I take a couple of deep breaths before I nod. I keep my eyes locked on his, and when the water begins to slowly climb up my lower back, Mason says, “Thank you for giving me a chance.”
I nod, and emotion mixes with the anxiety making tears rush to my eyes.
“Thank you for never backing down when I gave you shit.”
The water reaches my waist, and a wave of intense panic makes it hard to breathe.
Mason takes a deep breath, and I feel his chest press against mine. When he lets it out, his voice is incredibly calm as he says, “Breathe in with me.”
When I feel his chest expand again, I suck in a desperate breath of air. I keep doing it until my breathing slows down.
A look of pride softens his features. “You did it, Kingsley.”
“I did?”
He nods, then turns us around and wades his way back to the edge. He sits me down on the side and reaching for my face, he frames it with his hands.
“I’m so fucking proud of you.”
I take hold of his forearms and smile against his mouth as he kisses me.Chapter 30MasonWalking out of the building, I head in the direction of the café to find Kingsley after she texted that she was grabbing some hot chocolate.
We got back early this morning, and with all the excitement of getting her back in the water, I forgot to ask her whether she’ll come to the airport with us to welcome Lee-ann and her family.
Glancing to my left, I see West come out of his dorm and when his eyes land on me, I let out a heavy breath.
I have to stop this shit between us. We can’t go on like this forever.
“Mason,” he calls out as he jogs across the road. “I haven’t seen you in a while. Have you been pulling weeds at Jennifer's grave?”
My first reaction is to let the rage take over, but I look back to the café, and when I see Kinglsey walking toward me, I push the destructive emotions down.
You have to put an end to it now, Mason.
The last time you got into a fight with West, Kingsley got hurt.
“Did you hear me?” West asks as he comes up behind me, but I ignore him, keeping my eyes locked on the light of my life.
I’m on the cusp of starting a new life.
There’s no place for the anger and bitterness.
“Mason!” West shouts when I still don’t respond to him.
Kingsley reaches me and taking hold of my hand, she links our fingers, her grip tight.
“Don’t worry,” I reassure her when I see the concern in her eyes. “He’s not worth the time.”
“Oh, that’s rich,” West chuckles, coming to a standstill right by us.
Kingsley looks at West. “You have to stop this.”
He smirks at her, happy about the reaction he’s getting from her.
I lock eyes with West. “It’s sad, Dayton. What we’ve been doing for the past five years, is just so unbelievably sad. I’m done living my life like this. Go see a therapist and deal with your shit. Stop baiting me, hoping I’ll beat you up so it will ease your guilt.”
“I wasn’t aware you majored in Psych 101,” he sneers, but I don’t miss the flash of agony and guilt in his eyes. “I don’t feel guilty,” he spits out. “She was the one spinning everywhere over the fucking road and causing chaos. Everyone on that road was lucky, she was the only one who died.”
Kingsley steps closer to me and just knowing she’s by my side, helps me to keep the deep-rooted rage from exploding like an erupting volcano.
I take a breath and knowing it’s time to start honoring my sister, instead of tainting her memory with guilt and anger, I say, “I’m going to let my sister rest in peace.”
West lets out an anxious chuckle when he sees that baiting me isn’t getting his desired result any longer. “So, you’re going to give up? Is that what you’re saying.” He takes a step closer to me, which has Kingsley reacting and moving in front of me. His eyes drop to her. “Are you his bodyguard now?”
Before Kingsley can answer, I say, “I’m done with you, Dayton. You’re nothing but empty noise.”
Pulling at Kingsley’s hand, I begin to walk back to our building.
“You’re really going to let me get away with murdering Jennifer? Some fucking brother, you are,” he shouts after me.
“Let me have a sip of that,” I say to Kingsley doing my best to ignore West.
She quickly hands me the beverage, and I take a gulp of the warm liquid before I hand it back to her, then I pull a face. “Damn, Hunt. Did you add extra sugar in there?”
“Only five.” She grins. “What? Did you think I was just a naturally sweet person?”