Believing lies

chapter 10

"Mase, oh Bells what the hell are you doing here?" Callahan asks. I glance up from my position on Mason's office couch and smile at my brother as he hands Mason a file.

"You know how she is when she writes, she likes a  change of scenery," Mason tells our brother.

"Yea, I know that but she'd usually be at River's building," Callahan chuckles and I raise an eyebrow not glancing away from my laptop now. I zone them out a bit but tune back into the conversation when they mentioned River and I not talking.

"you two fighting?" Callahan asks me. I shake my head, "so why are you here?" he asks. I sigh.

I actually wasn't sure what was going on between us, after the night of the yacht get -together, he actually did go back to his apartment, despite the hour, and no wonder how many times I asked what was wrong, he gave me a soft smile and shook his head. I gave up sooner or later because whether I liked it or not, he wasn't my boyfriend and that was that.

"you want lunch Bells?" Callahan asks me.

"Are you picking up?" I question him and he hums.

"greek," he responds.

"yes please," I smile over my laptop to him and he nods before excusing himself.

I tap my fingers over my keyboard quickly, gathering my thoughts before typing again "I hope there isn't a problem between you and River," Mason says gently.

I smile, "so you care now?"

He scoffs, "I will always care when it comes to you," he tells me.

I sigh, "I don't know, we haven't talked in over a week, it's not like we got into a fight, by all means, it's just he's been so distant and I know it has something to do with his family," I tell my brother.

I can see him slowly get up and walk towards me, he sits down in front of my legs, "it was a bad brawl Bells," he nods. "and we can all see their family problems run deeper than most, maybe he's just trying to save you the hassle."

"Maybe so but he's my boyfriend,"

"he's trying to do what's best for you, it looked like he took what his father said about you to heart, to freight Belle," Mason says and I nod slowly, he gives me a small smile before patting my leg and standing up.

Biting my lip I watch as he walks back to his desk, I still never told him or Callahan that Beck showed up at my apartment that night almost a week and a half ago, I already had to deal with holding back River, I can't imagine what my brothers would do when they found out Beck was back in town and even broke my restraining order, Mason will be more ticked off about that let's be real.

Sure maybe River and I weren't real boyfriend and girlfriend but that didn't mean I didn't care for him nonetheless, I cared for him a lot and all I wanted to do was help.

One thing I knew was right was that I now preferred River's building compared to Mason's, thank god I have most of the outlines for the next few chapters of my book, so I just needed the in-between lines. I love my brother, I really do but his office lacked personality, it was no wonder Callahan was my favorite.
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"Are you still up?" I hear Celeste ask me, I glance over my shoulder to see her yawning making her way into the kitchen. It was just a bit past three am, she shouldn't be up.

"Yea," I sigh, "why are you up?" I ask glancing back at my work and the city skyline.

"water," she yawns "it doesn't sound like your writing, are you okay?"

I blink, "yea I'm fine," I nod. "I think I might go for a walk," I tell her.

"girl, it's three am" she deadpans.