ᴀᴘʜʀᴏᴅɪᴛᴇ // $ᴜɪᴄɪᴅᴇʙᴏʏ$

Chapter Twenty

APHRODITE

"Aphrodite..." Mason groaned against the door and tapped on the wood. "Wake up. I know you're a light sleeper. Open the door."

Why the fuck is he here? I haven't seen him in months and now all of a sudden he decides to come to my apartment out of nowhere. You're right, Scott, he does have shitty timing.

I stared at Scott desperately, grasping one of his hands, pleading him with my eyes, panicking that he might bring harm to the man right outside my front door. My breathing was heavy now, my anxiety spiking.

He threatened me with his eyes to stay quiet.

"Please don't hurt him. Please." I pleaded, holding onto his hand so tightly that my long, rounded nails began to dig into his skin. "I can make him go away. I'll do anything you want. Just please don't hurt him."

He drew his eyebrows together as he stared at me.

Mason continued to knock on the door and call for me. I couldn't decide whether to look at Scott, or to the direction of the voice begging me to let him inside. But finally Scott ended my suffering and gave me direction.

He turned my head and brought my ear closer to his mouth. Until his mouth was right against my skin, he spoke in a low voice.

"Tell him calmly to leave." He muttered against my ear, pressing his face against me even harder. "If you don't, and he finds me here, you will truly understand who I am, Aphrodite. I'll break every single fuckin' bone in his body."

I nodded quickly, and then stumbled when he released me. Trying to regain some composure, I scurried up to the door and peeked through the peephole.

I felt the all too familiar ache in my chest when I glanced at Mason. I had been wishing every night for a long time while falling asleep that he wouldn't have that effect on me anymore. But seeing him now was almost like a relief, something familiar, something I had once called my own. His face was pure handsome, all sharp angles and smooth lines. His long, shoulder length brown hair was pulled back into a sleek ponytail, a look I had always loved, especially when I would untie that lovely hair at night when we had once shared a bed. His sharp cheeks were slightly red, and his brown eyes tired and glassy. And I realized looking at him now, that I definitely had a type. Men with long hair.

I wanted him to stay. I wanted him to go away forever.

I wanted him to save me.

Calmly, I unlocked the door and opened it, deliberately keeping the chain locked in place. Mason had a bad habit of waltzing into my home without an invitation at times.

"Mason." I said, breathing his name almost like a prayer.

He gave me a smile and swayed on his feet as he slurred his words. "Hey, cupcake, didn't you hear me knocking? Let me in."

"Have you been drinking? It's almost two in the morning."

"Is it? I lost track of time." He went to pull his sleeve upward, almost as if he were going to check his watch but couldn't seem to manage it. "I was at this thing. I had a few glasses of wine. You think you can let me in, sweetheart? I just want to go to..." He stopped and then hiccupped. "Go to sleep. My feet hurt."

"You can't sleep here."

He laughed. "You're so cute. Unchain the door, I can't figure that shit out right now."

"I mean it. You can't sleep here, Mason."

He rolled his eyes and scoffed at me, leaning against the wall and sniffling. "I seem to recall... you saying the exact opposite a month ago when you called me with desperation. You sure wanted me to sleep here back then."