2brown-eyes reads it all!


(I Can't Help) Falling in Love with You—UB40

I slow, turning into the mobile home park and taking the first right. At the T, I go left, all the way to the circle at the end. Jasper's doublewide is situated on the dead end with large, mature trees and a cute little chain link fence surrounding the front yard. His mom's chihuahua barks at me as I approach the gate.

"No need to risk yourself," Mase says as he shuts the door behind him. "These little buggers are vicious." He shoves Sally away with his LA Gear before hurrying out the gate to join me on the other side. His eyes slip down my body and back up. "You're lookin' quite fit."

I smirk, giving him the same treatment. Today he's in a snug pair of Bugle Boy jeans and a Duran Duran tee. "You're not so bad yourself."

His eyes twinkle when he smiles, and he touches my back as we make our way to the truck. When we reach my door, he huffs a laugh. "This is weird, innit?"

I cock my head. "Because I'm picking you up?"

"Yeah," he says, eyes roaming from my face to the driver's door. "Don't think I've ever been picked up by a girl before."

"Wanna drive?"

His mouth pops open, and he hesitates. "You'd let me?"

"My truck is a tank, you couldn't hurt it if you tried," I reply, rubbing along her bed. "Besides, we're only going ten miles round trip."

He shrugs, tilting his head. "I'll give it a go."

"Cool." I smile and open the door, sliding over just enough for him to settle behind the wheel.

He hops in, getting a feel for the large round wheel. He's like a kid with a new toy as he rocks it back and forth like he's pretend driving. He glances at me out of the corner of his eye and smirks, nestling his back into the seat and throwing an arm along the seat behind my head.

"I could get used to this." He waggles his brows.

I snort, leaning forward and cranking the engine. "You actually have to drive."

"It's a work in progress," he says, palming the shifter handle. "I suppose this is next." I jab his side, causing him to let out this adorable laugh. "Okay, okay. I was just taking the piss. I know my way around an auto."

"Good." I settle against his side, and even though it's not the side I've snuggled against a thousand times before, it feels okay. Nice, even. "If we don't hurry, there won't be any time to grab popcorn and M&Ms before the movie starts."

"Did you ever decide which film?" He puts the truck into gear and eases around the circle as UB40 provides background music for the ride.

"Jurassic Park," I reply, peeking at him from the corner of my eye. "That cool?"

He shoots me a smile as he pulls onto the roadway. "A lot cooler than Sleepless in Seattle, that's for sure."

I school my face. "You didn't want to watch a rom-com?"

He glances at me, looks back to the road, and then meets my eyes again. "Uh …"

I burst out laughing, unable to hold it back. "I kid, I kid."

He grabs his chest. "Whew."

"I think we both know this isn't a romance," I say, moving a finger between us. "At least, I hope we do."

"Right," he says, and I'm not sure if he's agreeing or confused. "It's also not an action thriller with man-eating dinos."

I giggle, settling my hand on his thigh and meeting his eyes. "I'd say it's somewhere in between."

His eyes flick to my hand and then to me. "Works for me."

My smile is shy, and my insides have that jittery feeling that comes with uncertainty, but that's natural when venturing into the unknown. With an end looming in the not-so-distant future, I'm free to explore this thing with wild abandon and not have to worry about pain or heartache.

And that's freeing.

Mase is the perfect first step in figuring out who I am and what I want.

To be Bella without Edward.


Sometimes a conversation is just a conversation. There doesn't have to be a right/wrong side.

See ya tmr :)