Mason (Trinity Academy 2)

“Jennifer will always be my daughter, my perfect angel. Moving on doesn’t mean we’re forgetting her. She’ll always be a part of who we are because she helped shape us.”

Mom brings her other hand to my chest and pats over my heart. “Carry her here and live the life she wanted for you.” Moving her hand to my hair, she again brushes her fingers through the strands. “Don’t carry her here where you’re trapped in the past.”

Another tear sneaks down my cheek and closing my eyes, I let the peace which only my mother’s touch can give me, fill my heart.

When my shoulders shudder under the heavyweight of the emotions, Mom wraps her arms around me, and rubbing her hand over my back, she whispers, “It’s okay, Mace. I just got lost, but I’m here now. Mom’s here.”Sitting at the table out on the patio, I watch my father grill steaks.

“Since when do you grill?” I ask, still shocked by seeing my father make food. “Is it going to be edible?”

Dad turns around and points at me with the tongs. “It’s a new hobby.”

Mom lets out a chuckle. “He has grilled just about everything.” She lets out a snort of laughter, and I can only stare at her in awe. “He tried to grill marshmallows.” She cracks up, unable to tell me the rest of the story.

Dad let’s out a sigh. “What your mother is trying to tell you is that I tried to roast marshmallows, but it melted, and the entire grill was a mess.”

“A mess?” Mom squeezes out. “You had to get a new grill!”

I sit back and smile as I watch my parents. There’s a sweet ache in my chest, seeing them the way they were before Jen’s passing.

Piece by piece.KingsleyWe’ve just gotten back to campus, and I feel a million times better. Spending time with Layla has grounded me.

We stop outside my dorm, and I pull Layla into a hug. “Thanks, my bestie. I had a great time,” I whisper, tightening my hold on her for a second before I pull back.

“We have to do this again, and soon. I want to finish watching Grace & Frankie.” She chuckles, “I can just see the two of us being like them when we’re old.”

“Yeah,” I agree. “I’d probably be the one smoking weed.”

Layla laughs, then gives my arm a squeeze. “Let me go give my man some tender love and care. I’ll see you in class tomorrow.”

“Enjoy the TLC.” I wag my eyebrows at her and smiling, I walk into the building.

My smile dies a quick death when I see Serena walking towards me.

Her lips form a well-rehearsed smile. “I didn’t know you went away for the weekend.”

“Yeah.”

I begin to walk toward my suite when Serena grabs hold of my arm. “Please take a walk with me. If we’re going to stop being friends, I’d like to hear the reason for it.”

If she wants to have this conversation then so be it, but she’s not going to like what I have to say. Not wanting her in my suite, I nod. “Let me just throw my bag in my room.”

She waits as I quickly open the door and toss the bag inside. When I get back to her, I gesture for her to lead the way.

Leaving the dorm, we walk toward the restaurant.

“So, you’re really going to end our friendship because I don’t get along with Falcon’s assistant?”

Frowning, I correct her, “Her name is Layla. You know the girl Falcon’s in a serious relationship with? My best friend?”

“Whatever,” she snubs my words away, then taking hold of my arm, she pulls me toward the indoor pool. “I can see this is not going to be a civil conversation, so let’s go where the other students won’t hear us arguing. I don’t want them seeing how much it will break my heart to lose you.”

Huh?

“Did you drink?” I ask her as we walk into the room. Not liking the darkness, I turn on the light while Serena goes to stand by the pool and stares at the water. I stop a couple of steps behind her and cross my arms over my chest.

“It’s funny how quickly I was rejected when she came to Trinity,” Serena murmurs.

“It’s not because of Layla. You’re not a nice person, Serena. People have to jump through hoops to please you.”

She turns around and begins to sneer, the oh-woe-is-me act gone. “You’re so great now that Mason is paying some attention to you? Do you honestly believe Mason will ever be with a girl like you?”

That was such a quick change of topic, I stare at her as I try to process it.

“We’re not talking about Mason and me. We’re talking about why I won’t be friends with you any longer.”

She ignores my words, and taking a step closer to me, she smugly says, “You know I’m more his type.”