Page 33 of The Spare

Don't Let Go

I'm in class the next morning trying to work on this pop quiz our professor surprised us all with when my phone vibrates with an incoming message. I flick my eyes around and sink deeper in my seat.

Opening it, I turn the brightness down in an attempt to be discrete, and I nibble my lip, seeing three missed texts from Mason.

Why didn't you answer the phone last night? -Mase

Hey, why're you ignoring me? -Mase

Melody! -Mason

Oh, you're using yourfullname now on your sign offs? Must be mad at me. -Mel

I'm about to come up there! Pay attention to me. -Mase

I roll my eyes, laughing quietly behind my hand and try to hide my phone behind my purse as I work to reply.

What? I'm in class, Mason! -Mel

I don't care. -Mase

I can't just walk over to my in-office lounge with a drink and scroll and text. I have to concentrate. -Mel

You can spare me two minutes. I have a question for you. -Mase

Whaaattt? Out with it! -Mel

Let's go dancing at that nightclub on thirty-fifth tonight. -Mase

My heart skips a beat, and I flush so warm I look up in a panic, wondering if anyone heard my shocked inhale. What I want to reply is “Why?” but though he said it was a question, he phrased it as astatement.So, I decide to take the bone the universe has just given me and say instead:

Sounds like a good time. What time? -Mel

I put my phone away and attempt to focus on my quiz, but truthfully my mind is everywhere and anywhere but on what I need to be focused on.

At the end of the class I check my grade, seeing I've failed the quiz.

Ugghhhhh.

I'm irritated. Pissed at myself that I can't get this man out of my head long enough to pass a pop quiz. However, soon I begin to look forward to going out tonight because I know it'll make me feel better about my bad grade. And I'd do anything to dance with Mason.

Mason gives me a devilish smile as he leans against the side of his red Ferrari, parked illegally of course, as I make my way across the street, being careful of any cars or random students on bikes and scooters. I'm decked out in too-short shorts and a crop top, my hair flows long and wavy down my back, and I topped the look off with a pair of kick-ass heels.

I still barely make it to his chin.

"Hey, butterfly.Damn you look good,"he says giving me a whistle, causing me to melt.

I roll my eyes. "You're such a gentleman," I tease, putting a little pep in my step as I get closer. He pushes off the car when I get close and snatches me up, giving me another thorough once over as he pulls me to him for a quick hug.

"Hmm," he hums, running his nose along my ear. "I'm not always gentle, Mel," he says in a sexy low voice, wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me harder against him. "Remember that."

My heart thumps hard at his words, and my pussy twitches with excitement at what the hell he could mean by that.

"Whatever,"I scoff playfully, but I really want to ask him to show me.

I wrap my arms around him, about to risk it all and embarrass myself by asking him, but the way he smells has me captivated as well, and I lean even more into him to get my fix of my little secret.

Our hug doesn't last long, though, before he's guiding me to the passenger side and opening the door for me. The excited energy rolls off him in waves, and there's a spark in his eye I haven't seen in a while. It's nice to see, because I know the tension in his family has been high.