Meet Me Half Way

Chapter 19

"I wish I was cold as stone. Then I wouldn't feel a thing. I wish I didn't have this heart. Then I wouldn't know the sting of the rain. I could stand strong and still, watching you walk away. I wouldn't hurt like this or feel so all alone. I wish I was cold as stone. Yeah, it's gonna take forever to get over you. Oh, and I don't think this pain's gonna go away. Oh, scars left when it's said and done remain." - Lady Antebellum (Cold as Stone).

"Phill, you're finally home," Cassie said as she practically jumped off the couch.

Phill muttered something. He glanced at Mason and me before walking up the stairs, not saying a word.

Mason looked tense, "Sorry about my dad, and he can become rather difficult when he gets home from work. So it's a stressful part of the day."

"It's okay, I understand."

Mason got up and went up the stairs, probably to talk to his dad.

"I apologize. He has been cranky lately." Cassie stuttered as she picked up his shoes lying in the middle of the floor and set them off to the side.

"No, it's perfectly fine. My dad gets like that too sometimes."

I followed Cassie into the kitchen, where to my surprise, a dog was lying in the corner.

"This is Evelyn. She's an Australian Shepard," Cassie said as she filled up Evelyn's water bowl.

Evelyn was well-groomed. She had gray and white fur and a bright pink leash.

"She's pretty calm," I said as I leaned down to pet her.

"Yeah, she's pretty old. I don't think she has much longer left."

Evelyn peered up at me but didn't show any intention of moving.

"I always begged my mom for a dog. She said it was too much responsibility," I stated as I lightly pet Evelyn's head.

Cassie snorted as she placed the water bowl next to Evelyn, "Yeah, sometimes I wish we got Mason a goldfish, but he and Evelyn were the best of friends when he was younger."

I smiled, thinking about a young Mason playing with his new puppy, promising to take care of it forever.

"Mom, Hayden is crying for you," Mason said as he rounded the corner into the kitchen.

Cassie's face lit up as she took off down the hall to calm Hayden.

Mason sighed as he leaned against the countertop, "I've been so tired recently. It's hard for me to keep up with schoolwork. So I came here to talk to my parents about Hayden staying here till the end of the school year."

Mason looked defeated, I know he tried to keep his son home with him and continue his schooling, but it just wasn't possible.

I intertwined my fingers with his. They were relaxed and smooth, nothing like Lukes.

"I'm here for you, don't ever think you're alone during this. Hayden will be okay. He knows he has a good dad."

He tilted his head, "Harley, thank you."

"Hey, you never mentioned Sara before."

He grimaced, shaking his head. "Sara is a lost soul. Let's just put it that way. My parents could never figure her out, even when she was little. She was always sneaking out or running away. My parents tried everything."

"She has a husband now? Right?"

"My sister doesn't call at all. She never visits. We haven't seen her since I graduated high school. The last I've heard is she's out in Arizona with her husband. I met him at my graduation. I think they also have a son, but I'm not sure how old he is."

"That's so sad that she doesn't keep in contact."

Mason shrugged, "My parents were hard on her when she was younger. I think she resents them for it."

I gave him a light kiss, hoping to calm his spirits.

He turned and opened his arms, wrapping me in a hug.

"I'm sorry my life wasn't simpler. It's unfair to you."

"What are you trying to say?"

He leaned out, allowing us to look into each other's eyes. "I'm saying I want you to go for Spencer."

I fought back a gasp as I searched his face, looking for an answer.

"What do you mean? You don't want this?"

"I would love us to work in another universe, but Hayden is my top priority right now. I need to work on keeping him home with me," he spoke softly. His words wrapped me up in a blanket.

"I respect that. I don't want you to force this if you're not ready."

I could see Mason's eyes water before he closed them, "I'm sorry, Harley."

"I have something to tell you. I'm not sure if you know or not."

"What?"

"Hannah likes you."

He rubbed his forehead, looking defeated. "She told you?"

"Wait, she told you?" I asked dumbfoundedly.

"She told me a couple of days ago. I told her that I had feelings for you."

"Would you ever go for Hannah?"

Mason laughed as he looked back up at me, "I don't know. I know I was irresponsible. I hooked up with her. It was wrong, and I should have told you about it before we started talking more. I didn't want to make it weird for you, and since Hannah never said anything to you about it, I figured it was best to leave it in the past."

Blood rushed to my ears, the pressure slamming into me like a wave.

"When are we leaving?" I asked.

"We can leave tonight. We don't have to stay. I'll talk to my mother right now. I could have picked a better time for this discussion."

Mason left me in the empty kitchen. To anyone, the kitchen was probably perfect but seeing Mason's family. I could sense the cleanliness was an attempt to hide the imperfections.

Once we returned to Nashville, I dreaded the conversation I would have with Hannah. I loved Hannah, and she was my best friend. I don't understand why she has been keeping stuff from me, especially about Mason.

I felt a strange vibe riding up the elevator, like something wasn't right. The hallway was a ghost town, probably because everyone was out partying. I hesitated before opening the door, calming myself for the argument I was about to have.

I felt my bag drop off my shoulder as I looked around the dorm room. The bed was stripped of sheets and pillows. The storage bins were all empty. I fought the tears streaming down my face; Hannah was gone.

I don't remember what happened. Next, I just knew Spencer was here with me.

He sat up against the bed frame, rocking me as I sobbed.

I think I called him, and I think I did. I cried until I was sure there were no more tears to spare. Then, long after the tears dried, I still sat silently on Spencer's lap. I couldn't find the will to speak, my throat felt hoarse, and I felt broken.

"Harley?" Spencer cooed into my ear.

"Yeah?"

He rubbed my back, "Do you know where she went?"

"No, we argued this morning. I came home, and she was gone."

"Do you know where she lives?"

"Yes, I went with her one time. She lives in Memphis."

"Looks like we are going to Memphis."