Mason Harrison is the captain of the hockey team, undeniably good-looking, and always knows just what to say. But he doesn't come without his flaws... After a traumatic relationship leaves him unsure and fearful, Mason doesn't know when he will be r...
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----- MASON ---- fast car - tracy chapman
Riley and I had been in the car for a little over eight hours when I finally convinced her to find a hotel room for the night.
When she had picked me up at nine o'clock tonight - I guess it was last night at this point - I tried to convince her that we should wait until daylight to drive, but she was adamant that driving at night made the trip so much easier.
According to Riley, we've been making pretty good time, and we've only stopped for breaks a few times.
Our first gas station stop was necessary because Riley was about to pee her pants, and I was about to starve. That was also when I discovered my girlfriend has horrible taste in gas station snacks.
Out of literally anything she could have picked, it was those sour twin snakes, teriyaki beef jerky, and two Mr. Pibbs.
Absolutely criminal.
It was almost grounds for an immediate breakup, and if I had been the one driving, I might have considered leaving her at that gas station in Louisiana.
"This place doesn't look too bad." Riley mumbled as she pulled into a hotel parking lot off the highway.
Riley was wearing one of my sweatshirts and leggings paired with some of those trendy Ugg boots. Her hair was pulled into a long braid that went down her back, and she had her glasses on.
She looked adorable.
Reaching over the center console of her car, I placed m hand on Riley's thigh and watched as her shoulders relaxed and her cheeks turned rosy. "It looks good, Riles."
We've driven through Louisiana and are halfway through Mississippi right now, and the two of us are by far ready to go to sleep. I think we could've passed a barn with farm animals in it and decided it would work for the night.
"What's up with you and always having your hand on me?" Riley questioned.
"I don't know," I shrugged. "I like touching you... knowing you're here with me. It makes me happy."
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Riley grin, and it made my heart beat a little faster. She had a near-constant way of doing that.
Leaning forward, Riley grabbed my chin with her hand and pressed a kiss to my lips. "I'm glad you're coming home with me. Coral Bay is... special."
"Anywhere you wanna go, Riles, I'll go."
Laughing quietly, Riley turned her car off, and the two of us got out to grab our bags.
The hotel parking lot was eerily quiet since it was just after five o'clock in the morning, but the hotel didn't look like there were cockroaches scurrying up the walls, which was a plus.
As we walked into the lobby, I took Riley's bag and threw it over my shoulder, placing my palm on her lower back.
I really did have a habit of always having a hand somewhere on her. It brought me comfort, feeling the way her body relaxed under my touch and the way her body heat radiated through my skin.
"Hi," Riley smiled at the woman sitting behind the front desk. "We'd like to book a room for one night."
The woman, who looked to be in her late thirties, was wearing an ill-fitting uniform and was covered in makeup about three shades too dark for her skin tone. She was chewing gum loudly, and as she looked at Riley and me, she blew out a bubble.
"We ain't got any rooms."
I nearly rolled my eyes. This had to be a joke.
"You don't have...any?" Riley sighed. "Like none at all?"
The woman looked at me and didn't try to hide the way her eyes roamed up and down my body. Even when I was wearing a sweatshirt and sweatpants, I wasn't safe from creepy ladies staring at me. Now I was starting to understand how girls felt all the time.
"Isn't that what I just said?" The lady smacked another pink bubble in our faces.
As Riley began to turn around and make her way to the front door, I spoke up.
"You're telling me you don't have one single room in this whole hotel? It's gotta be what? Three? Four stories? And there's maybe twenty cars in the parking lot. You haven't even looked at your computer once since we walked in," I gestured to the desktop sitting on the counter in front of her. "My wife and I have been driving for eight hours and we'd like a room. Surely you can find something if you actually look."
The woman stared at me, a look of anger and annoyance plastered on her face, but I didn't look away. We were getting a room in this hotel if it was the last fucking thing we did.
After a few seconds, she started typing on her computer before pulling out a card and sliding it across the table. With very few more words, I paid for Riley, and I's hotel room and gave the woman one last look.
"C'mon, baby." I tucked Riley under my arm and steered her towards the elevator.
As the doors closed, she peered up at me. "Your wife? Again?"
I scoffed. "Did you see the way she was looking at me? And the way she treated you? Where were her manners or her fucking customer service? I'm sorry I made a scene but-"
Riley cut me off with another kiss. This one was more passionate than the one we shared in the car, and if I weren't about to pass out from exhaustion, I would have thought about pinning her up in the elevator or fucking her in our hotel room.
Pulling away, Riley patted my chest and let out a small laugh. "It was hot."
When the elevator doors finally opened, Riley and I wandered the deserted hallway to find our room.
It was clean, and it existed, which was all that I really cared about, to be honest. If I had seen a cockroach or dirty sheets, and I had to talk to that nasty lady one more time, I think I would have lost it.
Getting ready for bed alongside Riley was one of my favorite things.
Sneaking glances at her through the mirror as we brushed our teeth beside each one another or watching as she effortlessly threw her long hair into a bun felt so natural.
Thinking about how just five months ago, we barely knew each other existed and were sitting in class stealing glances at each other was mind-boggling.
The idea of going through my day-to-day life without her was crazy.
Laying down against the white pillows and stretching out my arm, Riley rested her head on my chest.
"Goodnight, Riles." I murmured as I kissed her forehead.
"Goodnight, Mase." Riley whispered as she kissed my bare chest right above my heart.
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