Ash rummaged through the freezer, letting out an exaggerated gasp when she found a tub of chocolate ice cream. “Oh, we are best friends for life. You keep premium ice cream stocked? I knew you were the one for me.”I chuckled, shaking my head as she grabbed spoons from the drawer and plopped onto the couch beside me. She handed me one and popped the lid open. “No bowls. We’re eating straight from the tub like the emotionally balanced young adults we are.”I scooped a spoonful, letting the cold sweetness melt on my tongue. “Emotionally balanced, huh?”She waved a hand. “Details.” Then, as if remembering something, she turned to me with a grin. “So, tell me, does this place come with any mysterious, forbidden rooms? Like a secret passage or a wine cellar full of rare vintage bottles?”I raised an eyebrow. “It’s not a haunted house, Ash.”“Disappointing,” she sighed dramatically before shoving a spoonful of ice cream into her mouth.I set my spoon down and leaned back, letting my head re
HAPPINESS’S POVThe car ride back felt longer than it should have. Mason’s grip on the steering wheel was firm, his jaw set, but he didn’t say anything.I didn’t either.I was still trying to sort through everything Gift had said, still trying to make sense of the polite yet pointed conversation we’d had.She hadn’t been cruel. She hadn’t raised her voice.But every of her word had carried weight. And whether she meant to or not, I felt it pressing down on me.The moment Mason pulled into the driveway and parked, I exhaled slowly. My fingers lingered on the seatbelt before I finally unbuckled it.He turned to me. “Happiness…”“I’m fine.” The words slipped out automatically, but even I wasn’t convinced.Mason studied me for a long moment before nodding once. He didn’t argue. He didn’t press. He just reached over, took my hand, and squeezed.I squeezed back before pulling away and stepping out of the car.Inside, I headed straight for the kitchen. I wasn’t hungry, but I needed something
HAPPINESS’S POVThe silence in the car was heavier than it should have been. Mason’s hands gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles tight, his jaw clenched as he focused on the road ahead. He hadn’t said much since his mother’s call, but I could feel the tension radiating off him.“She won’t do anything to hurt you,” he finally said, breaking the silence.I swallowed, watching the trees blur past the window. “I know.”But that wasn’t the real concern, was it? It wasn’t about outright harm. It was about the unspoken words, the careful, measured tone that could cut just as deeply.Mason sighed, running a hand through his hair. “If you don’t want to go, you don’t have to.”I turned to him, searching his expression. “And what would that say about me?”His lips pressed into a thin line. “That you don’t have to prove anything to anyone.”Maybe he believed that. Maybe he wanted to. But we both knew this was something I couldn’t avoid forever. If I was going to be in his life, I had to face t
HAPPINESS’S POVThe morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. I stirred, blinking against the warmth of the sunlight as I became aware of the steady rise and fall of Mason’s breathing beside me.He was still asleep, his arm loosely draped over my waist, his body warm and solid against mine. I stayed still for a moment, listening to the quiet, trying to gather my thoughts.Last night, Mason hadn’t pushed me. He had simply been there, his presence steady, his touch reassuring. And somehow, that had made it harder to keep everything bottled up.I turned slightly, careful not to wake him, but as soon as I moved, his hold tightened.“Where are you going?” His voice was thick with sleep, his eyes barely open.“I thought you were asleep.”He hummed, shifting onto his back but keeping his hand on my hip. “I was. You okay?”I hesitated.I wanted to say yes. To brush it off like I did yesterday. But I couldn’t. Not this time.I swallowed, my fingers playi
MASON’S POVThe house was quiet when I got back. Too quiet.Happiness’s shoes were by the door, so I knew she was home, but I didn’t hear anything. There was no movement, no humming from the kitchen, nothing.I set my keys down, shrugging off my jacket as I walked further inside. The living room lights were dim, casting soft shadows across the walls. Then I saw her.She was curled up on the couch, knees pulled to her chest, staring at her phone screen with a look I couldn’t quite place. She didn’t notice me at first.I took a slow breath.James was right. Pushing her wouldn’t work. If I wanted her to talk, to trust me with whatever was weighing on her, I had to show her that she didn’t have to do this alone.So, I moved carefully.“Hey,” I murmured, settling down beside her.She blinked, startled, before quickly locking her phone and forcing a small smile. “Hey.”That smile didn’t reach her eyes.I didn’t say anything at first, just reached out and tucked a loose strand of hair behind
MASON'S POVThe bedroom was quiet, the only sound was the steady rhythm of Happiness’s breathing. The city lights filtered through the curtains, casting soft shadows on the walls. She was curled up beside me, her back to my chest, her body warm but stiff—like she was here, but not really.I stared at the ceiling, replaying the night over and over.Something changed. I felt it the moment we left the party, the way she looked out the window instead of at me, the way her words were carefully measured, distant.She probably thought I didn’t notice. She was wrong.I reached out, letting my fingers trail lightly over her arm. She didn’t move, didn’t lean into my touch like she normally would.That tiny reaction, or the lack of it, gnawed at me.I exhaled slowly, my jaw tightening.Did someone say something to her?Had I done something wrong?I had tried to ask, but she shut me down with dismissive answers. Lies wrapped in soft words.I wanted to push, to demand the truth from her lips. But