It Takes Two Book 6 Read Free

over the blocked off area. A news van had parked a little ways down the road. Obviously a slow news night. I cringed at the thought of hearing the details on the television. I needed to know for myself. I needed to reach Mason or Natalie.
    This isn’t over . That’s what Jake had said the day Mason had scared him away from my apartment. Is this what he had meant? Had he been trying to kill Mason, giving Stacey his alibi of wanting to see me? I glanced around, suddenly feeling watched. If Jake had really done this...I shivered as the breeze picked up a little.
    I checked my phone again. Nothing. My fingers hovered over Mason’s name, but I decided against calling him.
    I needed to see him, to make sure he was okay.
    * * * *
    When I arrived at the mansion, it was late. The building was lit up as usual, looking ready for a mixer, but only a few cars were in the driveway. I felt disgusting, still wearing my greasy, smelly clothes from the bar. My hands shook as I brought my fist up to the door, pounding on it, hoping someone would hear.
    No one answered. I turned around, sagging against the door, defeated. Where was everyone? Hunter, Natalie? And most of all, where was Mason? I checked my phone again, nothing. The backs of my eyes had begun to hurt from the strain, and I closed them, wishing I could get away from this nightmare completely just by knowing that Mason was safe and well.
    The door opened as I stumbled backward, losing my balance and then catching myself.
    “Natalie.”
    Natalie’s eyes looked puffy and tired. She stared down at me coldly. “Harper. Can I help you?”
    “Haven’t you got any of my calls?”
    “I haven’t been around my phone, much.”
    “Mason—Asher,” I stumbled over my words, not knowing what to call him. “Where is he? Please, tell me he’s okay?”
    “I—” Natalie hesitated. I froze, waiting for her answer.
    “Please, Natalie,” I begged, feeling desperation creep into my voice.
    “Asher is okay. He will be, at least.”
    My vision spun as relief flooded through me. “What happened?”
    “He got hit in the head. Really hard.”
    “But... By who?”
    She glared at me, the lights of the mansion reflecting off the intense stare. “I don’t know. He went to visit you. You tell me.”
    I stiffened a little. “Are you trying to say this is my fault?”
    “You take it how you want to take it.”
    I slumped, thinking as I looked down at the ground. Maybe I was to blame for this entire thing. If Jake really had done this to Mason, it had been my fault in the first place for ever letting the two interact. And, if Mason hadn’t been trying to win me back at the bar, he wouldn’t have been there at all.
    “Does... Does he know who did this to him?”
    “He can’t remember. He’s got a concussion. We’ll talk to you later, Harper.” Natalie began to close the door. I pressed my palm up against it, holding it open.
    “Can’t I at least see him?”
    “Just leave him alone. He needs to rest and stay away from the drama for a while.”
    I backed away, watching as she shut the huge door behind her. I felt relieved he was alive, but lost at the same time.
    * * * *
    “Welcome home! How was life at the bar?” Avery asked, giggling. She was curled up on the couch, watching some crappy TV show and drinking a glass of wine.
    I dropped my things in the doorway, clenching my phone in my hand, just in case. My tears, even after all this time, had still not gone away. They came back in full force, burning their way down my cheeks. I heard Avery approach, her slippers slapping against the floor. People laughed on the TV and the mere thought of happiness stabbed at my heart.
    “What’s wrong?” Avery stood in front of me, her eyes wide and head tilted, trying to read me.
    I looked at her and burst into sobs, leaning up against the wall. “It’s Mason.”

Mason
    Harper. Her caramel hair fell over her naked shoulders as she took it out of her ponytail, her eyes never leaving mine