Juliana Haygert: Playing Pretend

My heart skipped a beat. Damn, how I wished spring break lasted for at least another week. “I’m having a great time too.” I squeezed his hand. “Come on.”

We walked past the party until we were at the edge of the water. I let go of his hand, took off my shoes, and dipped my toes into the water.

I closed my eyes and enjoyed the gentle breeze brushing my hair back.

Mason stood behind me, close enough that the warmth of his body sent a thrilled shiver down my spine, but not touching.

His fingertips grazed my neck and he swept my hair to the side. He leaned over me and placed a soft kiss on the sweet spot between my neck and my shoulder. I shivered again.

Slowly, Mason wound his arms around me and pulled my flush to his chest. He kissed my neck, right under my ear, and I took a deep breath. I liked this. I liked being here, with my toes in the ocean, with a gorgeous man close to me, with my best friends somewhere nearby. It was simple. Uncomplicated. Almost perfect.

The image of my parents in what they considered perfect flashed in mind. This wasn’t it.

My shoulders sagged.

“What is it?” Mason asked, whispering in my ear.

I wouldn’t let what was across the country spoil my last night in this amazing place. I shut everything out of my mind, focusing on the here and now, and smiled.

“Nothing,” I said, stepping out of his arms and farther into the ocean.

I turned to Mason and bit my lower lip.

His brows shot up. “Hmm, what’s with the naughty look?”

I took another step into the ocean.

“I know!” He offered me a smile of his own. “You’re a mermaid. That’s why you’re entering the water. Are you going to leave me now?”

I laughed, and then kicked the water and showered him.

Mason gasped, pretending to be shocked. “Oh, you’re going down.”

He lunged after me. I squealed and ran from him, as fast as I could with the water on my knees. In no time, his arm circled my waist and he pulled me up. I yelped and laughed, kicking my legs so he would drop me, but he didn’t. Instead, he carried me deeper, until the water was on my waist, then he let me go.

Unprepared, I dropped and my feet slipped on the bottom. I fell back, but not before catching Mason’s shirt and pulling him with me. I heard his chuckle before the water closed around me. His body crashed on mine and we sank a little more. His hands landed on my waist and he pulled us up. Between laughing and taking long gulps of air, Mason pulled me to him. I brushed my hair away from my face, and then did the same to him. My hands lingered on his neck and his eyes met mine. The laugh died and a fire ignited low in my belly. I loved it when he looked at me this way, with hunger and desire in his eyes.

He cupped my cheek and leaned down. His lips met mine, slow and sweet at first, then his tongue invaded my mouth and he took my breath away. Wanting to be as close to him as was humanly possible, I wound my legs around his waist, fitting our hips together. His erection brushed against my pelvis and I gasped.

One of his hands smoothed down my back, temporarily cupped my butt, and then moved to the front. Heat surged through me. However, this wasn’t the time or the place for that. Some heavy kissing? Yeah, okay. But doing that in a public area? Nope.

I jumped down from him.

“Hey!” he protested.

I swam away from him, closer to the shore, and he jumped after me. I giggled and kept on running from him. We played something like tag for a long time, where he ran after me and pretended not to catch me when I kicked water at him, and I ran faster when he threw water at me.

I would miss being this carefree.

Mason

I put Charlotte’s bags inside the trunk, squeezing it in with the other girls’ bags somehow. They had come for only one week but, looking at the bags, I would have guessed they stayed three months.

I closed the trunk and walked to Charlotte, who leaned against the driver’s door waiting for me. Her friends were already inside the car, talking and laughing too loudly.

Charlotte smiled and I held my breath. How could a girl be this beautiful?

“So, that’s it?” I asked, wrapping my arms around her waist.

She slipped her hands over my arms. “That’s it.”

I buried my face in the crook of her neck and inhaled deeply, savoring her intoxicating cherry scent. I would miss this smell. I hated how stupid this was. It had only been a couple of days. I didn’t know her. I didn’t truly like her.

I grazed my lips from her neck to her mouth, and kissed her. A small, quick kiss. Then, I pulled back and retreated a step. “Have a safe trip.”

A deep frown appeared over her pretty eyes. “Thanks. Take care.”

I wanted to stay and watch as she drove way, but that was a ridiculous idea. How many times would I have to tell myself that I didn’t know her? I didn’t truly like her?

I marched away.

Mason

I turned the last corner and saw a car in my driveway. “Shit.”

I thought about turning around and staying away until she gave up and left my house, but only God knew when she would leave, persistent as she was, and I needed my bed since I was tired from the previous night.

A smile crept on my face. Of course I was tired. Charlotte and I must have slept only for two hours, but damn it was worth it. I took a deep breath, wishing her scent would fill my nostrils. Christ. I had to stop thinking about her.

I shoved thoughts of Charlotte out of my mind and made my way into my house.

My parents were nowhere to be seen, but Tamara was seated on the worn beige couch in the family room.

“Hi, Mason,” she said, a small smile on her lips.

I held the front door open. “Leave.”

Losing the smile, she stood. “Please, Mason, talk to me for a minute. Let me explain.”

I laughed. “Explain? As if what I saw needed any explanation.”

She walked toward me. “Let me apologize, then. Please, I didn’t—”

“Don’t even go there.” I pointed to the door. “Leave or I’ll make you leave.”

For a moment, she didn’t move. She just looked at me with puppy eyes, as if that was enough to forgive her. Christ, I didn’t want to have to push her out. I was afraid my rage would get the best of me and I would end up using too much force and hurting her. And, even though I hated her right now, I wasn’t that kind of man.

She averted her eyes, nodded, and left.

“I’m so sorry,” she said as I slammed the door close behind her.

Sorry wasn’t enough.

I rested my forehead against the cool wood and took a deep breath. Way to ruin my perfect week.

I heard her car speeding away and I relaxed, but not as much as I wanted. I needed something strong to drink. If it weren’t so early in the day, I would have grabbed a beer from the fridge. Instead, I turned on the coffeemaker and plopped down on a chair at the kitchen table.

Damn girl ruined my life three weekends ago.

I had plans to spend the weekend away with Matt, taking him to scout colleges in the region, but we ended up coming back earlier than expected, and when I went to her apartment to surprise her, I found her in bed with another guy. She even tried the famous line, “It isn’t what it seems,” but come on! They were naked and moaning and … ugh, I didn’t want to think about it. To make things worse, I found out she cheated on me all the time, and with guys I knew from college. I had dedicated three years of my life to that lying bitch.

That was why I was so happy to fall into Charlotte’s arms. It was as if she was sent by heaven to appease my broken heart. To be my rebound girl. It had worked, on some level. However, I couldn’t stop thinking about her. Even mad at Tamara, I was glad for Charlotte.