Protecting Zoey

Chapter 16: More Problems

Mason had only been sleeping for a few hours before his phone started ringing. Aside from not sleeping much he felt significantly more rested than he had for a few days. He stuck his hand in his pocket, finally letting go of Millie as she mumbled quietly and rolled over toward him.

"Hello?" He asked sleepily as he fumbled with the phone and stuck it to his ear, his body still not wanting to respond to him properly yet.

"I'm outside," Garrett's voice made him snap up as he looked back over to Millie lying next to him in bed. "Come let me in, she didn't add my phone to the lock."

Garrett sounded extremely tired, and Mason could tell he was going to have a short fuse.

Thankfully she didn't put his number on the lock, I'm sure there wouldn't be a way for me to explain my way out the situation if he walked in here.

Mason thought to himself as he unwound himself from Millie's legs, she had wrapped around him tightly when he moved to answer his phone. His movement caused her to stir and roll away from him. He left the room quietly closing the door behind him and made his way to the front. He unbolted the locks and opened the front door to see Garrett's exceedingly tired face glaring back at him.

"What took you so long?" Garrett asked raising an eyebrow. "You know what, I don't care. I'm going to crash in the pool house, you have to be somewhere shortly, right?"

Garrett asked as he walked past Mason and through the house. He glanced around the living room before opening the sliding door to the back and exited.

"Yeah, I'll just grab my stuff," Mason replied as he followed Garrett into the pool house.

"I'm surprised your stuff's still out here," Garrett said with a light chuckle as he sat on the bed. Mason looked back at him the color flushing from his face.

"Dude, I'm not stupid." Garrett continued with a broad smile. "She's always had a thing for you, I guess if you were too blind to see it, I just spilled the beans."

Garrett laid back on the bed closing his eyes. "But considering it doesn't look like the bed's been slept in, I assume you knew already."

Mason opened his mouth to reply but for some reason couldn't get anything out. He wasn't stupid and knew that Millie had feelings for him and in some ways, he had feelings for her as well. Because of Linda they never had the opportunity to see where things went, now with his feelings building for Zoey it may end up being the same way.

"Have a safe day," Garrett said with a smile still plastered across his face. "Don't worry, we'll talk more when you get back."

Mason turned and exited the pool house without another word. He wasn't sure why Garrett was reacting the exact opposite way he had anticipated but felt he shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth. As he made his way back into the house Millie was already dressed and, in the kitchen, fumbling around nervously with some pans trying to make breakfast.

"Morning Millie," Mason said softly doing his best not to startle her. "How are you doing this morning? Did you sleep at all?"

"I'm all right, I slept really well until you got out of bed." she said with a small smile and her cheeks starting to blush as she turned toward him and sliding a breakfast sandwich across the counter. "I figured you would be hungry, and I know you have to work today."

"Thank you," he said distantly as he grabbed the sandwich and took a bite. "Why don't you come with me to the Pike's today?"

"I don't know if that's a good idea," she said distantly as she continued to avoid eye contact. "I'm sure Garrett is going to want to talk to me as soon as he gets up, and I've never met any of them before. It would be really awkward Mason."