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Chapter 72: Mason
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HeartLess Chapter 73: Poppy
Book Two: Shameless"Would you mind getting the door?" Anne asks, grabbing an oversized platter piled high with thick wedges of watermelon.I pad to the slider that leads to the patio and yank it open. Dad is already outside, manning the grill. Even though it's early in the afternoon, there are already fifty people in attendance for the annual Claremont Cougars barbeque that will officially kick off the season.Unconsciously, I scan the yard. The pool is packed with shirtless guys. Since they train all year round, most are in excellent shape. It's certainly no hardship to stare at them. I should be basking in man candy heaven.Instead, my attention is continually snagged by the brooding man standing with a small group of coaches. He's barely glanced my way since arriving an hour ago.It's been just about a week since the incident at his garage.He slinks into Psychology before the start of class and hightails it out the moment our professor wraps up his lecture. After the disas
HeartLess Chapter 74: Mason
Book Two: ShamelessWhat the actual fuck?Did Poppy just disappear into the pool house with Levi?I glance at her father only to see that he's deep in conversation with our defensive coordinator. He probably doesn't realize his daughter just went missing. Anne is busy checking out the food situation while she chats with one of the coaches' wives.I drag a hand over my face and grit my teeth until my jaw aches from the pressure before glancing at my sports watch."Mason?""Yeah?" My attention reluctantly returns to Jason, another assistant coach. Honestly, I have no idea what the hell he's been yapping about. Maybe a new exercise regimen he wants to implement? I've spent the past hour covertly watching Poppy, all the while nodding and grunting at appropriate intervals.I can't stop my gaze from dropping to my watch again. It's been three minutes since they shuttered themselves inside the structure.What the hell are they doing in there?Only one answer comes to mind.My hands tig
HeartLess Chapter 75: Poppy
Book Two: ShamelessThe knock on the apartment door sends my belly into freefall. I flatten my palm against my lower abdomen, hoping that will settle everything that riots dangerously within. It's as if there's a horde of angry butterflies attempting to wing their way to life inside me.It's ridiculous how nervous I am about this date. It's not like I haven't been on dozens of them throughout the years. But for some reason, going out with Mason feels like a big deal. I have the sneaking suspicion it's because I like him.Really like him.Once I reach the tiny entryway, I inhale one last deep breath before grabbing the handle and yanking the door open. I find Mason standing on the other side of the threshold in the hallway. He's wearing a navy polo and dark wash jeans. Normally, in class, he wears T-shirts. Once, at the garage, I found him bare chested. I'd be lying through my teeth if I didn't admit that I prefer him without a shirt, but he looks seriously handsome dressed li
HeartLess Chapter 76: Mason
Book Two: ShamelessIf I'd been secretly holding out hope that dinner would be a complete bust, that turns out not to be the case. For the most part, there weren't any awkward lulls in conversation. We flowed easily from one topic to another. I hadn't realized that Poppy lost her mother when she was so young. Maybe the circumstances are different, but the loss of any parent is something you don't just get over or move on from.It's a painful ache that lives in your heart forever.What is it about this girl that puts me instantly at ease? As much as I want to deny the truth, I can't.I like her.A lot.It occurs to me as we head back to town that I'm nowhere near ready for this night to be over. I don't want to say goodbye and drive back to the loneliness of my place. That's all it takes to make a split-second decision and turn the truck onto a dark country road. She glances at me but doesn't ask where we're going or what I'm doing. We don't know each other well, and she certai
HeartLess Chapter 77: Poppy
Book Two: ShamelessI glance at the text from Dad before pushing into the locker room and winding my way through the space. My footsteps echo off the cinderblock walls as I head to the back where the offices are located. Practice doesn't start for another hour, so the place is more like a ghost town than football central with guys in various states of undress.When I reach the open door, I poke my head into the small room crammed with old tapes, playbooks, photographs, and trophies, only to find it empty. Dad said he'd be here, watching game film. With a frown, I glance at my watch. I have ten minutes before I need to hustle to my next class.Just as I'm about to fire off a text, a deep voice says, "Sneaking into the guys' locker room again, huh?"Startled, I swing around, and find Mason. As soon as our gazes collide, his lips quirk at the corners.My hand flies to my chest as my heart thunders a painful beat. "You scared the crap out of me!"A chuckle escapes from him as he flas
HeartLess Chapter 78: Poppy
Book Two: ShamelessWith an extra fifteen minutes before the start of class, I decide to stop by the coffee house on campus and pick up an iced latte. I need something to get my blood pumping, and with any luck, this will do the trick.If not, I'm in for a long morning.As I open the door, I realize quite a few people had the same idea. I step into the queue and wait patiently for my turn.Thankfully, the baristas are used to the heavy student traffic and keep the line moving at a steady clip. As another person steps up to the counter and places their order, a voice from behind says, "Hey, Poppy."My heart stutters as I glance over my shoulder and find Levi. We haven't spoken since he walked in on Mason and me kissing in the locker room. I caught sight of him in class a couple days later. Instead of parking himself next to me like usual, he sat with a couple of friends. When he refused to meet my gaze, I'd assumed he was angry."Hi." My fingers flutter nervously before tucking
HeartLess Chapter 79: Mason
Book Two: ShamelessFrom the corner of my eye, I watch Poppy as she lounges on the counter in the garage as I work under the hood of a Ford Mustang GT. The carburetor has been running a little rough, and I'm hoping that if I give it a good cleaning, it'll take care of the problem. If not, the old one will need to be replaced.Instead of concentrating on the car, I glance at the girl who forced her way into my life. I can't go more than a few minutes without her normally smiling face popping into my head.She's been unusually quiet since walking through the door almost an hour ago.Now that I think about it, she's been preoccupied for the past couple of days. I'm not sure what it means.Maybe nothing.Maybe something.It's the maybe something that concerns me.Even though alt rock plays in the background, her silence feels deafening. I've tried several times to start up a conversation.Each one has stalled.Normally, the girl is a veritable chatterbox. Talking about her day before
HeartLess Chapter 80: Poppy
Book Two: Shameless"Give me your honest opinion." Anne holds up a pale pink blouse at the boutique we've spent the last twenty minutes browsing in. "What do you think of this?"She sent a text the other day, asking if I'd like to do a little shopping and then grab lunch. Since my classes are all scheduled in the morning, I agreed. She's a district attorney for the county, and every so often, she likes to play hooky.Anne came into my life when I was ten years old and still mourning the loss of my mother. She was married and lost her husband to colon cancer a year before Mom died. They met in a support group and struck up a friendship before it eventually turned into something more. I'm glad Dad is married again, and that Anne is the woman in his life. I wouldn't want him to be alone.And neither would Mom."It's really cute." I consider the silky top for a few seconds. "It'll look nice paired with your light gray suit."She flashes a smile before sending me a wink. "My thought
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