Mason takes more than a minute to think things through, while he sips on his tea. We've been sitting at the table staring at each other for about twenty minutes in complete silence. I know what he is doing, he will hope I'll cave and give in to his insanity. Nope, not in this lifetime or the next.
As much as I'd love to roll in the hay with him, sort of speak, I have no desire to kick up an unnecessary storm.
After a good half an hour Mason clears his throat, calmly places his cup down, and quirks up his brows, " You assume that I'm extending this invitation on the premise that I want to be romantically involved with you," He says with a sly smile, and if that is not a kick in the teeth than I don't know what it is.
" Well, you're wrong," He grins at me," Marie is quite taken by you and she will be happy to see you. It would take the edge off," Am I? Wrong? I don't think I am, but I'll play his game and see where that goes.
" Curious," I smile, and he grins back at me but it feels more like we are baring teeth at each other because I know I'm not amused. If not, I'm a little irked that he is throwing words like this at me with the sole purpose of driving me insane. And it's working.
" If I remember correctly you kissed me, which makes your statement null and void," I take another sip of my tea purposely slow, watching his reaction over the rim of my cup, but he is still grinning as if he'd won something at the fare. Bastard.
" I'd argue that you kissed me," He throws back, hides his face behind his cup, and then slams it down on the table as if he'd already won.
" I don't remember doing such a thing. You kissed me," I say a little too heated. This argument is absolutely ridiculous. In fact everything leading up to this point is ridiculous. Who cares, who kissed whom. It happened and is all that matters. Although, now I'm questioning myself. Had I?
Oh, no you don't. I hate these games with a passion. Why can't we just skip to the part where we are being honest with each other, but that has never worked for us? Damn him.
" It doesn't matter whether you remember it or not, the facts remain Lily. You kissed me," He points at himself, struggling to keep a straight face. I know this because he is forcing himself to frown. This is ridiculous at its very best, but I'm not going to let it go.
" Just admit it that you kissed me. And this is nothing more than just a ruse to get back in my sheets," I poke to see his reaction, but he leans back in his chair and looks up at the ceiling, so I miss the reaction. I'm getting better at reading him, and I know he is avoiding my gaze on purpose. The view of the ceiling isn't all that fascinating. But the view I'm getting is making up for that. I had no idea that necks could be so sensual. Not until I met him, anyway.
" I guess we are at an impasse then," He sighs and turns to look back at me, once again smiling," I tell you what, " He pushes himself up and walks to the bookshelf on the side wall and begins pulling out books one by one but not opening any of them.
" I'll make you a deal. Come home for the holidays and I'll tell you my theory. And don't worry about Ava. She won't come after you. We are set to be married in three months, she is just a bit on the edge because of the wedding preparations, and our supposed past together," He offers it as an olive branch, but I know it's anything but; my hackles rise again.
I know I have no right to confront him about this, but I needed to know.
" For how long have you two been together?" I dare to ask and he glances at me over his shoulder and then turns back to pull more books off the bookshelf.
" Does it matter," He says casually and opens one of the books. It does matter.
I get it, I made mistakes. But you don't just fall out of love, and then marry someone that you don't even like out of the blue.
" It does," I say quietly, and he sighs, " How long?" I push on, and he slams the book shut and turns to face me with a scowl, displeased with my line of questioning. For whatever reason, he is choosing not to disclose that little tidbit that I need so much to understand what had led him to make such a rash decision.
Mason sighs, and plops himself on the edge of the bed, looking as if he is carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, and maybe he is, but that doesn't justify what he is doing.
He takes a deep breath," It doesn't matter. It is done. It's time to move on," He says quietly and I don't know if I can just move on. I've tried. I did. I've lost count of how many times I've tried to let him go and move on.
" One night," I say in one breath, he looks up at me and smiles. Damn him.
I wanted to slap myself silly. He'd played me for a fool. Manipulative bastard. In my head, I've called him every name under the sun and tried my best to keep my ass glued to the seat. Anger is a much safer option.
He opened his mouth preparing to barter some more, I stood and turned my back to him to place the cups on the counter.
" Take it or leave it, " I tried to sound as assertive as possible, but I knew I failed because he laughed, and clapped his hands.
" Right. I'll take it," I hear the bed creak, " Now, I'll tell you my theory of how I think you were made," That got my undivided attention. Because, I was struggling even with my crazy imagination, to understand what, and how you make a person other than the conventional way.