2 Hours and 37 Minutes

Chapter 21

Cassidy's POV 

        We ended up at a little Italian restaurant near the beach. It was around 9:00 PM. Where I’m from, people would be getting close to getting ready for bed but not here. This place was in full swing. Couples were at tables making googly eyes at each other, families were laughing, little children were throwing breadsticks to other little children, and waiters and waitresses were hustling about taking orders.

            The place wasn’t quite as lavish as the Four Seasons Resort, but it was still on the up and up. The walls were bricks with various artworks on display, hardwood floors, wrought iron tables with matching chairs, tan leather booths lined one wall, a divider was placed to divide the room into sections, and there were gorgeous greenery and flowers everywhere. It smelt divine between the Italian food coming out of the kitchen on trays held by the careful hands of the servers and all the flowers.

            The hostess led us to a table and distributed menus. We all took a seat at the table and were deciding what we wanted when the waiter came up. I had decided on a shrimp pasta salad and a sweet iced tea. Mason sat on my left and Jack sat on my right. Mason would give me these sideways glances when he thought I wasn’t looking. I so knew what he was doing because I was doing the same thing. Jack had his arm draped loosely on the back of my chair. The move was calculated. He was doing it so Mason couldn’t. He was being a typical caveman, but I have come to expect nothing less from my big brother.

            Who knew this was how my day was going to end? I looked around at the table before me: Mom and Dad and Helen were sitting around chatting and laughed, Jack was asking Lee if he was excited about starting pre-k, and Mason kept looking at me. This day had been so weird.  

            I got up this morning aggravated. Jack had disturbed my dream that involved William Herondale, the totally hot shadow hunter. I’ll never be able to get that dream back. Mom was stressing out. Dad was trying to calm her down. Nothing usual there. Same old, same old. Jack was giving me crap about my outfit that was totally adorable by the way. Me and Jack fell asleep in car with me drooling on his leg on the way here. I never made it to the pool, never got a chance to read in Clockwork Prince, never got to use that bikini, never got to meet Nick in the lobby after he got off shift, and I got stuck in an elevator. I would say that that was one hell of a day.

            On the bright side, I met Mason. He was so sweet, adorable, and not to mention incredibly mouth wateringly attractive. Even a blind person could tell that boy was hot. I don’t know what I would have done if I was stuck in there alone or worse with a total jerk. I learned a lot about Mason Reeves today. He may be hot, but he doesn’t let it go to his head. His face lights up when he talks about his mom, and even though he says Lee is the devil reincarnate, which I don’t believe for a second, that kid is too cute for his own good, I know that Mason loves Lee more than anything. I can tell that he tries to be the male figure that Lee needs in his life.

            When looked at Mason and noticed that his eyes were shining with laughter, I followed his gaze to see what he was finding so interesting. The sight before me made me bust out laughing. Jack and Lee were having a very heated argument over who was better: Teenage Mutant Ninga Turtles or Power Rangers. Jack was on Team Power Rangers while Lee was for the former. Under normal circumstances I would believe that Jack was indulging the kid, but his face was so serious. He was serious. He thought Power Rangers were better than Teenage Mutant Ninga Turtles. The looks on their faces had me laughing so hard other restaurant patrons were starting to look towards our table with funny looks on their faces that clearly said to pipe down. I tried to control myself; I really did. Lee had this gleam in his big brown eyes that spoke of determination. My vote was on Lee winning this argument.

            After finally calming myself from the hysterical round of laughter coursing through my body, I returned myself to my thoughts.

            I believe in fate. I believe that the big guy of in the sky has a plan for everyone’s life including mine. Nothing happens out of the blue; everything happens for a reason and for some purpose. If I hadn’t picked Palm Beach, I never would have ended up in this hotel and in turn end up in that elevator. If Mason hadn’t left his phone in his mom’s car, he never would have ended up into that elevator either. See? There are no such things as coincidences. Our lives are already mapped out for us; we just have to sit back and enjoy the ride.

            I am definitely enjoying the ride. This I met a great guy; I still have a lot to learn about him, but I know enough to know he’s not a prick like my brother first assumed. And as of right now, knowing that is good enough for me. The things that I do know about him are the important things. I know that could be captivated by his piercing green eyes nearly all day, I know that his laugh makes my heart skip a beat, I know that he loves his family, I know that he tries to be a good person, I know that he knows hardship but has stepped up to the challenge, and I know that even though we haven’t known each other that long that he cares about me. I was able to tell him things that I haven’t even been able to tell Jack, and Jack is my best friend. I found myself able to open up to him and put my feeling out there for him to absorb. He comforted me when I was in tears, he proved himself to my brother, he stole my first kiss, and he reestablished my faith in love at first sight.

            Let’s back up just a little. Mason stole my first kiss and my second for that matter, and I wouldn’t mind if he got all my kisses. If they keep being that good, I might just let him. Embarrassing as it may be, Mason knew that I hadn’t had my first kiss yet. He didn’t take advantage of the knowledge. He let me make the first move. His kisses were so gentle and so sweet and so perfect.

            I know we don’t live in the same city and not even in the same state, but I know that this isn’t the last that I’ll see Mason not by a long shot. I’ve never done long distance relationships friendship or otherwise, but we’ll make it work. Who am I kidding? I don’t even know if Mason wants to ever see me again after this week, but I would like to that he does judging by the looks that he keeps giving me. When he looks at me, I see the corners of his luscious mouth quirking up into his genuine smile, and I see the sincerity in depths of his green eyes. I know that he cares; I know with every fiber of my being that this isn’t the end of the rode for me and Mason. I felt a hand gently squeeze my thigh; I looked in Mason’s direction. He nodded at the waiters who were approaching with our meal. I gave him a small smile of my own as the waiter who brought me my desired beverage, and then later came back to deposit a plate in front of me. Don’t think I didn’t notice his hand still resting on my thigh. It was kind of hard to not notice since his hand sent tingles up my spine.

            I sat there in this beautiful restaurant in this beautiful city with a beautiful boy sitting next to me. I never would have pictured this as the ending for such a strange day. Do you know what the difference between today and yesterday is?

2 hours and 37 minutes.

This just made me think of how Mason views Cassidy.

Perfect

I love you just the way you are

But you don’t see you like I do.

You shouldn’t try so hard to be perfect.

Trust me, perfect should try to be you.