I Think He Knows

𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲'𝘀

A̸𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿 D̸𝗮𝘃𝗶𝘀
𝟮𝟰
☾

After Mason had recovered from my very cruel fix to his boner we made our way back to the kitchen. Stella and Robert were laughing at something the little girl had said and that was when I realized I still didn't know the girl's name. "Mason, what's your niece's name?" I whispered leaning closer to his ear as we walked hand in hand.

"Isabelle," He informed me. "We all call her Belle though."

Robert had taken one of the stools so when Mason sat next to him I just stood beside Mason tapping my fingers nervously against my thigh. I wasn't usually a nervous person but being around Mason's family had installed a new set of anxious thoughts in my head. I really wanted them to like me.

They already met Charlie which in sure impressed them so much more than I ever could, they all looked very wealthy and probably had high standards for the younger brother. I felt a bit trashy standing in a room full of designer brands and perfect hair.

As if sensing the nerves in me Mason wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me into his lap, I slumped against his chest like a robot that needed its battery charged and let my eyes fall shut. Mason kissed my temple three times like it was the cure to the newly formed headache I had and it kind of did.

I guess I just always feel more comfortable in his lap though.

Mason slotted his chin at the curve of my neck and I let my head fall against his, when my eyes opened I noticed Stella looking at us with a thoughtful expression. When she met my eyes she smiled warmly like I was worthy of all Mason gave me. I smiled bashfully in return and looked down feeling a strange pull in my stomach.

Sometimes I didn't feel worthy of Mason, he treated me so well and I wasn't ever used to that.

When people met me they thought I had a crazy amount of confidence and that I was so sure of myself at all times, they never knew that I faked most of it. As much as I hated to admit it but most of my confidence came from the response I got from men, I liked going out to clubs and finding a random man to hook up with because it made me feel as though I had something going for me.

Everything I had believed about myself depended on how those men would treat me when we hooked up, sometimes they called me horrible names and insulted me, and yet I still got with them anyway.

Whatever they would say to me either shredded my confidence or raised it and now that I had a man who was so kind to me I wasn't sure how to feel. You would think having someone as perfect as Mason would make me feel good about myself but as I sat here feeling out of place within his family I never felt worse in my life.

Why would he want me?

I was distracted from my thoughts when Stella asked me, "so Asher what do you do for a living?"

"Oh," I blinked not expecting anyone to talk to me. I situated myself to be less slumped in Mason's lap and answered her, "I paint and sometimes people buy them."

Mason laughed softly and peeked over my shoulder with a confused smile before elaborating on what I said, "He's an artist and his works are very beautiful. He also does pottery too! You can look in the cupboard with all of the plates and mugs and find some of his work actually."

Mason spoke very proudly of what I did and pointed his sister in the direction where my creations resigned, she happily opened the cabinet and gasped when she saw the mugs I made for Mason.