Old Love Dies Hard (spinoff of life happens)

Chapter XXIII - Mason The Eye Candy

I open my bedroom door and trudge downstairs, towards the kitchen where I see Mason, Kim and Rose laughing.

"What's so funny?" I join in

"Nothing. Mason was just telling us about you when you shouted at him to turn the volume down" Kim says and I almost choke on my pancakes.
I send Mason a death glare but he winks in response and I lower my head to hide my smile.

Gorgeous people like him should not be allowed to do mischievous things like winking or flirting!

"Ugh. You two are very cheesy. Hurts my single heart" Rose comments

"Shut up" both me and Mason reply.

"Jinx!" This time he's the first one to say it

"Double jinx!" I say

"Triple jinx!"

"Quadruple jinx!"

"Hundred jinx!"

"Wha- Billion jinx!" I reply and he starts laughing.

I realize, I'm actually truly happy in this moment and that has happened in a very very long time. A smile takes up all of my face. My giddiness travels up to my throat, exploding into a million metaphorical fireworks, that escape my mouth as giggles.
He chuckles too, clutching his stomach.

"I'm happy" I whisper and look at Mason and his eyes mirror what I'm feeling inside: affection.

Then he smiles, and it's one of those very beautiful smiles, one that would keep you awake yet put you to sleep with its calmness.
A smile you earn.
I was expecting him to reply with some gooey words but no, this is better.
Sometimes you don't need words.

"Anyway" I tear my eyes away from him
"I have to head to the coffee shop. Mar came back yesterday. So bye" I say and am about to head out of the house when Mason stops me
"Amna!"

"Hm?" I say

"I was wondering.....you were becoming a shoe designer, right?" He inquires and I nod

"But you never completed your studies. So why don't you do that?" His last question actually kind of shocks me.
Maybe because I was hoping he wouldn't ask me that.

"Umm yeah, about that. Mason this is all so amazing but I don't want to change everything so fast. You know, I want to take it slow. I'm afraid it'll all pass too quickly if I rush and I really don't want that" I try my best to explain my thoughts to him

"Oh broccoli that won't happen. But I do understand if you want to take it slow. It's your life, it's up to you. If you want slow, we'll take it slow" he grins and I grin back

Wait. WE'LL take it slow?

He turns around but I stop him
"Captain America?"

"Hmm?" He grins again, because I called him by his nickname after such a long time.

I look at him, there are SO many things I have to say to him. About how I haven't been a good enough friend to him considering that he's losing the most important woman in his life. About how many things I feel when he looks at me with adoration. About how I'm so proud of him for doing what he loves. All of my thoughts bring me to the conclusion that I'll never be able to put all of this in words unless he wants to hear to me talking for 24 hours.

So I go with the two magic words.
"Thank you and I'm sorry" I say and his face scrunches up in confusion.
I just get out of there and sit in the car.

---------------------

I kill the engine as I arrive and enter the coffee shop which, by the way, still smells amazing.