The Secret's Out

Chapter Seven: Feelings

The house was practically pulsing with S3RL’s Rainbow Girl when we pulled into the driveway. I could actually feel the techno music as I stepped out of the car, vibrating the soles of my feet all the way to the center of my chest.

“Not again,” I muttered.

Mason chuckled. “This happens all the time?”

“You have no idea,” I said, heading up the stairs. “Last time they did this, the cops were called for disturbing the peace.”

He smirked. “Sounds just like Val.”

I opened the door and met a disheveled Miranda bouncing around the house as she cooked, a pan of chicken and rice in one of her hands and a wooden spoon in the other. Surprisingly, the house wasn’t a complete wreck, just a few pillows from the couch scattered on the living room floor with a candle from the coffee table joining them. The archway leading to the kitchen had a hyper Valery dancing under it, her body moving in tempo with the fast beat.

“Can’t say I was expecting this,” Mason said, leaning against the paneling.

"You never see the same thing twice when you live with these two,” I agreed.

Val caught sight of us and rushed to the stereo. “Dez and Mason are home!” she shouted, her hand finding the dial to turn the volume down.

“Welcome home, D!” Miranda said, setting down the equipment in her hands before rushing over to me. “We were really worried about you!”

“Yeah!” Val joined in. “I thought that attorney of yours had kidnapped you and tried to make you his sex slave!”

I rolled my eyes. “As if.”

“He was planning on it,” Mason said. “I got there just in time.”

“I knew it!” Miranda cheered. “He so wanted you, didn’t he?”

“No, he–”

“Definitely,” Mason cut me off.

Miranda snickered and I glared at him. “Well, at least our Mason was there to protect you.”

I groaned, plopping down on the couch. “I hate all of you.”

Suddenly, the Opening ringtone sounded next to me. I looked over at Mason, tilting my head as he pulled out an iPhone 5s.

When he caught me staring at the rose-gold color, he gave me an overconfident smirk and answered. “Hello?”

I couldn’t hear anything from the other end, but immediately, the smirk was gone and he shifted from teasing to serious, concentrating.

“I’m at a friend’s house at the moment.” His voice was filled with authority, deep, just a tad agitated. “Why?”

I look over at Val and Miranda, hoping for some help, but they both just shared the same confusion as me.

“I see,” he said, void of emotion. “I’ll be there in a minute.”

He shoved the phone back in his pocket and gave me an apologetic smile. “I have to go to the Lawmen Building for a few hours,” he explained, kissing my forehead. “I probably won’t be back until late, so don’t wait up for me.”

I snorted. “I wouldn’t wait up for you even if you asked me to.”

He smirked as he straightened up. “Of course.” He looked at Val and M. “Lock the door. I have a key.”

And then he walked out the door.

I blinked, caught off guard.

Miranda was the first to break the silence, whistling. “Wow. He really is a businessman. Have to say, I enjoy his smirk, but dear Jesus, that serious look on his face was sexy as hell.”