When the applause from the audience fades, Mason says, “Thank you for having me, Senator Weinstock.”
I slap a hand over my heart. “I’m so freaking proud of him.” Emotion wells in my chest. “Crap, I’m going to cry.”
Layla snuggles up to me again and taking the chocolate from my hand she tosses it on the table, and then she links our fingers.
When Mason quotes Woodrow Wilson, it feels like I’m being hit by wave after wave of goosebumps.
“During my attendance at Trinity Academy, I had the great pleasure of meeting two students who brought sunshine and light to our campus. Like any other student, they hope their dreams will come true. We at CRC Holdings invest to help bring those dreams to realization.”
“Aaaaahhhhhh!” Layla and I shriek at the same time, bouncing on the couch.
“That’s us, right?” I ask to be sure.
“I’d kick his butt if it’s not,” she quips.
When Mason adjusts his cufflink, I almost begin to drool. “Please tell me we can rewind so I can see him do that again.”
“It will be on YouTube,” Layla states.
“True.”
Static comes from the TV which has me frowning, “Is that our TV or a problem on their side?”
Manic laughter sounds up, which has Layla sitting back up. “Time to pay the piper, bitch.”
“Holy crap,” Layla breathes with surprise.
My mouth just hangs open as I stare at the screen.
We watch as panic erupts on stage and how Mason walks over to Serena. I tilt my head and glare at the TV when he places his arm around her shoulder.
He leans closer and says something to her, and then I almost dislocate my jaw as my mouth falls open for a second time.
The huge screen on stage shows Serena handing Layla the pie.
Layla turns her head slowly to me and asks, “It wasn’t the apple juice?”
“I don’t know,” I shrug.
Even though Layla’s face is blurred out, I still wrap an arm around her when we watch her collapse on screen.
Serena says something, and I see a flash of anger on Mason’s face before he turns his back to the camera.
Then Serena’s voice echoes loudly from the speakers, “You made a big mistake.”
“Didn’t she say that after you slapped her the day Mason jumped into the pool with me?” I ask.
“I can’t even remember.”
The screen on stage blacks out and then Serena screeches like a dying cow. “Wow, so much for being graceful,” I say wryly.
Layla’s phone rings and she quickly answers when she sees it’s Falcon.
“What are you guys doing?” she asks without greeting him. She pauses for a moment then says, “Okay, I’m switching it off.” Layla turns off the TV, then asks, “Why can’t we wat –” She pauses then puts the phone on speaker.
“Falcon says we can’t watch the next piece,” Layla explains.
“Hey, Kingsley,” Falcon’s voice comes over the phone. “Mason will kill me if you watched the next couple of minutes.”
“Why? What’s happening?” I ask worried Mason will get into trouble.
“Give us forty minutes, and we’ll be back, then Mason will explain everything to you.”
“Okay.”
I begin chewing on my bottom lip, just hoping the guys get home safely. I didn’t expect anything like this to happen.
“Let’s watch Grace and Frankie until they get back,” Layla says.
“And stuff our faces,” I add as I reach for the candy.
We’re almost done watching a second episode when there’s a knock at the door. I dart up, sending the popcorn flying over the table and floor. But when I open and see it’s Falcon, I mutter, “Layla, it’s your man.”
Falcon grins at Layla while I get down on my knees so I can clean up the mess I’ve made, while worry begins to grow at a rapid pace inside of me.
“Isn’t Mason back yet?” I ask, keeping my head down.
“He is. He went to change out of the suit,” Falcon explains which makes the anxiety ease in my chest.
My head snaps up, and I smile. “Thanks.”
When they begin to leave, I set the bowl aside and get up. “Enjoy the evening, guys.”
“Catch you later,” Layla throws over her shoulder while they walk toward the elevator.
I lean back against the door jamb as I watch them whisper to each other, and when the elevator doors close behind them, I sit down on the floor.
I’m being stupid now, waiting like this for him.
I pull my legs up and hug them to my chest, resting my chin on my knees. The numbers on the elevator begin to count down, and I hold my breath… until it passes by my floor.
Ugh… I hate waiting.
Why did he have to go change first?
The numbers start to count their way up, and when it ends on Mason’s floor, a smile slowly stretches over my face.
It comes down to my floor, and the second the doors begin to open, my heart starts to race, but seeing Preston makes me feel like a deflated balloon.