A shark attacked Mason.
My face goes white as I see a massive chunk of Mason’s leg lost. I’d scream but all I can do is watch in shock as he is pulled onto a stretcher. His face is cloaked in pain. The other guys huddle around him.
“Oh my God,” I say, pushing toward him. But he doesn’t see anyone, he is falling in and out of consciousness. Reaching for his hand, I try to be brave for this man I love, even if he won’t remember this. I will remember everything.
A medic shouts, explaining there’s an ambulance coming around up front. We run with them as they bring Mason to the ambulance.
We watch in shock as they wheel him into the ambulance and I jump in front, insisting to the EMT that I stay with him.
“Family?” he asks.
I nod. Because I know I am close enough.
I look over at the guys and they tell me they love me, that they will be following close behind. As the ambulance rushes down the highway toward the hospital I don’t see anything besides Mason’s face. I can’t bear to look down at his leg, I don’t want to see the missing pieces of flesh.
Focusing on him, on this man who found me and took me under his wing, I put all my energy into sending him all the love I possibly can.
He has to be okay.
There has to be a way to put him back together again.* * *One week and two surgeries later Mason is finally sitting up in his hospital bed. It’s been a hell of a week, and everyone’s on edge. The fact that Mason is alive should have all of us on our knees thanking our lucky stars, but this accident has created a lot of stress in the house. And Mason hasn’t been home to see it. Apparently, they are behind on their video release schedule and Black Bull is pissed; apparently, as their sponsors, there’s a contract for three new videos a week. They barely managed to put one together this week.
I overheard a phone call between Ethan and their Black Bull rep last night and it wasn’t pretty. Ethan explained the extenuating circumstances and Black Bull said it would be excusable if the accident had been filmed so at least they could go viral with a shark attack. Pretty cold, in my opinion, but I didn’t voice that to anyone because I can tell everyone is on edge as it is.
Add to that the fact that Mason’s family wants to come visit to make sure he’s okay... and I can barely keep from biting my nails. I am just getting comfortable with my feelings for these men and adding in family seems like it will get us all out of whack. I mean, the doctors and nurses have been giving us all the stink eye the last seven days and I don’t think I can handle any more judgment. Nor do I think adding that stressor to an already overwhelmed fivesome is healthy.
I bring Mason his favorite pillow and prop it behind his head, wishing he didn’t have to stay here in this sterile environment.
“I can’t believe this happened,” he groans as all of us sit in his room getting an update. “I have two more surgeries scheduled and I swear to God they will never let me leave this place. I hate it.”
“We brought some fan mail, thought it might cheer you up,” Noah says, holding up an iPad. A video clip of a sorority house blowing him kisses with posters saying GET WELL MASON flashes before us.
Mason shakes his head, waving the video away. “No, I can’t deal with horny college girls right now, I just want Chloe here with me. Now that I’m not high on the meds 24/7, I’d love your company.” He pats his bed and I sit willingly.
“Of course,” I say, grateful to be of some use and eyeing that iPad suspiciously. Just what kind of MeTube following do these guys have? I knew they had lots of fans... but I never thought about what kind of people they were... though considering they are the four hottest men I have ever seen, I shouldn’t be surprised. Still, I kinda want to take the iPad and chuck it out the window. My scowl must be obvious.
“You okay, Chloe?” Enzo asks, rubbing my back.
“I’m fine,” I answer tensely, unable to help myself from looking at the iPad in Noah’s hand.
“Are you jealous of his fans?” Ethan asks, a bemused smile on his face.
I shrug. “I’m not jealous of anything.”
“Sure,” Noah says, smiling.
“Well if you were in my position, how would that make you feel?”
“It should make you feel like the queen you are,” Ethan says sincerely. “Those fans are sweet, and they are the reason we get a paycheck, but you are our gem.”