Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 88218 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88218 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
I’m going to miss this affection—the softer side of him that’s really starting to come through now he’s more relaxed and at peace. He’s well on his way to being his old self, the guy I looked up to. I don’t want to ruin that. It’s why I have to tell him to stay.
“So, I’ve been thinking …” I hedge.
“Don’t do that.”
“Think?”
“Thinking only leads to trouble.”
“Mase …”
He pulls back. “That’s your serious tone.”
“You know I love you, right?”
“And now you’re freaking me out.”
“I … I think you should stay here longer.”
“What?”
“If I didn’t have to go back, I’d stay with you, but I’m under contract.”
“So am I. I never ended up calling and getting out of the Fandom finale.” He squeezes me a little tighter. “We’ll go back together.”
“The finale is still a while away. I don’t want you to come back too soon. I’ve seen how well you’re doing here, and I think you owe it to yourself to take this time and come back completely fresh.”
His lips purse.
I cup his face. “This is totally different than you leaving LA. I know you’ll eventually come back to me. I have trust in that. In us.”
“You’re okay with me staying?”
The fact he’s so quick to give in shows how much he needs it. “I’d love to have you with me, but not at the cost of you not being ready. I didn’t understand why you came here until these last few days where I’ve seen you in your element. Lumber might not be your calling, but it runs in your blood. It calms you.”
“It really does. I don’t know why.”
“You know, I’ve actually been picturing us living here.”
Mason’s eyes widen. “You what?”
“Not permanently. But if we set our own Eleven schedule like Harley wants, escaping to the mountains during our downtime seems like a perfect solution to our problems. When LA is pissing us off, we come home to Montana. When it gets too quiet here, I can go back or both of us. This thing is only going to work between us if we compromise and give each other what we need. And you need more time here. You’re allowed it.”
He holds on to me so tight as if he fears he’ll lose me if he lets me go. “I want to be better for you. I want to be there.”
“And you will be. When it counts most. I have no doubts about that.”
“I’ll be there for the finale. I promise.”
“It’s only two weeks.”
I lived without him for a lot longer than that.
Two weeks. That’s all.
I know Mason being in Montana has been good for him, but if he doesn’t get his ass to the studio soon, I’m going to both kill him and kiss him when he finally gets here. Maybe not in that order, though. Kiss, then kill.
He promised he would be here, but the closer it creeps to our stage time in the show, the more nervous I get. When I left him, I had no doubts, but if I get another “My flight was delayed again, but I still have time” text, I’m going to lose my shit.
This isn’t just another performance. It’s not a publicity grab. It’s … bigger than that. Eleven reunion rumors have been circling since Cameron’s funeral, and they haven’t slowed down. This is going to amplify them more, even if it is only the two of us out on that stage.
If Mason gets here in time.
The contestants have all performed. Alondra has sung her greatest hit. We’re due to go on next. Mason only has two commercial breaks and five minutes of the host rambling that we’re only moments away from finding out who won. It’s never “moments away.” It’s an eternity.
I’m waiting in the wings, staring out at the audience, who are all a shade of blue thanks to the low lighting.
During the commercial break, the stage lights are down, so I can see nearly all the crowd’s silhouettes. I take a deep breath. This is ridiculous that I’m nervous. If Mason doesn’t get here in time, I’ll go out there and sing by myself. It’s no big deal.
It’s not performing alone that’s getting to me, though. This song is Mason and me. And after everything we’ve been through, from past mistakes to the future ones I anticipate we’ll make, singing it with him in front of millions of people will mean something. Even if we’re not saying the words aloud, we’re hoping the song will speak for itself.
The guitar Mason’s supposed to be playing sits on a stand by my side. I want to pick it up and throw the strap over my shoulder to prepare to go this alone, but that would be admitting defeat.
The insecure part of me tries to tell me he never got on the plane and he needs even more time. Maybe that he never made it to the airport, but he’s been texting me updates all day. If he wasn’t coming, he would’ve told me.