Mason (Trinity Academy Book 2) Page 9

  “You were the best sister,” I whisper.

  I go to sit down on her bed and keep staring at her face.

  “Would you hate me if I moved on?”

  Hearing movement, my head snaps up. My mother’s leaning against the door jamb. There’s a soft smile around her mouth, and I can’t even remember when last I saw it.

  She glances around the room, then says, “I wanted to put her things in storage but waited for you to come to say goodbye.”

  “Storage?” I ask, not liking the sound of that.

  “Yes.” Mom walks closer and sits down next to me. She leans in and looks at the photo. “This room feels like a tomb. I don’t want to remember Jennifer this way – as if time has frozen.”

  Mom brings her eyes to my face, and she smiles warmly. Reaching for my hair, she brushes her fingers through it, and it makes emotion well in my chest.

  Tears begin to fill her eyes, and with a trembling voice, she whispers, “It’s time I focus on my son. He’s still here with me.”

  I can’t keep the emotion from engulfing me, and it makes a tear roll over my cheek.

  Mom lets out a shaky breath, and she wipes my tear away with the gentle touch I’ve missed for so long.

  “I’m sorry I was such a shitty mother when you needed me most.”

  “You had your own pain,” I whisper.

  She shakes her head. “You’re my child, and you should’ve come first.”

  Dropping her hand to mine, she pulls the photo from my fingers and sets it aside, before holding my hand tightly.

  “Jennifer will always be my daughter, my perfect angel. Moving on doesn’t mean we’re forgetting her. She’ll always be a part of who we are because she helped shape us.”

  Mom brings her other hand to my chest and pats over my heart. “Carry her here and live the life she wanted for you.” Moving her hand to my hair, she again brushes her fingers through the strands. “Don’t carry her here where you’re trapped in the past.”

  Another tear sneaks down my cheek and closing my eyes, I let the peace which only my mother’s touch can give me, fill my heart.

  When my shoulders shudder under the heavyweight of the emotions, Mom wraps her arms around me, and rubbing her hand over my back, she whispers, “It’s okay, Mace. I just got lost, but I’m here now. Mom’s here.”

  Sitting at the table out on the patio, I watch my father grill steaks.

  “Since when do you grill?” I ask, still shocked by seeing my father make food. “Is it going to be edible?”

  Dad turns around and points at me with the tongs. “It’s a new hobby.”

  Mom lets out a chuckle. “He has grilled just about everything.” She lets out a snort of laughter, and I can only stare at her in awe. “He tried to grill marshmallows.” She cracks up, unable to tell me the rest of the story.

  Dad let’s out a sigh. “What your mother is trying to tell you is that I tried to roast marshmallows, but it melted, and the entire grill was a mess.”

  “A mess?” Mom squeezes out. “You had to get a new grill!”

  I sit back and smile as I watch my parents. There’s a sweet ache in my chest, seeing them the way they were before Jen’s passing.

  Piece by piece.

  Kingsley

  We’ve just gotten back to campus, and I feel a million times better. Spending time with Layla has grounded me.

  We stop outside my dorm, and I pull Layla into a hug. “Thanks, my bestie. I had a great time,” I whisper, tightening my hold on her for a second before I pull back.

  “We have to do this again, and soon. I want to finish watching Grace & Frankie.” She chuckles, “I can just see the two of us being like them when we’re old.”

  “Yeah,” I agree. “I’d probably be the one smoking weed.”

  Layla laughs, then gives my arm a squeeze. “Let me go give my man some tender love and care. I’ll see you in class tomorrow.”

  “Enjoy the TLC.” I wag my eyebrows at her and smiling, I walk into the building.

  My smile dies a quick death when I see Serena walking towards me.

  Her lips form a well-rehearsed smile. “I didn’t know you went away for the weekend.”

  “Yeah.”

  I begin to walk toward my suite when Serena grabs hold of my arm. “Please take a walk with me. If we’re going to stop being friends, I’d like to hear the reason for it.”

  If she wants to have this conversation then so be it, but she’s not going to like what I have to say. Not wanting her in my suite, I nod. “Let me just throw my bag in my room.”

  She waits as I quickly open the door and toss the bag inside. When I get back to her, I gesture for her to lead the way.

  Leaving the dorm, we walk toward the restaurant.

  “So, you’re really going to end our friendship because I don’t get along with Falcon’s assistant?”

  Frowning, I correct her, “Her name is Layla. You know the girl Falcon’s in a serious relationship with? My best friend?”

  “Whatever,” she snubs my words away, then taking hold of my arm, she pulls me toward the indoor pool. “I can see this is not going to be a civil conversation, so let’s go where the other students won’t hear us arguing. I don’t want them seeing how much it will break my heart to lose you.”

  Huh?

  “Did you drink?” I ask her as we walk into the room. Not liking the darkness, I turn on the light while Serena goes to stand by the pool and stares at the water. I stop a couple of steps behind her and cross my arms over my chest.

  “It’s funny how quickly I was rejected when she came to Trinity,” Serena murmurs.

  “It’s not because of Layla. You’re not a nice person, Serena. People have to jump through hoops to please you.”

  She turns around and begins to sneer, the oh-woe-is-me act gone. “You’re so great now that Mason is paying some attention to you? Do you honestly believe Mason will ever be with a girl like you?”

  That was such a quick change of topic, I stare at her as I try to process it.

  “We’re not talking about Mason and me. We’re talking about why I won’t be friends with you any longer.”

  She ignores my words, and taking a step closer to me, she smugly says, “You know I’m more his type.”

  “Right. I must’ve forgotten the two of you were on good terms,” I reply, a cynical smirk forming on my face.

  “We were,” she says, and for a moment she just stares at me. “Until you and that assistant came along, I had them eating out of the palm of my hand.”

  “Them? Did you change the subject again? Because we’re definitely not talking about Falcon, Mason, and Lake right now.” I take a step closer to her. “You need to accept none of the heirs to CRC will ever be interested in you.”

  Her mouth pulls down at the corners, and her eyes sweep over me with disdain. “As if any of them will even look at you twice. Money certainly can’t buy class.”

  “I’m done having this conversation with you. Stay away from my friends, Serena. I might not be as wealthy as you, but I give a mean bitch-slap.”

  Before I can turn to leave, she grabs my arm and yanks me toward her. It catches me off guard, and as I stumble, she steps to the side.

  Shit, she wouldn’t.

  Shock vibrates through me when she shoves me into the pool.

  I see the smirk on her face.

  The gleam in her eyes.

  And then the water closes around me before I can take a breath.

  Chapter 15

  Mason

  I just got back to campus, and see Layla coming out of the dorm.

  “You’re back,” I say as I catch up to her. “Are you heading to the restaurant?”

  “Yeah, we got back five minutes ago. I just called Falcon, and he’s busy feeding Lake. Have you eaten?” she asks as we begin to walk.

  “My father tried to grill steaks.” I shudder when I think of the overdone steak. “He wasn’t very successful, so I’m starving.”

&nbs
p; “Besides starving, did you have a nice day with your parents?” Layla asks.

  I’m surprised how easy it is to admit to her. “Yeah, I did.”

  She pats me on the arm. “I’m really glad to hear that, Mason.”

  I look at Layla, and I think it’s the first time I actually smile at her. “Have I told you I think you’re a great person?”

  “You have now,” she grins, then she teases, “But if you want to tell me some more, I won’t stop you.”

  “I’m glad Falcon has you.”

  “Thanks, Mason. It means a lot coming from you.”

  She sees something behind me and ducks to her left, using me to hide behind. “Don’t move. It’s Serena,” she whispers. “Hopefully she won’t see us.”

  A full-blown smile stretches over my face as I watch Layla peek around my right side.

  Then she straightens up. “The coast is clear.”

  I chuckle. “Come on, let’s go see what the guys are up to.”

  “Well, Lake’s probably up to his neck in pizza.”

  “True, very true.”

  I glance around us as we walk, and through the windows of the indoor pool movement in the water catches my eye.

  “Isn’t that Lake’s assistant?” I ask Layla. “The guy in the pool. What’s his name again?”

  “To be honest, I don’t know. I haven’t seen him since the ball, and he wasn’t introduced to me.”

  “It was a soiree,” I correct her.

  “Dude, that was a ball,” she argues wryly, then she frowns as she glances past me to the pool house. “It looks like he needs help.”

  Layla begins to walk toward the pool, and I follow right behind her.

  The guy must see us, because he starts to yell, “Help! I need help!”

  Instinctively I shoot forward, running until I get to closer to the pool. “Are you okay?” I ask as I get close to him.

  “She drowned,” the guy cries, panic all over his face. “I can’t lift her out.”

  Fuck.

  Luckily, the guy has her head resting on his shoulder, but all I can see is wet black hair. Crouching by the edge of the pool, I reach down and hooking my hands under her arms, I pull her up.

  “What happened?” Layla asks.

  “Call security. Tell them to hurry over,” I say to Layla before I move back so I can get the girl totally out of the water.

  “Tell them a girl –” As I lay her down, my eyes dart to her face, and the shock hits so fucking hard, it knocks me onto my ass.

  It’s only a second, and then adrenaline clears my head at lightning speed. I dart forward and wipe the hair away from her face. “Hunt!”

  Her lips are blue.

  Fuck, no.

  My head swings to Layla who’s standing frozen, her eyes huge on her friend. “Make the call, Layla!” I shout, and it snaps her out of the moment of shock.

  Touching my fingers to Kingsley’s pulse, dread creeps over me when I can’t feel anything. I move my hands to her chest and begin with compressions.

  I’ve had some first aid training because we like to go surfing, but fuck, that was a couple of years ago.

  “Shouldn’t we give her air?” Layla asks as she kneels on the other side of Kingsley.

  I stop pressing on Kingsley’s chest and blow two breaths into her mouth before I resume the compressions. My words are breathless from fear, as I ask, “Is security coming?”

  “Yes.”

  My eyes go to Kingsley’s face and seeing her blue lips again, make horrifying shivers race over my body.

  Don’t die.

  Please.

  Don’t die.

  I press harder on her chest, and as time crawls by, I keep pushing harder, unwilling to give up.

  “Come on, Hunt,” I whisper. “Hold on.”

  Layla picks up Kingsley’s hand and holds it to her chest while sobs wrack her body.

  I’ve forgotten about Lake’s assistant until I hear him scream “Over here! She’s over here!”

  Seconds later, Layla moves out of the way, and a security guard takes her place. “Let me take over,” he instructs.

  I can’t bring myself to stop, and Layla has to grab hold of me and pull me away. She doesn’t let go of me, keeping her arms wrapped around me as she cries against my back.

  I feel paralyzed as I watch the security guard work on Kingsley.

  How did this happen?

  Why?

  Why Kingsley?

  Thoughts swamp my mind only adding to the torture.

  She’s so fucking young.

  She had so much life in her.

  I can’t stand the thought that I’ll never see her smile again. I’ll never hear her laughter again.

  Time warps as more people rush into the room.

  I stare at Kingsley’s face until she becomes a blur as tears flood my eyes.

  It feels like I’ve lost something important.

  Numbly, I reach for her hand, and when I feel how cold her skin is, my heart shatters.

  This girl. Oh, God.

  This girl has been torn from my heart, and I didn’t even know she’d filled it with her cheerfulness.

  Fuck, I’d give anything to have her open those blue eyes and to hear her sass me.

  I’d give my life, because what is life when the sun has been ripped from the sky?

  I can’t remember the trip to the hospital or what happened the two days after Kingsley was admitted. I can’t remember anything but Kingsley’s pale face.

  She looked like death.

  Sitting next to her bed in the private room her father arranged for her, I hold her hand between both of mine unable to tear my eyes away from her face.

  I’m just glad Dr. Hunt allowed us to stay with Kingsley. He’s been here whenever he could get away from work. I don’t know how he’s able to function while his daughter almost drowned, and she hasn’t woken yet.

  Every breath the machine forces into her.

  Every beep echoing her heart.

  It’s torture. It’s fucking killing me.

  “Mason.” Falcon places his hand on my shoulder. “Can I get you anything?”

  I blink, and it makes my eyes burn. “No,” I whisper.

  He walks to the other side of the bed and hugs Layla to him. I hear her start to cry again. I wasn’t even aware she stopped.

  “Shh… I’ve got you,” he whispers to her.

  “How?” Layla whimpers. “How did this happen? I saw her walk into her dorm. Why would she go to the pool?”

  “She’ll tell us what happened when she wakes up,” Falcon whispers.

  I feel a hand on my shoulder, and I don’t have to look to know it’s Lake.

  “You were right.” My voice sounds raw. “I was in denial.”

  Lake wraps his arm around me from behind.

  My breathing begins to speed up, and pressing my forehead to her fingers, I whisper, “I won’t survive it a second time.” My body begins to shiver uncontrollably as futile hopelessness seeps into my heart.

  “She’s going to wake up,” Lake whispers right by my ear. “Kingsley’s a fighter. She will wake up.”

  Fuck. Please let Lake be right.

  Please.

  I want the chance to see the surprise on her face when I tell her the impossible happened. I fell for a feisty girl with zero style. I fell for the smile, which used to annoy me.

  I fucking fell… too late.

  Chapter 16

  Mason

  I’m not sure where the others went, but the room is quiet with only the sounds coming from the life support.

  Even though the doctors said all the tests suggested there should be no permanent damage, I can’t help but fear for the worst.

  I lean my cheek against the back of her hand. “I need you to wake up.” I swallow hard on the lump that’s stuck in my throat since I pulled her out of the water. “Open your eyes.” I stare at her face, looking for any hint that she can hear me.

  “Kingsley,” I whisper.
“Please.”

  When her fingers lightly move in my hands, my breath is knocked from my lungs.

  “Did you just move?” I dart from the chair and sit on the side of the bed. Bracing my hands on either side of her head, I lean closer. My eyes search her face for a sign that she’s waking up.

  Seconds become minutes, and the brief hope I felt is crushed. I want her to wake up so badly, I must’ve imagined it.

  Then her eyes flutter, and when she finally opens them, it feels like the sun is breaking through the long dark night that’s been my life for the past three days.

  I reach down for her hand and holding it, I ask, “Can you hear me? Just squeeze.”

  Her fingers stir weakly, but it’s enough to make relief chase the dread away, making me feel dizzy.

  Her eyes drift closed, and I bring her fingers to my mouth, pressing a kiss against them.

  Thank you.

  Fuck. Thank you for not dying.

  The door opens, and Falcon comes in with Layla right behind him

  “Did something happen?” he asks because I’m still sitting on the bed.

  A thankful smile tugs at my lips. “She opened her eyes. She indicated that she could hear me.”

  “She did!” Layla darts past Falcon and grabs Kingsley’s other hand. “She woke up?” she asks me, a hopeful look on her face.

  I nod, and moving back to the chair, I rest my forehead against the bed. “She woke up.”

  Placing Kingsley’s hand back down, Layla says, “I’ll go get a nurse.”

  I didn’t even think to do that.

  Minutes later, Layla returns with a nurse, who checks Kingsley’s vital signs.

  “We’ll check with the doctor to see if the tubes can come out,” the nurse mentions. When she sees my worried eyes on her, she adds, “It’s a good sign that she woke up, but it’s still early days. All you can do now is wait and let her heal.”

  I know she’s right, but it doesn’t make the waiting any easier.

  Kingsley

  For the longest time, it feels as if I swallowed so much water, it drowned my brain. Everything is blurry.