Where did the love go? Are you not interested any longer? Changes are coming - trust me on that.

Also, on a personal note, for the next week or so, updates may be more sporadic. I lost my father sort of unexpectedly last night and have no idea how I'm putting one foot in front of the other right now.

xo

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Take Two

Chapter 37

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The blonde took a shaky breath as she re-read the message on her cell phone. She did not need to save the number in to the device, but she knew who it was.

Mason.

Dinner. 8 o'clock. Italian restaurant in the Square.

She had not missed him ordering her around over the last seven months. This was how text conversations usually happened between the pair. He would send his plans and orders and she was expected to obey them.

But this wasn't Los Angeles – this was her new turf. She was not planning to play by his rules this time.

And tell Agent Morgan to stay out of this.

The second message arrived, causing her to clench the opposite fist than the one holding her cell. Piper's words replayed in her mind; 'go back to LA and expose him'. She fought with the idea of it all week.

Whitney knew Mason would be the one to make contact first. She was honestly surprised that it took him almost a week to text her, but she had been expecting something from him.

She tapped her nails against her steering wheel and waited for the clock to turn. Derek was parked in the back of the lot, closest to the shopping center, but had a clear view of the front door to the restaurant.

The blonde knew better than to be late for their reservation. She could almost feel her arm being twisted behind her back again from the one time she was running late for their dinner reservation in LA.

Whitney ran her hand over the wrist Mason had fractured two years ago before letting out another sigh. It was ironically the wrist that she had her wing tattooed on; her symbol of being free from him.

She cast one last look at her cell phone and attempted a smile as she read a text from Derek. Two words that made her heart rate quicken, but cleared her mind from the haze she had been in since she received the original messages hours before.

Be safe.

She nodded, though he could not see her. Whitney killed the ignition of the car and grabbed her wallet and keys before stepping out of the vehicle.

Every step felt like it took all of the energy out of her. Her body screamed to run towards Derek's vehicle, but she told herself that she needed to see this through.

She was able to prepare to see this man, and though he was not the person she wanted to share a meal with this evening, she knew it had to be done.

She plastered a smile to her face as she pulled open the front door. Derek sighed in his truck as she stepped out of his view.

Whitney released one last deep breath before stepping up to the hostess stand. "Good evening," the young hostess welcomed. "How many are there in your party?"

"I'm meeting someone," Whitney answered softly. "It should be under Rivers." She licked her lips as the petite brunette scanned the list.

She nodded. "Yes," she answered. "Right this way."

Just as the two started in to the dining room, Whitney stopped the hostess. "I see him," she said, her smile still in tact though it caused her stomach to turn. "Thank you."

The hostess nodded once more before heading back to her post. Whitney forced air in to her lungs before continuing towards the brunette sitting in the corner of the restaurant. She kept her eyes on him, trying her best to keep from looking around the rest of the dining room.

"Whitney," Mason said softly. His voice tricked her; it was so sickly sweet, and she was used to the harsh tone he liked to use with her. "Please," he gestured to the seat across from him; a seat with her back to the rest of the restaurant.

She kept up her smile and nodded. "Thank you," she answered in a similar tone. Her own voice sounded foreign to her. She pulled out the seat and sat down across from the man she spent the last nine years married to. "It's good to see you."

Mason pursed his lips. "That's not true," he answered with a raised eyebrow. "I thought I told you to never lie to me, Whitney."

Her cell phone sat in her back pocket, and she clasped her hands over her wallet in her lap. "We need to talk," she said abruptly. She quickly closed her mouth as the words were coming out quicker than she was able to process them.

"We have all night to talk," he reminded her. The wink he sent in her direction caused her stomach to flip. She reached for the glass of water on the table to try to erase the thought of the bile in her throat. "We are going to have a nice dinner," he continued. "After all, I haven't seen my wife in over six months."

Whitney bit on the inside of her mouth to keep her thoughts at bay. Instead she forced her lips in to a tight smile. "You're right," she agreed. "It's been a while since we've had dinner together."

"Where's the boyfriend?" Mason asked bluntly as he looked around the restaurant. "I would have bet he'd have followed you in here."

"He's not my boyfriend," she answered softly. She fought to not lose her composure now. "He's just-"

Mason held his hand up and shook his head. "The guy you've been sleeping with since you ran away from home."

Whitney tightened her grip on her wallet and cringed at how he looked at her. In seconds, the cordial expression on his face had turned cold. "Mason," she sighed as she said his name. "LA isn't my home anymore."

The chuckle that came out his mouth reminded her of horror films. She braced herself for the lashing she knew she was going to receive. "Los Angeles is your home," he reiterated. "And you need to come back, to our home, and to me."

She shook her head. "I can't," she mumbled. Her palms were starting to sweat. "I can't be your punching bag anymore." She knew she sounded weak, but it was her truth.

Whitney tried to hold her head up and fought to hold the tear in the corner of her eye at bay. "Don't put on the theatrics now, Whitney," he warned. "We both know you're a horrendous actress."

She forced herself up straighter in her seat. "You need to accept that I'm not coming back to LA, unless it's to finalize a divorce."

"You're dumber than I thought you were," he spat. Whitney only shrugged at his words. She tried her best to let them slide. "I gave you everything." She forced a neutral look to her face.

She shook her head. "For a while, yes," she agreed. "And then you changed, and I honestly don't like the man you became."

She froze as he reached across the table to place a hand on top of hers. "Do you know how difficult it is for me? Do you even care?"

"What is difficult?" Whitney tried to refrain from rolling her eyes. "Beating me up? Was that 'difficult' because you certainly seemed to enjoy yourself."

Her lips were drying out; she knew Derek was able to hear their entire conversation, and the thought of him listening was making her sick. "I never enjoyed keeping you in line, Whit."

She wished away the bile in her throat once more at the nickname. It sounded so different than how Derek would say it. "Keeping me in line? What am I – a dog?"

She braced herself as she could feel his fingers wrap tightly around her hand. The waitress started towards their table, but the glare Mason shot in her direction caused her to turn around and head back towards the kitchen. "I'm not surprised that you found a poor sap like Morgan as soon as you got out here. You've always been one to sleep around."

Her laugh caught him off guard. "Wow," she exhaled. "After all of these years, you still believe the lies of your 'friends'?"

Mason grinned in her direction. "It's time to be honest with me," he continued. "Just admit that you slept with him, and we can put this all behind us."

"I'm putting you behind me," she spat back. "I'm done, Mason."

He shook his head. "You're done when I saw you're done," he threatened. His let his facial expressions soften as he ran his fingers over her knuckles. "I was willing to make a deal with you – so you could stay here – but if you're going to be so damn stubborn, that won't happen."

"There is no deal to be made," she scoffed. "I've forgiven you for a lot, Mason, but I can't do that anymore."

She fought to not get lost in those green eyes again; they were always her downfall. "I did some terrible things, my love," he admitted as he hung his head just a bit. "And you didn't deserve all of them." She had to take a deep breath and talk herself out of rolling her eyes. "But you are my wife."

"I may be your wife in writing, Mason, but the second you put your hands on me, you lost me." She choked on the emotion coming out, but blinked repeatedly to not cry. "You left me bleeding and broken more times than I could possibly count."

He pursed his lips tightly. "I do apologize for that, Whitney," he said softly.

"It's too late for that," she countered. "You promised a year ago that you would get help, and then you tried to kill me."

"Hardly," he scoffed. "You're always over exaggerating"

Whitney laughed. "Over exaggerating? You tried to strangle me," she shot in a harsh whisper, as to not disrupt the few tables around them. "You held a cord to my throat, Mason."

Her voice was becoming hoarse. "You're making a scene," Mason pointed out. One glance in his direction and she could see that he was starting to change in front of her eyes. She saw the mixed drink on the table in front of him and sighed.

"So," she began as her eyes flickered. She licked her lips and leaned towards the table. "How's Raina?"

She could see Mason trying his best to hold his cover, but she was not expecting the smile that took over his lips. "She's pregnant."

"Good for her," Whitney replied sarcastically. "I hope you don't throw her down a set of stairs, too," she shot in his direction. "We're done here. Sign the papers or expect me back in LA with the evidence of what you did to me."

She pulled her hand out from under his and stood from the table. Whitney held her head high as she started out of the restaurant.

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