2 Hours and 37 Minutes

Chapter 18

Mason's POV 

        “Right after I talk to the little prick,” Jack said all of a sudden. Admittedly I was still a little out of it from when Jack hit me. Props to Jack for having a good arm; my face can testify. From the moment those elevator doors opened, and I heard shouting, I knew I was a goner. I so wanted Cassidy’s brother to like me because I very much liked his sister, but that was so not the first impression I wanted to make.

            I looked to Cassidy for help, but she was glaring at Jack. She knew that he wouldn’t back down; I could tell he wasn’t the kind to be easily swayed. The glare she was giving her brother made her look like an angry kitten; I almost laughed, but I didn’t dare laugh out loud. Then I turned to my mother in hopes that she would intervene; she just sat there smirking. Smirking. She didn’t even blink at the fact that her first born son was just called a prick, and did I mention that I got punched in the face earlier? Yeah I see whose side she’s on. Mom just wore the knowing look; a look that said “you dug this hole yourself, now get yourself out.” Whelp, I guess I’m on my own for this one.

            Everybody, including Cass, got up muttering that they were going upstairs to get changed for going out. I was left alone with Jack, and he was glaring.

            “Sit,” he said, but it was more like a command. I obeyed and sat back down on the couch. He came and sat down in one of the high backed chairs that was across from where I was sitting. He was wearing faded dark jeans, a white t shirt, and black Nike tennis shoes. When he sat down, he crossed one leg over his knee so that his ankle was on his knee. His hands gripped the arms of the chair, and his eyes were focused on their target. Me.

            “Now I want you to tell me exactly what happened in that elevator,” he spoke very carefully. I knew he didn’t want to know the events of what took place because Cassidy had already said that; what he wanted was specifics, and by specifics: my hands and lips on his sister, which I can understand why he wanted to know. If the roles were reversed, I would want to know every painstaking detail even if when deep down I didn’t want to hear it.

            “Okay, I’ll tell you,” he gave me a look that said ‘yeah like you weren’t going to tell me’, “but I ask that you please refrain from beating me up until the end,” I gave him a pointed look, and he rolled his eyes.

            “Well for starters I knew Cassidy before I got in that elevator,” he gave a startled look, but I continued, “but she didn’t know me. You see I saw her in the lobby when y’all first got here, and tell you the truth I thought she was gorgeous. Then I saw her talking to Nick at the front desk, and that made me so angry. I know that guy, and he is such a douche. I so did not like the way he was looking at her, you what I’m talking about right? I know you saw it too; he was undressing her with his eyes. That was when you yelled for her; that’s how I knew her name. Trust me I saw you killing that guy with your eyes,” I took a breath and noticed Jack smirking, “I told him not to look at her that way just to let you know because I believe that women should be given more respect than that. I got up to my room and realized I left my phone in my mom’s car so naturally I headed down to go get it. That was when I saw Cassidy: in the hallway headed for the elevator. Being the gentleman that I am, I let her get on before me. I was about to try striking up a conversation when the elevator broke down. We both sat down on the floor and sat in silence until I introduced myself. Then after that we just started talking. I told her about how my parents got divorced, about little brother Lee, and about how when I was sixteen I was in a motorcycle accident,” I paused to let what I had said so far sink in and plus to catch my breath; Jack just stared at me surprised so I continued, “Then she told me about how you beat up some guy named Wyatt last year because you were defending her honor, and she told me about your graduation and how she was so proud of you. When we were in that elevator, I could the see love and the admiration that she feels towards you; she told me that she looks up to you and that she feels like she’s not good enough when compared to you,” I looked at him to gage his reaction; his eyes started water a little, “She told me about the time that you said she was special, and I have to agree with you; she is special. When she spoke about you and all the inspiring words you’ve told her, she would get all teary eyed. There was this one point where she was full about sobbing so I pulled her onto my lap and hugged her and tried to get her to calm down. That was the only time I touched her until that time you saw when the elevator opened,” I took a deep breath, and he motioned for me to continue, “I asked her if you would like me,” Jack look shocked, “She didn’t answer at first so I dropped the subject. Then I told her about my little brother Lee, and when I was finished, she said that she was starting to think that you would like me. Then I told her that she could meet Lee when I met you. She said deal and reached out her hand to shake on it. Then I pulled her towards me, and I gave her plenty of time to pull away if she wanted to in fact she was the one to close the distance between us. I started pushing her forward onto the elevator floor,” I stopped when I heard Jack growl but plowed right on through it, “She pulled away so started back off of her when she pulled me back towards her. Then the elevator opened, and I knew that I had just dug my grave,” I ended with a sigh that I was able to get all of that out to Jack. I looked at him expectantly.

            “How old are you?” Jack questioned.

            “Uh…just turned nineteen,” I responded confused.

            “Middle name?” Jack asked another irreverent question.

            “Andrew?” I answered though it sounded more like a question

            “And you swear that you didn’t go any further than a kiss?” Jack glared.

            “Definitely, that’s it,” I quickly nodded.

            “Then I like you,” Jack said casually.

            “What…huh…?” I stuttered.

            “Dude, listen to me. I’m not a bad guy; I just don’t want some prick taking advantage of my sister. She told you things, things that I didn’t even know. She trusted you with her feelings and her insecurities. And I can tell by the way you were talking about her, that you know she’s special. I still have a lot to learn about you, but no matter who you are, if you hurt my sister or force her to do anything she doesn’t want to do, you are a dead man,” he said that last part with a growl.

            “You have my word,” I said as I stuck my hand out to shake. Jack stared at it for a moment like it was diseased or something then he cracked a smile an accepted my offered hand.

            “Let’s go eat; I’m starving,” we both said at the same time. We looked at each other then busted out laughing.

            That went better than expected; I’m not six feet under. Yet.