Chapter 32: Bonus Chapter—Sophia

I was a little intimidated by the glare Mason had aimed at me, but I wasn’t going to back down. Besides, I knew he wasn’t going to hurt me, anyway. Not just because of our past, but because he wasn’t the kind of guy that got off on beating other people up, even when they were annoying.

“I came to visit you,” I said, tilting my chin up and giving him a stubborn frown. “Now move aside and let me in.”

He let out a little, sardonic laugh. “Aren't you a bit forward for someone that just came to visit?” he challenged, not moving an inch. “Make me move, Sophia. It’s the only way you’re coming in here.”

I frowned at him. I hadn't forgotten he was about as stubborn as I was. It was the only reason I had left him alone this long when I knew he was doing something stupid. Too soon and he would just send me away again, too long and I might be late in providing any sort of help.

I might have waited too long already, I thought to myself in worry.

He didn’t let me see a thing inside before he covered the doorway, but there wasn’t so much to see, anyway. It wasn’t pitch black inside, but it was dark, with nothing but the TV lighting the living room. There was still an hour before the sun set, so it wasn’t that dark, but the inside of his apartment looked so different from outside. That I couldn’t help but worry.

How long had he been sitting in this gloomy darkness by himself? How long would he continue before he reached out to someone on his own?

I had a feeling I knew the answer to both questions, and they scared me.

“You can't keep doing this to yourself,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest. It was hard not to let my voice go soft, but I knew if he thought I felt pity for him, he’d just chase me out faster. “You might not want to see me, but I am not going anywhere until I can get you to see sense, Mason.”

“I don’t need you for that, Sophia,” he sniped.

“Well, you’ve got me,” I snapped, making his eyes widen a bit in surprise. “Now fucking let me in already. I came to talk to you, and I am going to do it.”

His moment of surprise didn’t take so long, though, and he narrowed his eyes at me.

“Go away, Sophia,” he said bluntly. “I don’t care what you came to say; I won’t be hearing it, so you’re wasting your time here.”

Damn. Did I come on too strong? If I pushed more, would he shove me out? He was telling me to leave, but he hadn't locked the door yet. Did he, perhaps unconsciously, actually want me to be there, but he couldn’t admit it because of his stubbornness?

Screw this bastard, I moaned to myself. It’s fucking mental chess with this guy whenever he’s in a temper, always, and I don’t always get to win.

Worse, we weren’t on good terms, so I couldn’t trick him into doing whatever I wanted by offering sex in exchange. Actually, right then, I was a little worried he might reject me, so even though it crossed my mind, I didn’t dare try to seduce him.

It would make this so much easier, though…

“Please don’t say that, Mason,” I murmured, deciding to ease up a little so I wouldn’t push too much. “I’ve been really worried about you, okay? If I wasn’t, do you think I would still be here after the last time we met?”

It was still fresh in my mind, and I hated it. I hated how he’d looked, so defeated and angry at the world. He didn’t want anyone around him, and because of that I had known leaving him alone would be a dangerous thing.

Was he even taking care of himself, I wondered worriedly.

I didn’t let too much of the worry show, though. If he knew I had been so worried, that he was all I could think about the past few weeks, that the only reason I held off this long was that I was so worried I was giving myself insomnia. I had made sure to go to sleep yesterday and clean up properly today so he wouldn’t see just how much the time apart had worn me down.

Mentally, I was frayed, but I was never going to let this idiot see that, or things would be disastrous.

Why couldn’t I find a less troublesome guy, I thought with a quiet sigh.

“Well?” I prompted, arching my eyebrows. “Mason? Are you going to let me inside or not?”

He flattened his lips and looked away. I wasn’t sure whether or not to be relieved. On the one hand, he wasn’t trying to push me away, but on the other, he wasn’t exactly inviting me in. Could I assume he was wavering? Or would it just make it easier for him to send me away when he wasn’t looking at me?

I sighed audibly, and he turned back to look at me. His expression wasn’t any more inviting, though.

“Have you been eating okay?” I asked. “And I mean a real, homemade meal, Mason. I can cook you dinner?”

It was the only thing I could bribe him with. I wouldn’t make chef of the year, but my food was good, and Mason never had a problem with my food.

He didn’t answer immediately, raising my hopes.

Then he killed them just as quickly when he shook his head. At least, until he spoke.

“I don’t need you to cook for me, Sophia. I’m fine with what I have to eat right now.”

“Take out?” I guessed. “Frozen foods?”

His gaze moved away at the latter, and I frowned at him. I was tempted to give him a slap on the shoulder, but I dug my nails into my hand and held back.

“Seriously, Mason, you know that stuff isn’t good for you like fresh food is—”

“But there’s no reason anymore, right?” he said, lips twisting into something that he probably meant to be a smile, but just made me really sad. “All I’m doing is sitting around, so I don’t need anything fancy.”

“You’ll kill yourself faster that way,” I said with narrowed eyes.

He shrugged, uncaring. “It would still take a decade or two. I’ll be fine.”

I sighed again, heavier, and dropped my arms as well as the games. If I kept thinking too much, who knew how long we were going to be there.

“Mason, let me in,” I said bluntly.

“No,” he said, just as blunt.

“Mason—”

“Sophia.”

I glared at him, and his lips turned up at the corners. He still looked way too grim, but he also looked amused. Even if it was at my expense, I would take whatever I could get right then.

“Mason,” I said, my voice quieter. “Please let me in? I promise I won’t stay long, but I am seriously not backing away this time, do you hear me? I don’t care what you say. You’ll have to toss me over your shoulder and carry me out of this place. If you close the door on me, I’ll just hard press on your doorbell and wait.”

At my words, Mason’s gaze lit up, and my back stiffened when he ran his gaze up and down my form. I was wearing a dress with thin straps, a little tight at the top with a high collar that didn’t show too much cleavage, and fell down to my knees. But with the way he was looking at me, I felt like I might as well be naked, my body flaring to match his heat.

I shook those thoughts out of my head quickly, even as I felt my insides tremble in anticipation.

“I listened to you once when you sent me away, and I regretted it, Mason. Do you hear me? I’m not doing it again.”

His eyes narrowed. “I know we had a thing, Sophia, but it’s over now. You need to get over it, soon so it’s convenient for the both of us. Please just go away.”

Right. Is that why you look like you’re picturing me naked, Mason?

I didn’t say those words out loud because it might sound too confrontational right then. But even I couldn’t keep standing straight in front of him if he was this determined to send me away.

Before, when he said those words, I knew partially what it was about. He was worried about his own future with the injury, he had too much to worry about, and he didn’t need me being one of those things. I didn’t want to be a burden for him, either, so even though it hurt, I didn’t put up much of a fight before I left.

I’d come to try and work things out between us once more, but if he really was ready to forget about me, about us, then I wasn’t confident enough to try and force the issue.

“Mason,” I said, watching him intently. “Listen very closely, because these could be the last words I say to you. Take it as a final warning. You keep chasing me away, and I might not keep coming back to you. If I walk out of this door right now? I will never come back.”