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It was a three-hour drive from the hospital to Ginny’s new apartment. Ambivalence weighed heavily on Mason. The past few days lasted an eternity, and yet, it was all about to be over.
Neither of them talked much on the ride. It was late when the discharged him, and almost two in the morning when they reached her place.
She dug a keyring with a single key from her pocket, and unlocked the front door. “Home sweet home.” She pushed inside and flipped on the light.
It was sparsely furnished, and Mason didn’t care one way or the other. They wandered into the bedroom to find a simple setup. Dresser, nightstand, and barren bed.
“I didn’t bring much with me. You’ve seen my duffel bag. But I’m happy to bundle up and pass out on any soft surface I can find,” she said.
“I have bedding in the car.”
“Tell me where and I can get it.”
He rested a hand on her arm. “Your day’s been as long as mine, but I got to sleep through chunks of it. Stay here. I’ll be right back.”
When he returned from his car, appropriate box in his grasp, he found her dozing on the couch. She started awake when he closed the front door.
They made the bed, not exchanging any more words than they had on the drive here.
When she dropped onto the mattress and patted the spot next to her, he had zero desire to argue. He curled up behind her, wrapped an arm around her waist, and let the exhaustion sink in.
****
GINNY PUT AWAY THE groceries, except for the oatmeal and Jell-O. A happy tune had been humming in her head since she woke up next to Mason.
“Hey.” His sleepy voice caught her off-guard.
She whirled to see him at the edge of the kitchen, his hair mussed from sleep. He looked really sexy like that.
“Morning.” She smiled. “Or... afternoon.”
“I thought you weren’t supposed to leave me alone.” He’d been asleep when she went out.
“Your personal doctor—me—determined you’d be okay for half an hour while I picked up some essentials.” She wouldn’t have considered it if the hospital doctor hadn’t cleared it.
“You’re not that kind of doctor,” Mason said.
“Are you complaining?”
“No. Double no if I can eat. I’m starving.”
“You have to start with bland, simple foods first.” She set a cup of Jell-O on the table between them. “If you do okay with it, then we’ll order Chinese food. The girl at the grocery store gave me the number of a place she swears is all authentic and all amazing.”
He made a show of holding his gut. “I may not make it until then just on Jell-O.” His groan was exaggerated.
She laughed. It felt good to have the room to relax. “You’ll survive.”
“Is that your professional assessment?”
“Yes. Dr. Ginny says eat your Jell-O, watch a movie with me, and it’ll be fine.”
“Yes, ma’am. What are we watching?”
She hadn’t been prepared for that question. Between work and school, she’d spent years building a mental list of I’ll watch that when I have time, and now she couldn’t think of a single one.
“You promised me a viewing of Clueless.”
“You remembered that?” She’d said it in passing. It was an old comparison to her old life and she rarely put much thought into the movie reference.
He looked at her with disbelief. “It was about you. I’ve devoured every piece for information you’ve given me about yourself, like a man being given Chinese food after being forced to survive on Jell-O.”
Ginny didn’t know how to respond. Warmth and embarrassment rushed inside. “Oh.”
“I even remember what you told me about how you were acting in front of Giovanni, which, by the way, I’m sorry about the way I reacted. I’m going to blame it a little on the headache and dehydration, but mostly on jealousy.”
She ducked her head. “It’s okay. You explained the why and I understand. I’m glad you gave me a chance to explain myself.”
“Me too.” He grasped her hand and tugged her toward the living room. “Clueless?”
That pretty much described how she felt right now. She dealt with attention every day, but this, coming from Mason, it was sincere. It was sweet. And there was no expectation behind it besides that she hear him.
She didn’t know what to do with that. “We have to watch on my laptop, no TV”—duh, he could see that—“I hope that’s all right.”
“It’s exactly what I’ll be living in my own place.” He faltered.
She felt it in her gut. Because this was her home, not his. “Movie time.” Her voice was too bright to her own ears.
She set her computer on the coffee table, started the movie, and settled back. It felt natural to sit next to Mason, arm pressed against his and her head resting on his shoulder.
This wouldn’t last. It couldn’t.
Why not? I’m not going to even give it a try?
The thought moved in and took up space. Mason laughed through large parts of the movie, but half of Ginny was stuck in her own head rather than appreciating the show.
They needed to get closer to friendship first. But that wouldn’t happen if he left in few days.
He’ll only live a few hours away. We can be friends over the internet.
But they wouldn’t be dating.
Do I want to be?
She wouldn’t mind. But what if it didn’t work out?
Then it was what it was. She couldn’t walk away from this because it might not last. It was fun now, aside from the arguments and they were getting better with those, and it wasn't damaging.
“You see yourself as Cher?” Mason’s question drew her from the rambling thoughts.
The credits were rolling. At least one of them watched. “Duh.”
“Nope. Can’t see it.”
“Really.” Her tone was flat, but she wasn’t annoyed. She was curious about his line of thought.
He shook his head. “You’re more like Tai. Perfect the way you are. Changing sometimes for the people around you, but overall realizing you’re happy liking what you like and falling for your skater boy.”
That was disturbingly insightful. She liked it. “I don’t know any skater boys.”
“I kick some serious ass at Tony Hawk Pro Skater 4.” Mason raised his hand.
Yeah, she needed to keep him in her life. At least as a friend. Maybe more. “I was thinking...” An unfamiliar doubt and shyness gripped her. What if he told her not with a stupid stripper. This was only temporary.
Then he did. But he wouldn’t say that.
“Thinking what?” Mason nudged.
“Are we friends?”
He cocked his head to the side and raised an eyebrow. “I hope so.”
That helped. “If you want, you can stay here while you look for work. I know it’s a long hike down to L.A., but if you schedule things right, you can hit different parts of the state on different days for interviews, maybe wander up into Oregon, or over to Nevada as you need. Not that I think it’ll take you long to find something.”
Shit. What if it didn’t take long at all?
They weren’t moving in together. Not after knowing each other for less than a week. This was a temporary arrangement.
They could figure out the rest as it happened. For now, she’d get to keep him around.
“If you’re sure...” Mason said.
“You know I wouldn’t have offered otherwise.”
“Good point.”
She gestured toward the other half of the apartment. “Guest room is free...” Which meant he wouldn’t be sleeping in her bed. Two nights together and she already didn’t want to give it up. If she asked him to stay in her room instead, would that be a mistake? Did pushing him into the guest room send a message she didn’t want to?
When did friendship get so complicated? Maybe it was a good thing she didn’t date.