Chapter 7: Chapter Seven - Jessica

The look on Dad’s face said it all. He’d been silent when I told him I would move down there and live in Grandma’s estate for a while. It wasn’t until he walked me to my terminal that he voiced any of it.

“Jessica,” he said, placing his big palms on my shoulders. “I love and trust you, but you’re giving up Denver for…Slade Springs?”

I listened to the chatter and foot traffic of the airport while reading his face. His thick salt-n-pepper eyebrows were pulled down and his frown was deep with regret.

“You worked so hard to graduate and now you’re moving…what happened to your plans, Baby Girl?"

“Dad, why did you wait until now to say something? You’ve had two days.”

He sighed. “I felt guilty. I took you away from your mother’s family because it was hard to live there and be reminded of her. I was selfish. Your grandmother loved you and I didn’t bring you down. Now, she’s gone. Maybe it was your way of grieving but I don’t think it is. I think you feel pressured.”

Which was accurate. I did feel pressure to give in to my grandmother’s wishes. “I’ll work online for a few months to satisfy Aunt Tasha and then come back. It’ll all be fine.”

Dad sighed. “I’m going to miss you. I was hoping you stay close to home.”

“I’ll come visit in a few weeks or you could come down there.”

The look on his face said no. He had cut ties with that place after mom died. It was too painful and I understood that.

He kissed my forehead as the flight attendant came over the speaker. “Now boarding the flight to Slade Springs, Louisiana.”

“Love you. I’ll text you when I get there.”

I tugged my carry-on behind me and fell in line to board the plane. Jacob had to work today so he was sending Mason to pick me up, which made me even more nervous.

Once I was on the plane and my carry-on was above me, I pulled out my book from my purse and opened it. Two hours later, I was stirred from sleep when the flight attendant announced our arrival.

I wiped the drool from the corner of my mouth and stood up to grab my things. The airport in New Orleans was the closest one to Slade Springs, which was thirty minutes south of Covington.

Mason and I had an hour's drive once he picked me up.

I walked into the airport and my gaze searched the waiting area. My fingers tightened around the handle of my carry-on. The anticipation of seeing him today kept me up the night before. It was stupid, I knew that, for me to long to see this man I’d barely met but I couldn’t stop the churning of nerves inside of me.

People began to move toward their families and rides when I spotted him. He looked just like he had so many times in my dreams.

Mason stalked toward me, his dash-wash jeans holey in the knees and his black T-shirt curved to his biceps. Everything about it had me on edge. I sucked in a deep breath when he smiled at me and met him in the middle.

“Hey,” he said, reaching around to grab my bag for me. “I’m glad you made it in one piece. I don’t like planes. They make me nervous.”

I let him take my bag and nervously slid my hands into my pockets to give myself something to do with them. “Yeah? I’ve taken them several times. I enjoy it. I sleep most of the way.”

Mason’s mossy-colored eyes smiled without his mouth moving. There was something so endearing about him besides the obvious of him being completely hot. “You ready to go? I think Aunt Tasha is making us a meal at your grandmother’s house tonight as a welcome home party.”

I gave him a look that made him laugh.

The sound of it rocketed through my body. “She’s very excited that you’re coming. So is Jacob. All of us. I’d hate to see your grandmother’s house go downhill.”

“Whelp,” I said, slapping my thighs. “Here I am.”

“Yeah, here you are,” he said.

Nerves slithered down my spine as he gestured his head toward the EXIT. “Let’s get going. We have about an hour.”

I followed him to his pickup which reminded me of Jacobs. He opened the door for me and I climbed into the passenger seat. The smell of his cologne was heavy in the cab. “I like your cologne,” I said when he climbed into the driver’s seat.

He gave me a look. “I’m not wearing any.”

I pressed my hands in between my thighs. He wasn’t wearing any? Did he naturally smell like this because I doubted it? It was heavy like a storm brewing and lingered like fresh grass.

I watched out the window as he found his way out of the airport and onto the highway. “I got you one of those bubble tea things,” he said, pointing toward the cup holder.

“For me?” I asked, taking a sip of the coconut milk and tapioca. “Oh my, gosh. This hits the spot. How did you know I liked this?”

Mason chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck. “I stalked you on social media to find out. I didn’t have your number to ask and Jacob was no help.”

Unable to stop the schoolgirl crush, my cheeks warmed at the thought of him scrolling through my pictures. I tried to remember what pictures were up to no avail. “Well, thank you. Have you ever tried one?”

He shook his head.

“Do you want to?”

Mason glanced over at me quickly and I swore his eyes swirled a deep gold. I inhaled quickly and let it out. The moment his gaze shifted toward my mouth, something darted across the highway.

Mason shot his arm out across me to keep me safe and slammed on the brakes. I gaped at the giant wolf standing in front of Mason’s truck. His gaze settled on us as if he weren’t afraid.

Mason stared back for several minutes of silence until the wolf ran into the woods. He looked down at me and then at my lap. “Here.”

I followed his line of sight to my drink spilled all over my lap. I hissed as reality hit me and took the napkins from his glove compartment. “I’m sorry that thing came out of nowhere.”

Someone blew the horn behind us and Mason waved them around out the window. Mason helped me pat my thighs dry and put the drink back into the cup holder. “Are wolves always that big?” I asked.

Mason swallowed as he looked in the review mirror to start back on the highway. “Not always. Sometimes.”

I stared down at my stained jeans. “It seemed a bit big to me and humanlike. His eyes…they looked so intelligent.”

Mason didn’t say much after that. I wasn’t sure if the wolf had startled him or what but I didn’t push him.

When we got to the house Aunt Tasha’s vehicle was parked in the driveway. “Thank you so much for the ride and the drink, even though it was ruined. Do you want me to help clean up your truck?”

“Nah, Girl. This thing wasn’t clean when you got inside of it. Let me get your bags.”

I climbed out, looking into the dense forest surrounding the estate. Were there wolves in the woods that big around here? It reminded me of the one in my dreams.

Mason cleared his throat. “You’re safe here. I know you saw the wolf but that’s once in a lifetime.”

I laughed him off. “I’m fine. Just…curious.”

Mason nodded. “You know what they say about curiosity.”

“It killed the cat?” I asked, grabbing my luggage from his hand. “I’m more of a dog person myself.”

He smiled as I walked toward the front door and walked inside. Aunt Tasha had a welcome banner stretched across the doorframe of the dining room with pizza and a cake sitting on the table.

“Oh no,” I whispered.

Aunt Tasha clapped her hands. “I wanted all of the boys to be here but they haven’t made it. Welcome home, Jessica.”

I didn’t want to burst her bubble and tell her I wasn’t staying. I’d handle that when the time came.

Mason placed his palm on my lower back and ushered me forward. “Come on, Girl. Don’t hurt her feelings, she’ll hold on to it forever.”

I let him guide me into the dining room and into Aunt Tasha’s arms. Several doors slammed outside and the front one opened seconds later. Aunt Tasha placed her palms on each side of my face. “Thank you for doing this.”

I smiled as Jacob and his friends came inside. My gaze slipped to Mason who hadn’t taken his eyes off me.

“It’s my pleasure,” I said.