Settling The Score

Part 10

When I finally caught up to Mason, I was coughing my lungs out. My chest felt like I swallowed a hot coal. Well, we did just run three blocks.

"Hey!" I huffed out, taking another breath, "No fair!" 

"Don't be a sore loser, Carebear," he smirked. 

"I'd like to see you trying to run in such an uncomfortably short dress," I mumbled, pulling down my dress, for the millionth time.

"The shorter, the easier to take off," he said seductively.

I slapped his arm. "A privilege you, Mason Hayes will never have."
I gave him a wicked smile, before hopping up the steps of our apartment building.

"Well, here goes nothing," I braced as I unlocked the door.

"Leelee!" Bella yelled. The instant we were inside, she came flying into my arms. I picked her up and hugged her tightly.

Mason rose an eyebrow. Leelee, really? And you yell at me for calling you Carebear?

I gave him a long, dry look before giving Bella a once over, frantically trying to make sure she wasn't hurt.

She seemed fine, except for her red, puffy eyes. "You okay, Pumpkin?" I asked worriedly.
I sat her down on the floor, her lip wobbling as she turned her attention to the towering figure standing beside me.

Our little apartment had never felt quite so small, as I took in the full extent of Mason Hayes. I knew he was big and at least a head taller than me, don't even get me started on his perfectly sculpted muscles. But seeing him squeezed into such a tiny space, the sheer size of him seemed ridiculous. He wasn't bulky by any means, he was more lean and toned, like a swimsuit model.

He had his hoodie on again, the one he lent me, and for a second I couldn't quite fathom how precisely it was that I had a Greek god standing in my house.

Bella's tear-filled eyes brightened when Mason gave her a warm smile. "Who's this Leelee?" she asked shyly.
He bent down and held a hand out towards her. "Hey Bella, my name's Mason."

She shook his hand and he leaned closer to whisper to her, "Your sister never told me you were this pretty. Now I know who has the looks in the family."

I gave him an incredulous look.
But Bella positively beamed, whatever had gotten her so worked up, long forgotten. Grabbing his hand, she led him to the kitchen. I huffed out a heavy sigh and trailed after them.

We found my mom sitting in the kitchen, sipping mindlessly on a cup of coffee. She looked as exhausted as ever.

Guilt settled heavily in my chest.

There I was, out partying, while my mom had no time for anything remotely close to a social life.

"Mommy, look!" Bella yelled excitedly, "Leslie brought a friend."
My mom scanned Mason thoroughly, and I couldn't help but note how extremely out of place he looked in our small kitchen.

"Mason, right? You're Lucy's brother?" My mom finally spoke.

"Yes, ma'am," he said politely, holding out his hand. "It's an honor to meet the woman behind the infamous Leslie Carter." 

The corner of my mom's mouth raised slightly as she shook his hand. "She sure is something, isn't she?" My mom chuckled.

"She sure knows how to keep the boys of Wellington High well on their toes," he chuckled.

I rolled my eyes and cleared my throat loudly. "I am still in the room, you know," I scoffed.

It was strange that Mason had never been formally introduced to my mom. He's been around so little over the years, I guess the opportunity just never arose. Not that I ever really knew him or anything, and I'm pretty sure Bella was still just a baby the last time he was in town.