Chapter 13

The room felt charged with unspoken words, our breaths mingling in the silence. Mason’s hand still lingered on my cheek, his thumb brushing gently against my skin. For once, I didn’t push him away or question the emotions swirling inside me. I let the warmth of his presence drown out my fears.

But then reality seeped back in.

I pulled back slightly, my gaze darting to the window. “Mason, this... I don’t know what this is,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “I’m not sure if I’m ready.”

He studied me, his eyes softening. “That’s okay. I don’t want to rush you or make you feel pressured.” He dropped his hand from my face but kept his tone steady. “I just need you to know how I feel. That I’m here, no matter what.”

The sincerity in his words made my chest ache, but it also terrified me. “You’re so sure of this—of me,” I said, my voice trembling. “But I don’t even know if I can handle what’s happening between us.”

His lips curved into a gentle smile. “Happiness, you don’t have to figure it all out right now. One step at a time.”

I nodded, appreciating his patience, even though my heart was still racing from the kiss. “Thank you,” I said softly.

Mason stood, giving me space. “I’m heading out for work. If you need anything, just call me, okay?”

I nodded again, and with that, he left, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

The hours ticked by slowly. I tried distracting myself by tidying up the apartment, scrolling through my phone, and even reading a book, but nothing could keep my mind off the kiss—or the way Mason had looked at me like I was the only thing that mattered.

By late afternoon, I decided I needed to clear my head. I grabbed my jacket and headed out for a walk. The crisp air felt refreshing against my skin as I wandered aimlessly through the park in our estate.

As I sat down on a bench, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out to see a text from Ash.

Ash: Hey, are you okay? You left the party so suddenly last night. We were worried.

I hesitated before typing back.

Me: I’m okay. Something came up, but thanks for checking on me.

Her reply came almost instantly.

Ash: Glad to hear it. Let’s catch up soon, okay?

I smiled faintly, grateful for her concern. But as much as I appreciated their friendship, I knew I couldn’t explain everything that had happened. Not yet.

I was about to put my phone away when another text popped up — this time from Mason.

Mason: How’s the fresh air?

I glanced around, startled. My heart skipped a beat when I spotted him leaning against a tree not far from where I sat. He wasn’t wearing his usual work attire, just a simple hoodie and jeans, but he still managed to look effortlessly put together.

“Are you stalking me now?” I called out teasingly as he approached.

“Just making sure you’re okay,” he replied, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. “And maybe I was hoping to bump into you.”

I shook my head, trying to hide my amusement. “You’re ridiculous, you know that?”

“Maybe,” he said, sitting down beside me. “But I meant what I said earlier. I care about you, Happy.”

His words left me speechless, the weight of them settling in my chest. Mason had always been steady, dependable, and even cold at times, but this was something else entirely.

“Why?” I found myself asking. “Why do you care so much?”

He turned to face me, his expression open and sincere. “Because you’re worth it. And I’m not going anywhere.”

I looked down at my hands, overwhelmed by the emotions swirling inside me. Mason reached over, gently covering my hand with his. His touch was warm, grounding, and for the first time in a long time, I felt like I didn’t have to carry everything on my own.

Maybe, just maybe, I could let myself lean on him. Even if it was just for a little while.

***

Mason's POV

The moment I saw her sitting on that bench, the weight in my chest eased. Happy was safe. That was all that mattered right now. But damn if I didn’t want to march over and tell her to never scare me like that again.

I knew I was hovering. Watching her from a distance wasn’t exactly subtle, but after last night, I couldn’t help it. I’d stayed up thinking about what could’ve happened if I hadn’t gotten there in time. The thought alone made my stomach churn.

I didn’t realize I’d already started walking toward her until her voice broke through my thoughts.

“Are you stalking me now?” she asked, her tone light but teasing.

I shoved my hands into my pockets, smirking to mask the storm inside. “Just making sure you’re okay,” I replied, stopping a few feet away. “And maybe I was hoping to bump into you.”

She shook her head, her lips curving slightly. “You’re ridiculous, you know that?”

“Maybe,” I said, lowering myself onto the bench beside her. For a moment, I just watched her—her fingers fiddling with the hem of her jacket, her eyes fixed on the ground. “But I meant what I said earlier. I care about you, Happy. And I’ll show up whenever you need me—even if you don’t realize it.”

There it was, out in the open. Part of me wanted to pull the words back, to keep them tucked away where they couldn’t make things complicated. But after last night, I couldn’t stay silent.

She turned to look at me, her expression somewhere between surprised and wary. “Why?” she asked softly. “Why do you care so much?”

Why did I care? I wanted to tell her everything—that I couldn’t stop thinking about her since the day we met again, that she was the first person in years to make me feel like I wasn’t just going through the motions.

I sighed, leaning back on the bench. “Because I’ve been where you are—feeling like the world is on your shoulders, like you have to handle it all alone.” My voice dropped, quieter now. “And I’ve also learned how much it helps to have someone who sees you, who’s there for you when you can’t carry it anymore.”

Her gaze dropped to her lap, her hands twisting together. I could see the wheels turning in her mind, the way she was trying to make sense of my words.

“I’m not asking for anything from you,” I added, needing her to understand. “I just need you to know that I’m here. For whatever you need. Even if it’s just sitting on a park bench, making sure you’re okay.”

She glanced at me then, her lips parting as if to speak. But she didn’t. Instead, she nodded, her shoulders relaxing just slightly.

We sat in silence after that, the kind that didn’t need filling. But as I looked at her, I realized that I was in deeper than I thought. And no matter how much I told myself I’d take it slow, I knew one thing for sure.

Happy wasn’t just someone I cared about. She was someone I couldn’t walk away from.

As the silence stretched between us, I couldn’t help but glance at her again. Happiness was staring off into the distance, her thoughts clearly miles away. She was so hard to read sometimes—so guarded—but after last night, I couldn’t blame her.

“Do you want to talk about it?” I asked finally, my voice soft.

She hesitated, her fingers tightening around the edge of her jacket. “There’s not much to say.”

I frowned, leaning forward with my elbows on my knees. “Happiness, what happened last night—”

“I don’t want to think about it,” she interrupted, her voice sharper than I expected. She looked at me then, her eyes fierce but glassy. “I just… I need to move on, okay? I can’t keep replaying it in my head.”

I nodded, even though it killed me to see her trying to push it all down. I understood the instinct—it was one I knew all too well—but that didn’t make it any easier to watch.

“Okay,” I said quietly. “But if you ever do want to talk, you know where to find me.”

She gave me a small, tight-lipped smile. “I know. Thanks.”

The sun was starting to dip lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the park. I didn’t want to push her, but I also didn’t want to leave her alone with whatever thoughts were eating at her.

“Do you want to walk for a bit?” I offered, standing and holding out a hand. “Fresh air always helps me clear my head.”

She stared at my hand for a moment, and for a second, I thought she might refuse. But then she sighed and stood, slipping her hand into mine briefly before pulling away.

“Okay. Lead the way,” she said.

We walked in comfortable silence, the crunch of leaves underfoot the only sound between us. I glanced at her occasionally, noting the way her shoulders slowly relaxed with each step.

Eventually, we ended up near a small pond, the water shimmering in the fading light. Happy stopped, wrapping her arms around herself as she stared at the reflection of the trees in the water.

“I used to come to places like this with my mom,” she said suddenly, her voice quiet.

I stayed silent, sensing she needed to get the words out on her own.

“Before I left home,” she continued, her gaze distant. “I miss her. I miss them.”

I stepped closer, not touching her but close enough that she’d know I was there.

She laughed softly, but there was no humor in it. “I wanted to be on my own. I can't even call them, and I have to lie if they call.”

I nodded, understanding. “Take your time.”

For a while, we just stood there, watching the ripples on the water. When she finally turned to me, her eyes were clearer, her lips tugging into the faintest of smiles. “Thanks, Mason. For not pushing.”

“Always,” I replied simply.

We started walking back toward the apartment, the tension from earlier replaced by a quiet sense of understanding.

I didn’t know what was ahead for us, but I knew one thing: I’d wait as long as she needed even if I got hurt.

Because Happiness was worth it.