed new stuff too.”
My mouth was open as I stared at all the stuff. He’d gone nuts. Absolutely nuts.
But it was also the sweetest thing I’d ever seen in my life.
I swallowed, all my unrequited feelings coming to the surface in a rush of warmth. Hell, they were leaping out, making me want to throw myself into his arms.
“I can’t… I can’t afford all that, Mason.”
He shrugged.
“You saved my ass at the bar. I don’t pay you enough.”
“You pay just fine!”
“Well, it doesn’t matter. I got a huge discount. But it’s all final sale. Can’t return it anyway.”
My heart was pounding. He was lying about that last part, I could tell by the way his eyes shifted away. He wasn’t going to let me return it. Why, oh why, had he done this extraordinary thing?
“Mason… it’s not right for me to accept this.”
“Accept what? Ohhhh… did you go shopping, Mason?”
Darn it. Now Pate had seen the bags.
“Thought you could use some nice things for your new school.”
Her eyes absolutely lit up.
Mason had me, and he knew it.
They both looked at me with puppy dog eyes.
“Maybe your mom wants to approve everything first.”
I rolled my eyes and gave up. I would try and return whatever he got me. If it was all final sale then I’d just have to find a way to pay him back. And Pate did need new clothes… A little confidence couldn’t hurt considering how rough the past six months had been.
Scratch that. The past few years.
We’d basically been struggling ever since my folks had made me leave. Paton didn’t know how easy things could be with a little money. A whole new wardrobe was an unthinkable luxury. And the kind of thing I’d always dreamt about giving her.
At least that was what I dreamt about before we could barely afford to eat. Hearing your child’s stomach rumble was an all time low. That sort of situation shifted your priorities in a hurry.
“Go ahead.”
She squealed and ran for the bags. Mason held up items for her approval. She especially loved the brown corduroy skirt and grey tights with a bright blue sweater. I knew she would look amazing in that.
Everything he’d chosen was… perfect.
“What about you, Mom?”
I shook my head rapidly. I was on the verge of tears. And I didn’t want either one of them to see it.
“I’ll be… right back.”
Mason followed me down the hallway. I was about to disappear into the bathroom so I could cry in peace and quiet when his hand gripped my shoulder and turned me around.
“Michelle…”
I couldn’t have told you why I was crying exactly. Maybe because he’d done what I hadn’t been able to. Maybe because he was so damn good.
“I’ll… I’ll pay you back. Somehow.” I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. “I will.”
“I don’t give a damn about the money. I wanted to do it.”
I nodded and looked away, trying to escape before my face crumpled.
He let me go.
I paused at the bathroom door.
“Thank you.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Mason
I’d made her cry. The person I wanted to protect and impress. I wanted her to see me as a provider. I wanted her happy.
The sound of her sobs through the bathroom door just about tore me up inside.
“Michelle…”
I leaned against the door, wanting to tear it down and go to her. I wanted to hit something too. I felt like a giant ass and that was the truth of the matter.
“Shell…”
“I’m fine. I’ll just, um, be out in a minute.”
I closed my eyes and put my back to the door. I was waiting. I was going to talk to her. I had to.
The sobs subsided a bit and the sniffling started. I almost smiled when I heard her honk her nose a few times. She was so damn cute. Even her boogers were adorable.
Silence.
“Are you still out there?”
“What do you think?”
Silence.
“Come out.”
“Why?”
“Because, I’m fucking sorry.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong. I’m just… I’m not used to people being so… nice.”
I cursed, rubbing the back of my neck. That tore me up inside. She hadn’t been shown a lick of kindness from this world. It took me, a caveman who wanted to tie her to the bed, to show her a little kindness.
And that’s what made her cry.
“Are you still there?”
I nodded and then muttered ‘yes’ when I realized she couldn’t see me through the damn door.
I was an idiot.
Love was turning me into an idiot.
Love…
Oh no. NO NO NO. Goddamn it. Who gave you permission to fall in love, you neanderthal?
“Are you still out there?”