The Soldier's Roommate

Chapter 13: Shall we?

Elijah

Mason always knows what to say.

Nothing. He just says nothing.

Which is exactly the reason I enjoy the time I spend with him right now. Sitting in his garden with a scotch in my hand, letting yesterday's events run through my brain, trying to figure shit out, only the sound of that pouring rain hitting the pavement surrounding us.

I don't want Alice to go out with that guy.

But I don't want to not want her to go out with that guy, either.

She broke my trust, the little I gave her, and that just shows it all.

Keep your distance, Elijah. Keep your distance. Both physically and mentally.

"So, I saw Alice today."

Does he read my mind or something? Does he know that this is exactly not what I wanted to hear right now?!

There's a reason I didn't tell him about that "talk" Alice and I had yesterday. I don't want to think about it. I want peace, want to stay clear of the sole thought of her right now.

"You did?" I ask nonchalantly, taking another sip of my scotch as I watch the sun travel west in the sky.

"Yeah, she told me something interesting."

"Uh-huh."

I nod my head as a signal for him to continue, even though I really do not want to hear anything about it.

"She told me Harrison asked her to basically spy on you for him."

Those words make me avert my gaze from the setting sun, and I turn to look at Mason with wide eyes. "What?!"

"Yeah, she said he wanted her to tell him if something was going on with you, or something like that..."

"I already know that."

I do, but I don't really understand why she would tell Mason that... Does she really think he wouldn't tell me?

"Huh?" Mason furrows his brows, leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed in front of his chest.

"Yeah, Harrison called me yesterday and said she told him about my visits. Kept him updated, so to speak..."

"What? That doesn't make any sense..."

"Why? You just said it yourself, she's working with him." I point out.

Mason's eyes widen and he leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees when he heaves a sigh. "Elijah..."

"What?!" I snap, already feeling irritated as hell from this whole conversation.

He just raises an eyebrow, obviously unimpressed by my outburst. "Alice told me she basically told him to go to hell. She said she doesn't want to do that to you because she likes you - even if you act like a dickhead most of the time. Her words, not mine... Also, Harrison already worked his charm on her and apparently she was utterly unimpressed by that; I'm pretty sure she hates him just as much as we do already."

I stare at him, letting my thoughts roam free as I try to understand, try to wrap my head around all of this...

When my father called, he said Alice told him about the physicians, not the therapists. That means she didn't know about them, otherwise she would have told him... Which, in conclusion, can only imply that he hasn't told her before, and he definitely would've done that if she was actually supposed to be reporting back to him...