Incineration (Heart of Stone) (11 page)

We both sat on the couch eating, me still in his shirt and
him still in his shorts both at ease with each other “I met your sister today”
I admitted hesitantly. He glanced at me and took another bite of his sandwich
“Really?” I nodded, placing my plate on the coffee table and bringing my finger
to my mouth, nervous of his reaction “We had lunch” I smiled “She’s lovely. We
bonded instantly” he finished his sandwich and placed his plate on top of mine.

He gripped my finger and pulled it away from my mouth,
placing it to his lips and kissing it “Why are you nervous Ava?” he scowled and
I shrugged “I just thought you might be mad because we had met without telling
you” I lowered my gaze “Ava? Do I scare you?” I quickly looked at his face “No!
No, it’s just sometimes you kind of seem angry with me” I said quietly,
shifting nervously beside him “I’m not mad you met my sister” he stated “I’m
glad you and Kerrie are getting to know each other” he cocked his head “Did she
tell you?” he asked and I frowned “Tell me what?” I asked confused.

He sighed and looked out of the window, his face shut down
“She has breast cancer” he told me softly and I gasped “Oh God! No, she never
said” I gripped his hand and he pulled me to him, his need showing on his tight
face “Oh Mason, I’m so sorry” he shrugged “She’s coping with it better than me.
She has to start chemo in two weeks” we both sat silent for a while. My heart
constricting at his pain, his love for his sister evident in his reactions “She’ll
get through it Mason, there’s a high survival rate with breast cancer” I
encouraged and he pulled me tighter and nodded “I can’t lose her Ava” he sighed
and I felt his tears fall onto my head.

I sat up and straddled him, embracing him tightly “Oh Ava”
he sobbed “I’m here Mason” I pulled him tight as my heart broke at his ragged
sobs, my need to comfort him overwhelming me.

He eventually settled and he looked at me, cupping my cheek
in his palm “I’m sorry” he laughed nervously “I’ve never done that before” I
frowned and shook my head “Done what?” I asked as his thumb stroked my cheek
bone. He shrugged and seemed embarrassed “Never cried in front of anybody” he
dropped his eyes and I tilted his head back, holding his eyes “Mason, everybody
hurts and every single person cries. Don’t be ashamed of loving your sister” I
implored and he gazed at me intensely “I love you Ava” he pulled my head down
and hovered against my lips and then brushed them over mine tenderly.

He kissed me with so much gentleness and softness that my
frozen heart cracked a little more, giving him a piece of it; a piece he needed
to help him through the following weeks of watching his beloved sister go
through hell.

We held each other for a long while and I gazed out of the
window and noticed how dark it was “I have to go Mason” I pulled away and
stretched languidly. He frowned “Stay Ava” he stood and rolled his head round
his neck. I shook my head “I need to take this slow Mason, please bear with me”
I appealed and he nodded and stroked my lip “Okay” he agreed gently and I gave
him a quick kiss and went in search of my clothes.

We kissed for a long time on his doorstep; his reluctance to
let me go was holding me back. I pulled away “Will you stop! I have to go” I
laughed and skipped down the porch steps and climbed in my car. He held my door
open and reached in for another kiss “You sure you don’t wanna stay” he grabbed
my hand and placed it over his erection, groaning when I squeezed. “Go!” I
demanded and he sighed heavily and retreated, shutting my door gently and
winking he bounded back in the house.

 I was still grinning like an idiot when I reached the gym,
needing to work out my arousal. Our love- making swimming in my head, as I
pummelled the punch bag, but still grinning like the cat that got the cream.

As I entered the house Wednesday morning, Mason, Dane and
Greg were sat around the island in the kitchen. As I walked in with the boxes
of cupcakes I had baked last night, Mason stood quickly and came round to me,
taking the boxes from me and placing them on the island he turned back to me
and pulled me against him, kissing me passionately; his hands gripping my hair
and holding me to him like he never wanted to let me go. I gasped for breath
when he pulled away “Good morning Mr Fox” I grinned and he growled softly at me
and shrugged “I missed you” he said nonchalantly and I winked back “Me too. The
punch bag at the gym took a pounding” I smirked when I saw that he had
understood my meaning and his eyes darkened.

A small cough sounded in the kitchen and I flinched,
forgetting that we weren’t alone. I turned abruptly “Good morning gentlemen,
can I make you coffee?” I asked politely, not looking at Dane. Greg smiled and
nodded but Dane just grunted something under his breath.

Rolling my eyes and not letting him get under my skin I
started preparing the coffee. Mason slipped his arm around my waist “We’re
gonna take this in my office Baby” he swept the few locks of hair that had
fallen from my bun aside and kissed the nape of my neck. I inhaled heavily,
already aroused at the closeness of him and his mouth came round to my ear
“Soon. I need to feel you” he whispered huskily and I swallowed and nodded, not
trusting my vocal chords. He kissed my ear and pulled back, and they all
ascended the stairs to his office.

Ten minutes later with a tray full of coffee and cupcakes I
entered his office without knocking. As I walked in Mason quickly flipped a
file shut that was on his desk in front of him and Dane and Greg shifted
uncomfortably. I smiled nervously, obviously I had walked in on something private
“Sorry” I grimaced “I was just bringing your coffee” I placed the tray on his
desk and turned guiltily to leave the room “Ava!” Mason nearly shouted “Thank
you, the cakes look delicious” he winked and smiled and I heard Dane huff.

Mason turned sharply to him and scowled, the anger in his
eyes made even me recoil and I didn’t envy Dane being on the receiving end of
them. Greg cleared his throat “Boys, let’s not do this again” he warned and
Mason nodded sharply but still glared at Dane. I left them to it and started to
sort through the mail and sort out the kitchen when Mason popped his head round
the door “I’m sorry Baby but I have to go out for a while” I laughed at his
apology “It’s fine Mason. We still have to work” he grinned and blew me a kiss
then left the house with the other two and I went to the office to start some
paperwork.

I rubbed my temples and sighed, the figures on the club
wages weren’t adding up and I was grumbling to myself. I had spent the last
hour trying to get them to tally but they were about £126,000 out and I was irritated
that I couldn’t find the mistake. It was a hefty difference and I was pretty
sure I couldn’t be that much out.

Wondering if Mason had some more receipts or documents to
help I went over to his desk and opened his drawer. There were a few files in
there and I pulled them out. The first was an informative document on a guy so
I quickly shut it, the second was some buildings blueprints and I put it back.
I opened the third and my jaw dropped as I saw my face on a photograph paper
clipped to some papers. I sat heavily in his chair and frowned as I flipped
through the papers, my rage surfacing when I realised what they were. There
were bank statements, deeds to the cottage, hospital documents, social services
administration documents on each and every home I had been placed in and at the
back were photographs that Masons’ mother had taken of me the night George had
took me in, supported by her notes on what had happened and my health and
mental evaluation.

Tears sprung to my eyes and my heart broke at his cold
invasion of my life, my dark secrets slapped onto paperwork for him to peruse.
I had asked him to be patient and trust me but this…this was beyond belief. I
flung the file on his desk and quickly gathering my things I left, this time
slamming the door with such force I heard the framed picture in the hallway
smash to the floor.

I phoned Courtney and arranged to meet her at her house, the
need for my friends’ comfort wrapping me up and as soon as I reached her house,
she was stood on the doorstep waiting for me. Embracing me tightly, she dragged
me in, huddling me up as I wept and cried into her whilst she rocked me
tenderly, whispering shushes in my ear. “Oh Babe” she sobbed with me “I could
kill that bastard” she snarled when I told her what I had found.

I sat shocked on her sofa as the realisation of his betrayal
sank in “Why didn’t he just trust me to open up to him in my own time?” the
anger was now overtaking the hurt “Why?” I refused to cry anymore and Courtney
rose from the sofa and taking the vodka, poured us both a large glass. I downed
it in one and held it out for her to refill “Steady Ava, it’s only early
afternoon” she warned and I shrugged “I don’t care. I need to obliterate the
pain” she nodded and filled my glass.

My phone rang and I stiffened as Courtney reached in my bag
and checked the display “Mason” she said, looking at me. I shook my head and
she placed it down on the table. “You’re gonna have to talk to him Ava” she
sighed, taking a swill of her own drink and I shook my head “No! I’m too
fucking mad at him” my phone rang again and I reached over and declined it, and
took another large gulp.

 Courtney retreated to the kitchen and returned with a large
Ben & Jerry’s, two spoons and slipped a DVD on. We both curled up on her
sofa, demolishing the ice-cream and laughing at the comedy she had wisely put
on.

My phone stopped ringing after the twelfth time and a text
message came through. I picked it up and read it

MASON

Where are you Baby? Talk to me, let me explain
 

Xxxx

I scoffed and replied

ME

Fuck you!!!

Courtney laughed and smiled “Good Girl!” and as another text
came through she took my phone and switched it off.

About an hour later there was a knock on the door and Courtney
got up to answer it. I heard her say “How the hell…” and then she started
shouting. Curious, I went into the hallway and was stunned to see Mason stood
in the doorway with Courtney blocking his entry.

His eyes locked on mine, pleading with me. Courtney turned
and narrowed her eyes on me and then turned back to Mason “She doesn’t want to
see you” she warned and he swallowed heavily “Please baby” he begged and I
shook my head “Go away Mason, I don’t even wanna look at you” I turned swiftly

“Ava!” he demanded sternly and I heard Courtney gasp at the
dominance in his tone. I swung round and stomped over to him “I said Fuck off!
Leave me alone Mason” I spat and he recoiled at the vehemence in my words.
“Baby please, let me explain” he implored, softer now “Explain What Mason?
Explain how much you have hurt me, how much you’ve broken my trust in you. How
dare you go behind my back!” I was furious now “I asked you Mason…I asked for
your patience and you said you’d wait until I was ready to open up, why bother
though when you seem to think you are fucking God!” I shook my head sadly, his
face broken at my words “Go home Mason” I sighed and turned back round “Will
you be in tomorrow?” he asked hesitantly and I laughed bitterly, shook my head
and escaped to the lounge.

I heard him say something to Courtney and she said yes and
shut the door, curled up beside me and embraced me “You okay Babe?” she asked
quietly. I nodded and sighed “Yep” I summoned up the strength to swallow the
pain but laughed when she asked how he’d found out where she lived “It’s Mason”
I explained simply and she nodded then whispered “He’s so hot though Ava” my
lips quirked and we were suddenly in hysterics, the vodka finally kicking in.

We gorged on pizza, vodka and chocolate as we watched DVD
after DVD, Courtneys comforting presence and watchfulness helping me through
the heartache.

I woke in Courtneys’ spare bed, my head refusing to lift off
the pillow without bright lights and stars behind blasting my eyelids. I
groaned and swung my legs out of bed, holding my tender head in my hands and
pushed myself up and went in search of coffee.

As I entered the kitchen I smirked at Courtney as she sat
nursing her own hang over, her eyes lifted to mine and we both groaned
together. “I am so not your friend this morning Ava” she grumbled and I laughed
and slumped in a chair “Hey, it was your vodka” I admonished

“You not in work today?” I asked as I poured myself a coffee
from the carafe on the table, and drunk it black; I didn’t think my stomach
could entertain the milk. “No, I phoned in sick” she chuckled “And I wasn’t
lying, I’m fucking ill” we both scoffed at our condition and drank our coffee’s
in silence for a while.

I went to retrieve my phone and switched it on, it blasted
alert after alert at me, telling me I had 6 voice mails and 11 text messages
but I deleted them all without opening them, not wanting to listen to any
excuses and dialled George’s number, instantly relaxing when he answered “Hey
Princess” his smile came down the phone and enveloped me “Hey” I replied softly
“Hope it’s not too early George. I just needed to hear you” he sighed “You okay
Ava?” he asked softly and I returned his sigh “I just miss you” I confessed and
I did; more than ever “Hey Girl, none of that. How’s it going with Mason?” I
stilled and he sensed my hesitation “Princess? What’s wrong?” I forced a smile
“Nothing’s wrong George. I just have a hangover from hell…Courtneys fault” she
shouted her confirmation to George and winked at me.

He laughed loudly, his familiar deep rumble filling me with
warmth, and shouted Hi to Courtney as I grimaced at the volume of his voice in
my poor head “Listen Ava, why don’t you come out here for a few days? I miss
you too and would love you to visit. Bring Courtney with you and have some fun”
I was tempted and covered the mouthpiece to ask Courtney if she fancied it