First Position (16 page)

“I don’t need your advice about women,” Mason said.

“Oh, really?” Steven said, his voice rising, as Olivia rubbed his back.  “I seem to recall telling you not to marry that bitch and telling you to beg Emory for forgiveness.  Should have followed my advice then, and you wouldn’t be in this fucking mess!”  Olivia frowned at Steven, shaking her head that he would talk to Mason that way.

Mason clenched the phone with a fierce grip but bit his tongue.  If he would have responded, he’d have been loud and disturbed Emory, and he didn’t want that.  Plus, he knew his brother was right.
 
I have made a mess of my life.

“Sorry, man,” Steven said softly.  “I shouldn’t have gone there.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“You still aren’t going to talk to Emory?”

“Nope.”

“If she finds out, she’s going to flip.” 

“Then make sure she doesn’t find out.”

“I’ll do my best, but we have to consider it might get leaked.”

“You worry too much.  Just wrap it up with the Panthers.  And my divorce, too.”

Mason hung up and ran his fingers through his hair, wondering if he should tell Emory about both offers.  But he feared she’d use the Seattle offer to push him away, and he felt he couldn’t ask her to give up her career for his -- that wasn’t such a good strategy six years ago, and they had only started back up again.  It would be unfair to ask her to give up her life for football so soon.  He got on his knees in front of her bed and clasped his hands together.  He bowed his head.
 
Please, God, don’t let her find out I gave up $1 million for her.  She’d want me to take the better deal.  And she wouldn’t come with me. 

Emory opened her bedroom door, finding Mason on his knees.  “Are you OK?”

“Yeah, fine.”  Mason quickly got up.

“What are you doing?”

“Giving thanks.”
 
World class lie.

“For what?”

Mason gave a huge smile to hide the guilt.  “It looks like it’s going to be the Panthers!” 

“Really?  Oh my God!”  Emory ran to him, throwing her arms around his waist and squeezing tightly.  Mason placed his hand in her hair and closed his eyes.  “I’ve been so worried about you moving to Seattle!”

Mason looked at her.  “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Well, you never brought it up, so I didn’t either.  I didn’t know the status of any contract talks, so I figured you’d just let me know when you were ready.  I didn’t want to get in the way.” 

Mason sat on her bed and grabbed her hand.
 
But you have gotten in the way -- in the most unbelievable way.  And I didn’t bring it up because I was staying no matter what
.
“I knew things would work out this time.”

“I still can’t believe it!” she screeched. “I’m so happy!”

Mason was hopelessly conflicted -- thrilled by her response, but riddled with guilt that he’d withheld information and lied.  He tried to be happy, as Emory sat on his lap and kissed his cheek.  “We should celebrate.  How about I take you out on a real date tomorrow night?  We’ll dress up.  I’ll pick you up and everything.” 

“Perfect,” she said and rolled off him into bed.  “Now come to sleep.  It’s late.”  She pulled him down beside her.

“I don’t think that’s the best idea.  We promised to go slow and with this good news, I don’t think I could.  I’ll take the sofa.”  Mason didn’t trust himself in bed with her and hated himself for being a liar.  This wasn’t the right time.

“I’ll make you behave,” she said sweetly.

Mason gave a weak smile.
 
I can’t say no
.
  He turned off the light and crawled next to her.  Emory rested her head on his chest, Mason placing his left arm around her, as she nuzzled herself into him, giving a little moan.  Mason leaned over and kissed the top of her head, Emory’s bare leg sliding over his.  He felt himself harden.  He moved his hand down, slightly pulling up her shirt, resting his hand on her bare waist.  He found it hard to hold back, and ran his finger underneath the waistband of her shorts.

“Good night,” she said softly.  Mason removed his hand and exhaled deeply, then waited a few minutes to make sure she was in a deep sleep before making his way to the sofa.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Between his lies and his shoulder, Mason didn’t sleep well.  He hadn’t told Emory about his Seattle offer, or the seriousness of his shoulder injury, or Alexis’ challenge of the prenup.  He felt he had good reasons for not revealing these things, but that didn’t lessen the guilt.  And sleeping on the sofa wasn’t helpful.  He rubbed his shoulder.
 
Penance
.
  He walked to the kitchen and whipped up some eggs and bacon.  It was no small feat to cook breakfast for two with one arm, then walk to her bedroom, balancing the tray of two plates and two cups of juice. 

He gently pushed open the door with his knee, the squeaking door stirring Emory.  Mason grimaced, regretting he woke her.  “Thought we could have breakfast together.”

Emory flashed him a glorious smile and pulled up her legs to make room for him and the tray on the bed.  She dug into her food, savoring each bite, but noticed Mason was just moving food around with his fork.  “Everything OK?”

“Fine.”

She knew better but had no idea what the problem was.  He had stayed over, which was great, and last night he was so happy to be a Panther.
 
Is he having second thoughts
?
  She was afraid to ask, and only one other thing occurred to her.  “Are you upset about Alexis?”

There were other things rattling around in his mind, but this one certainly was taking up a lot of space.  “Divorce is a huge headache.”  Mason pushed his plate away slightly.  “I don’t want to talk about her.”

“OK, I understand.”

Mason took her hand.  “I don’t want her to be a distraction to what we have, what we are starting again.”

“Me neither.”  Emory squeezed his hand.  “Just don’t blindside me down the road with something.  You can talk to me about anything.”

Mason smiled and nodded, feeling sick inside.
 
I can’t talk to you about my wife
.
  He wanted Alexis to be in the past and to build a future with Emory and hated he felt the need to lie in order to build that future.  But he saw no other way, fearing if he revealed too much, there’d be no future to build.  Indeed, Emory repeatedly cautioned they must take things slowly, and that didn’t lend itself to unloading about the prenup or anything else about Alexis, his shoulder, or a better contract from Seattle.

Emory scarfed down her last piece of bacon, then gave him a quick kiss on the lips before going to shower.  Mason drank his juice in one gulp and moved the tray to the nightstand.  The phone rang, Mason seeing Eric’s name appear.  He seized it, debating whether or not to answer.

“Is that my phone?” Emory called out from the bathroom.  Mason just stared at the phone ringing again -- then again -- until it stopped.  Emory appeared from the bathroom in only a towel.  “Was that my phone?”

“Why?”  Mason tossed the phone towards the foot of the bed.  “Are you expecting a call?”

“What the hell is wrong with you?”  Emory got her phone and saw who had called.  “This is nothing.  He’s been calling and texting me for days.  I haven’t answered him.  Check my phone if you want.”

Mason realized he was being a jerk.  “I’m sorry.  I don’t need to do that.”  Emory kissed the top of his head and walked towards the bathroom.  “Call him back.”

Emory stopped in her tracks.  “What?  Why?”

“He obviously has things he needs to say to you.  Maybe if you hear him out, he’ll understand it’s over.”

“I’m not sure about that,” Emory said, turning back towards the bathroom.  “Maybe later.”

“Please do it now, Em,” Mason begged softly, giving away his insecurity.  Emory wasn’t used to seeing him lacking confidence.  She knew Mason already was upset about Alexis and didn’t want to torment him further.  Plus, she wondered whether Mason had a point -- perhaps a quick call would resolve things with Eric once and for all.  She closed her eyes and took a deep breath and hit Eric’s number on her phone.  She took a seat on his lap, Mason running a finger under the top of her towel, whispering, “Speaker.”

Eric was driving to the hospital when she called.  “I’m so sorry about the other day at my house.  I didn’t have sex with Molly.  You have to believe me.”

“Eric, it doesn’t matter whether you had sex with her or not.”  Emory rose from Mason’s lap and stood with her back to him.  “You knew I was coming over.  You did it on purpose to hurt me.”  Mason grabbed her butt, and Emory swatted his hand away.

“This has gotten so out of hand, Emory.  A week ago, we were planning our wedding.  Can we get together tonight and just talk?”

“No,” Emory said flatly.

“Please, Emory, just dinner.  We can go to that little French place where I took you for your birthday.  That was the first night you slept over, and we . . . .”

Mason snatched the phone from her hand, having heard enough already.  “She has plans for dinner tonight, fuck face.”  Emory crossed her arms, staring at Mason furiously, but he winked at her.  “And after dinner, too.”

“You’re the guy from the other night?  Give the phone back to Emory.”

“Listen up, asshole,” Mason barked.  “Stop calling her.  Stop texting her.  It’s fucking over.”

“I don’t take orders from you.”

“Well, let me offer a suggestion then.  Just go back to banging your wedding planner.”

Eric jammed on the brakes of his car and swerved to the side of the road, putting the car in park.  “She told you about that?”

“Fucking right she told me.  And if you ever lay your hands on her again, I’ll beat the piss out of you with a bedpan!”

Emory threw her hands in the air.  As flattering as it was to have two guys fighting over her, she’d now heard enough.  She grabbed Mason’s arm and took the phone.  “Eric, I. . . .”

Eric cut her off.  “I can’t believe you told him about what happened with Molly!”

“I didn’t think it was a big secret, and I was pretty shaken up about it.”

“So you confide in him?”  Eric put his head on the steering wheel, cars whizzing past.  “He obviously stayed the night!  You must be fucking this guy!” 

Mason smiled at Emory
.
I wish. 

“How could you do this to us?”  Eric asked.

“I swear I’m not having sex with anyone,” she said, a tear falling down her cheek.  “I never cheated on you, just like I’m sure you never cheated with Molly.  I know you don’t believe me, but that’s the truth.  Now, please stop calling and texting me.  It’s over.”

Emory hung up and threw her phone on the bed, storming into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.  She dropped to the floor next to the bathtub and began to sob.
 
I hate hurting Eric, and Mason is infuriatin
g
.  After a few minutes, she heard a soft knock on the door.  “Go away!”  Mason opened the door and peeked inside.  Emory fired a towel at him.  “I said go away!”  

He briefly thought about giving her some space but decided against it.  He was unable to hide his pleasure.  He walked into the bathroom and kneeled in front of her, placing his hands on her bare calves.  “I don’t think we have to worry about Eric calling anymore.”

“Because he thinks I’m a slut.”  Emory kicked him with her foot, sending him flat on his ass.  “Was that your plan all along?”

“I came up with it on the spot.”  Mason smiled, getting back on his knees.  “Seemed to work out well.”

“Let me tell you something,” she said, pointing her finger in his face.  “I know what it’s like to be dumped and have your ex fuck someone two seconds later.  It doesn’t work out well.”

Mason’s lips closed into a tight line.  “I’m sorry.  I just wanted to get rid of him.”

“Just go away!” 

Mason limped to his feet and walked to the kitchen to clean up, picking up the breakfast tray along the way.  He hoped that if he did some chores, he’d get back in her good graces.  Then he saw Emory gathering her photography equipment in the den, seeing her nose and eyes were red.

“I have to go,” she said without looking at him and made her way to the front door.  “I have appointments all day.”

“Em, don’t leave like this.”  He moved cautiously towards her.

She held up a hand, freezing him a few feet from her.  “I’m running late.”

“Em, I’m sorry.  OK?”

“You got exactly what you wanted.”  Emory pushed her hair behind her ears.  “Just what are you so sorry for?”

Not for anything I said to Dr. Cock!
 
Mason reached out and touched her hand.  “I’m sorry I ever put a finger on Alexis.  That I hurt you like I did.  It makes me jealous to think of you with anyone else.  I can’t imagine what that must’ve been like for you, knowing I was off with Alexis, so soon after we broke up.”