“What the hell are you doing in here?” Sebastian’s deep voice carries through the room, and I snap my head up, quickly closing the browser.
Sebastian’s been coming home early, sure, but it’s not even midday.
He takes measured steps into the office, and I jump up from the chair, moving away from the computer.
“I… I… uh.”
I’ve never been scared of Sebastian before, but memories of the last time I’d looked at photography courses try to bombard me.
I’d wanted to learn—to further my photography skills—but I should have known researching courses would end in disaster. It wasn’t a secrethemonitored my browsing history, and I’d looked up photography tips before, but I wanted something more. I’d mostly looked at online programs, and I hadn’t thought anything of it, but all he’d seen were the ones that would have me venturing out andaway from him.He’d tolerated my photography in the past, but something about this sent him over the edge. It didn’t matter that I wasn’t even considering anything but purely online content. He wouldn’t listen to me.
The sound of flesh connecting with flesh, of bones snapping and cracking, fills my ears, and I struggle not to be pulled away.
“Grace, what are you doing?” he asks, his tone accusatory but not necessarily aggressive.
He takes another step towards me, and my throat gets tighter. Sebastian’s office is nothing likehis, but I can’t separate them right now.
Sebastian narrows his eyes at me, but before he can say anything else, I whisper, “I’m sorry.” Then I dart past him and out of the room.
I didn’t see you earlier,” Mason says when he walks into the lounge where I’m sitting on the couch.
“Sorry, I was taking a nap.”
I wasn’t, and I feel kind of bad for hiding out, but I didn’t have the energy to shield myself from him after yesterday.
Mason is almost as good at picking up on what I’m feeling as Sebastian is, and the more time I spend with him, the harder it is not to let him in.
I’d waited for it—the admonishment. I’d expected Sebastian to storm after me, demand to know what I was doing in his office, but it never came.
Sebastian came home late last night. I cooked dinner, but instead of sticking around, I left him a plate in the oven and a note before going to bed early. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to see him because I don’t think I’d ever not want to, but I was still a little shaky from our encounter earlier, and I knew he’d see it.
“Are you feeling okay? I can bring you back up a hot chocolate if you like?” he asks, and I feel even worse for dodging him earlier.
“I’ll come down with you,” I say, standing from the couch. “Oh!” My head snaps up. “I owe you a coffee.” I spin for the hall, but Mason’s gentle touch on my arm stops me.
“Grace, you don’t owe me anything,” he says, and I turn to see him looking down at me with soft eyes.
“Please. I want to.”
Mason sighs, but he smiles and drops his hand from my arm.
I hurry to my room and pull out my cash. Sighing, I flick through the few notes I have left. It’s not going to be much to start over with, but it will have to do. I owe Mason more than one coffee, but I want to do this much at least.
Grabbing enough for our drinks, I stash the rest back into the inner pocket of my backpack and re-join Mason in the lounge.
We take Shadow downstairs to the grass before lining up at the coffee window. Shadow’s ears perk up, and his tail swishes faster the closer we get to the window, and I laugh at how excited he gets knowing what’s coming.
“Morning, Mason, Grace,” the barista says when it’s our turn. “Hello, handsome.” She leans out the window towards Shadow.
Shadow sits, his chest puffed out and straight, but his tail picks up even more speed. The girl laughs and holds out the treat he’s waiting for, and he wastes no time devouring it while we place our orders.
I hand over the money, and it feels nice to do something for Mason, even if it’s only one coffee. Taking the change, we step out of the line to wait for our orders.
“Thank you. You didn’t have to,” Mason says.
“I wanted to,” I say, giving him a quick smile.
Mason nods, returning the gesture. “So, how are you liking it here?”