It doesn't take long for us to set up for beer pong. We decided to use the dining room table instead, and as we finish placing the last cup down I feel myself growing anxious for it all to start.

I know it seems ridiculous, but I don't normally play drinking games. I know it'll be a struggle to somehow manage to gulp down the beer all at once, but I'm still excited nonetheless.

Also, drinking will help with all the emotions hitting my body like a freight train.

I don't want to overthink everything right now, or question if his behavior will last. I just want to sit back and enjoy it for however long it does.

When he told me earlier that he was going to try and be better I never imagined that it would look like this.

To be honest, I didn't really even know what that looked like.

When I lived with Jessica, Mason and I's relationship was based purely off sex. I didn't want to admit it at the time but it was, I had never even caught a glimpse of this side of him before.

But now I feel us slowly connecting emotionally, and it's driving me fucking insane.

If I thought I didn't know how to feel when Mason was his old self, I definitely don't know how to feel now.

"Who wants to go first?" Megan asks us and I look at Mason beside me before answering.

"You guys go." She nods her head, and claps her hands.

"You better not fuck up." Wyatt says to her and she shoves him away.

"Oh, fuck off, Wyatt." He only laughs at her and I watch as she picks up the ping pong ball and lifts her arm up. Her eyes flick to the cup on the table in front of Mason and I before she releases the ball, throwing it lightly towards us.

And it goes straight into the cup.

"I'll drink this one." Mason says to me and steps forward, his fingers wrapping around the cup before lifting it up his lips.

He makes it look so easy.

It only takes him seconds to finish it, and the whole time I watch in awe, wondering how the hell I'll pull it off as smoothly as he did.

The game goes on for about twenty or so minutes. I expect it to go on for longer but of course, everyone at the table was better at it than me. Mason almost sent every ping pong ball straight into the cup, and even though I apologized countless times for being such a shitty partner, everytime he would just pull me closer to him and jokingly tell me to shut the fuck up.

The worst part is that he got even more touchy the more we drank.

During the game I went off for a quick second to go grab a slice of cake since Mason insisted that he drink more than me. And when I came back and ate it in front of him, he brushed his thumb along the corner of my lip saying, "Sorry, you missed some."

And when he took his thumb off my lip and brought it to his mouth, sucking the cake off in front of me while looking at me dead in the eyes I nearly fucking lost it.

I swear I've never seen him so affectionate.

I know everything we're doing is a bad idea, but with the alcohol in my system it sounds like the best idea I could make right now.

After Mason and I won the game I got so excited I just about pounced on him. And when he lifted me off the floor, wrapping my legs around his waist I almost took him to the closest bedroom right there.

But even though the alcohol is making all my bad ideas seem good, there isn't enough in my system to actually convince me that any part of that is a wise one.

The first time we had sex, I was too drunk to stand up straight and look at the mess that caused. I think throughout the summer so far I've managed to raise my tolerance when it comes to alcohol. So thankfully, I'm able to drink a little bit more without becoming completely wasted.

But still, I think it's safe to say that I'm fucked.

After begging Mason to go grab me another drink I find myself roaming around the house, admiring the pictures that hang on the walls of Freddie and his family.

There are a lot of his wife, and the thought of how much he still loves her warms my heart.

"Here you go." I hear behind me and turn around to see Mason holding up my cup only half filled with beer.

I shoot him a glare, realizing that this is probably the last he'll allow me to drink for the night and take my cup from him.

"Thank you." I say a little too slowly, bringing it to my lips and taking a sip. "Look at all the pictures of his wife." I lift my hand up, pointing to the fingers on the wall. "You can see how much he misses her."

I can feel Mason 's burning into me as I say this, and the heat between us intensifies as he takes another step closer to me.

"He does."

My eyes connect with his, and I notice how red they've become from him drinking. But even then they're beautiful. I could look at them all day. A part of me thinks that's only because they belong to him. If it were anyone else's green eyes I'd be running, but his have this way of pulling me in.

There are so many things I want to do to him, say to him. Little small gestures like pulling him in for a hug or brushing my hands through his hair like I would before, or even leaning in to kiss him.

But I can't.

I thought the alcohol would make me forget about all of this, but if anything the animal it's awakened only reminds me that all the sexual favors I want him to do to me will never happen.

We will never happen.

I know I'm walking a dangerous tightrope by being here tonight, especially considering all of the ways I've let him touch me since being here.

I still can't wrap my head around any of it, but this side of him has only made me crave for more, because now I'm left wondering how much he's capable of giving.

And if that will ever be enough.

If he remains like this, just like this, there will be nothing strong enough to push me away from him.

"Are you having fun tonight?" He asks me, pulling me away from my thoughts as he shuffles closer to me once more. "With me."

I chew on my lip, feeling a whole new wave of charged emotion from his question. His eyebrows crease, concern written all over his face.

I look up at him, the two of us only about an inch or two apart now. He looks pensive as he watches my eyes carefully, trying to figure me out.

"I am. Thank you for bringing me." He nods his head, his lips quirking up for a split second and I realize just how much his body is towering over mine.

He looks into my eyes, and I know I should look away but I can't. Everything about him draws me in, and I'm not sure how much longer I can fight it.

I almost want to pinch myself just to see if I'm dreaming, to realize that none of this is really happening in front of me. But I don't do it, because if this is all a dream I don't know how I'd ever recover.

The mood in the air has shifted completely, all I can feel is my body burning and I don't know whether it's because of the beer or him.

I become fully aware of my breathing because it's the only thing I'm able to focus on with his eyes staring so deeply into mine.

And just as I feel like I might lose it altogether, I hear the piercing trill of my phone beeping in my back pocket.

He closes his eyes, letting out a frustrated sigh as disappointment finds its way back into my body.

I remain still, hoping he'll ignore it but he doesn't. He reaches his hand out to my back pocket and I feel my body tingle as I his fingers brush against my backside for longer than they should have.

The moment he brings my phone to him instead of passing it over to me I feel every single nerve in me spiking from what could possibly be on it. I move my body forward, trying to snatch it away from him but he moves his hand away from mine, backing up as his eyes focus down on the screen in front of him.

He stares at the screen, keeping his face hard and when I look at him I can tell just how unhappy he is when his whole demeanor changes in front of me.

He doesn't say anything and I swear my heart is beating so loud in my chest I wouldn't be surprised if he heard it. I watch as his lips roll into his mouth, his jaw sets tight in front of me as his face falls.

My brows crease, wondering what caused the sudden look on his hard face and once again I reach over trying to take it from him, this time only slower.

My hand brushes against his and to my surprise he gives it to me. Relief washes over me as he does so and I immediately turn my phone towards me to see what the problem is.

Just as my eyes zero in on the screen my stomach drops.

It's a text from Aiden.

You never texted me when you got home. Just making sure you're okay. Can't wait for our date on Friday. Goodnight :)

This time it's my face that falls. Everything that Mason and I had managed to build today just comes shattering down in my mind. I can't imagine that something like this isn't enough to send him over the edge.

I feel a pang of guilt in my heart for being so reckless. These past couple hours I have somehow forgotten about everything. Even now, here at Freddie's house with all these people it still felt like we were in our own little bubble.

Now the bubble's popped, and I stand here unsure on what to say next.

"You're going on a date with him?" He asks me, and I can tell by his voice just how hard he's trying to hold it together.

The tightrope I'm walking on is shaking, and if I don't figure out a way to steady myself I'll fall and could find myself losing everything.

"He asked me earlier today, and I said yes." I answer him, and he swallows thickly, looking like he wants to vomit. "...I... I'm sorry."

He reconnects his eyes with mine, a million different emotions swirling around in them.

"Why?" He asks me, throwing his arms up and I get the feeling that if he raised his voice any louder it would have come out as a yell.

His breathing quickens and he takes a step back from me but I only follow. I look at him even more lost than I already am on why I said those words in the first place. He blows out a heavy breath, running his fingers through his hair repetitively and I know that if he bites his tongue any harder it'll fall right off.

"I don't know, I... I just am." I answer him honestly, my voice filled with hope that he'll come back to me.

I know the two of us aren't together, or exclusive in any way, but after tonight I can't help but feel at fault for this one. I don't know why I feel that way, I just do.

"Well so am I." He says and my eyebrows raise at him as I wonder what he means by that. "Because once I'm finished with him, that'll be the last thing he ever fucking says to you."

My eyes widen in shock as he snatches my phone from my grasp. I gasp, thinking of all of the things Mason could text Aiden to make this whole thing blow up. I reach over trying to take it back from him but his one free hand blocks me.

"Mason, give it back." I beg, taking another step toward him.

My foot stumbles against the rug and my body falls forward. I collide with Mason's chest and my mouth drops when I realize that I've spilt my entire cup of beer on his shirt.

I stand up straight, taking in the sight in front of me as Mason glares down at the new wet stain under him. I watch as his eyes slowly trail off the wet spot to me and I gulp down the saliva building up in my throat from his heated stare.

"Apologize." He demands, taking a step towards me and I cross my arms against my chest.

"No."

"Now." He says, his voice firm and I shake my head not giving in.

I bite down on my lip to keep from smiling as he takes another threatening step toward me.

"This is your last warning."

His body is now so close to mine I can feel his breath on the tip of my nose. His eyes have darkened, jaw still as tense as before as he eyes my body slowly up and down.

I feel my breath hitch in my throat when he stops momentarily on my lips before flicking them back to meet my own.

"Well you can shove that warning right up your- ahhhhh!" He bends down and picks me up over his shoulder with one swift motion.

My chest hits his hard back and I suck in a harsh breath when I feel his grip tighten around me. It is just like when I left the club, how he carried me over his shoulders like I weighed nothing at all.

Only that time I was mad, and this time I'm completely terrified.

"Mason, let me go!" I say, thumping my fist along his back in front of me.

He walks down the hallway ignoring my pleas and I try to squirm under his grasp, ignoring the warm feeling that spreads through my whole body from him touching me again.

I let go of the empty cup in my hands so I'm able to use the two of them to try and beat him off of me.

"You really should have apologized." He says and the sinking feeling in my stomach only grows.

"Never!" I say again, hitting my fists even harder against his back.

I hear him kick open a door and the nerves in my body spike. Panic shoots through me when I notice how the hardwood floor below me has changed into tile and I mentally wonder where the hell he is taking me.

Once he steps into the room, he shifts his body to close the door shut and I lift my head up slightly to look around and see we're in a bathroom.

Why are we in a bathroom?

My stomach jolts when I hear the sound of the lock on the door turning over and a few seconds after my heart picks up speed once I hear what happens next.

The shower turning on.

I wriggle under him as hard as I can for him to let me go but it's no use. I can see him step into the shower tub from down below me and I let out a frail scream.

"No, no, Mason don't you dare! Let me go!"

"If you insist." He says and bends down, planting my feet firmly down into the tub.

I barely have any time to move before Mason grabs a hold of my waist, yanks the shower head off the mount and brings it up to me. I squirm, trying to force my way out of his grasp but he holds me still.

"Ahhh!" I let out, but am unable to control the laughter at the end of it.

I screech at the cold water hitting me and move my hands upwards to try and turn it onto him. My actions take him by surprise and I waste no time shoving the shower head in his direction. His eyes squint closed and the both of our hands fumble with the shower head, trying to get the other person wet.

I slip on the water and as my body begins to slide under him he immediately grabs onto me, causing both of us to fall into the tub. There's no possible way for me to contain the laughs pouring out of me as I soak the man who tried to use this as a way to get revenge.

At this point we're both completely soaking wet, and when he leans over to me, pointing the cold water back in my direction I instinctively move closer to him, gripping onto his arms right before I smack the shower head out of his grasp.

It falls into the tub and I sit there in between Mason's legs trying to catch my breath. Mason pulls his face back up to look at me, biting back a laugh, and I shake my head at him incredulously.

Watching him stare up at me looking so playful yet so sinful at the same time only shows me all the filthy things that must be whirling through his mind, and when his lips tug upward I have to stop myself from enacting on my own.

"Is this the part where you tell me some lame joke about how wet you've gotten me?" I ask him, and the smile on his face only widens, drops of water falling from his wet hair onto his face.

"I was just getting there, actually."

I laugh at his comment, but it ends with a chill running down my spine once I realize just how cold I really am. I shiver, shuddering in my own skin and he shifts his body under me.

"Come on, let's get you warmed up."

I position my legs upward and stand from the tub. Mason follows shortly after before turning off the shower water and replacing the head back on the mount.

I look around the bathroom, opening each of the cabinet doors under the sink until I find a stack of white towels. I grab two, and hand one over to Mason.

He retrieves it from me, and I turn toward the mirror taking in my appearance.

Oh, fuck.

I look like hell.

My hair is dripping wet, overlapping each other since I was pretty much ambushed by the water. My white top has now become transparent revealing the thin black bralette I so poorly decided on wearing today. Which of course, unveils my hard nipples trying to peek through.

I wrap my arms over the top of my chest but it's too late. I can already see the huge grin on Mason's face through the mirror's reflection.

"There a problem?" He asks me and I shake my head.

"Nope." I bring the towel up to my hair, trying to dry it a bit while my other arm remains on my chest.

"You seem..." He begins, stepping in closer to me, "Tense."

The knotting in my stomach makes my skin prickle when he closes the gap between us, eyeing me.

"I haven't seen your body react to me like that in a while." He says, his eyes flicking back over to me as he studies my face closely. "Nice to know I still got it."

I feel my cheeks redden and he only grins even wider at my silence.

I roll my lips into my mouth, turning away from him to attempt to at least try to extinguish all the sexual tension building mounting in this bathroom.

Being this close to him is dangerous.

And now we're both wet, I swear the amount of restraint I have is being tested.

"Well how am I supposed to go out looking like this?" I ask him, continuing to dry my hair off with my towel.

"You aren't." He states, like it's obvious while he also dries himself off. "I have my sweatshirt in the car, I'll bring it to you. Stay here." His voice is firm enough to make me not question anything, so I nod my head back at him before he unlocks the bathroom door and walks out.

While he's gone I take the time to straighten up the bathroom, wiping down all the wet surfaces and placing the dirty towels in the hamper. I try to fix myself up a little, combing my hair out with my fingers and repositioning it so that it doesn't look too messy.

I hope that no one notices how wet Mason has somehow gotten. Oh, God, I can only imagine all the things they can think of about what the two of us were doing in here.

I hear two knocks on the door and quickly open it, widening the door a bit more so Mason can come inside. He hands me the same grey sweatshirt that I wore the first time I took to Freddies, and this time when he does I don't refuse.

I snatch it from his grasp and without thinking, grip my fingertips onto the hem of my shirt and pull it over my head. I place the soaked shirt on top of the counter and fumble with the sweatshirt to find which is the front.

I feel Mason's eyes on me the whole time I do so, and realize that I just took my shirt off in front of him.

I remember the first time I dressed in front of him, it was after he stormed into the shower with me and I felt like the possibility of him seeing me get changed made me more nervous than it should have.

Everything was so new then, and now I don't think twice before doing it.

I never really thought about how comfortable he makes me in my own skin, how I feel like I never need to hide around him anymore.

Every single feeling he gives me still scares the shit out of me, because I never know what they mean.

I pull his sweatshirt over my head, taking in the familiar scent of it all while I look up at the green eyes now examining me.

He sucks his lip under his teeth, "Mmmm." Is all he says to me, but it's enough to send me nearly collapsing on my knees under him.

"We should probably get going." He finishes, his voice low, eyes filled with desire and I nod my head.

I reach over and grab my shirt before walking past the door Masons now holding open for me. We walk through the hallway in silence, and even then I can feel him observing my every move.

After we reach back to the living room, my eyes scan around the crowds of people trying to find Megan and Wyatt. Thankfully, they're talking to Freddie, and as Mason and I walk back toward them, I feel his arm snake around my waist pulling me closer to him once again.

All three of them eye us up and down once we reach them, and I choose to ignore the way Megan eyes us with a smile on her face.

"We were thinking of heading out, thank you for inviting us." I say to Freddie as he pulls me into a hug.

Mason lets go of my waist, only to relatch himself onto my hands to try and pull me off of Freddie. And when I give goodbye hugs to both Megan and Wyatt, he only tightens his grip.

"Hope to see you again, Isabelle." Wyatt takes a hold of my free hand, bringing it up to his mouth and presses a light kiss upon it.

Mason moves so quickly I barely have time to notice how he smacks Wyatt upside the head and tugs my arm away from him.

"Oww"

"Don't fucking touch her."

I press my lips together to try and hide my smile while Freddie shoots me the, "boys will be boys" unperturbed grin.

After bidding everyone farewell and saying one last goodbye to Freddie we make our way out the door, the cold crisp air hitting my lungs as soon as we walk out.

I can't describe how confusing this night has been for me. Especially since there has been so many times I expected Mason to blow up about something, but each moment he remained calm while also managing to show me that playful side of him that I adore so much.

What surprises me even more is when he insists on walking me home since we've both had drinks tonight. Normally I'd have to beg him to let me drive his car since I'm never the one drinking with him. But this time it was his idea, and at first I have to ask him multiple times just to see if what I'm hearing is correct.

We start strolling down the street and I find myself missing when his hand was one mine. I keep my eyes on the ground, occasionally taking a peek at Mason who had his eyes on me every time I did so.

The happiness that once filled my body only moments ago has now been replaced by the anxiety I feel from the overbearing silence around us.

I'm not even sure how long we've been walking at this point, but each minute that passes turns the air around me even thicker, making it harder to breath.

"What are you thinking about?" He asks me, eyeing me with curiosity and my mind runs through all of the things I should say to him.

"Just how I didn't expect the night to go like this." I decide to say.

"How'd you expect it to go?"

"I don't know, I-I guess just not so..."

He opens his mouth to speak, "Bad?"

I stop walking and turn to face him, "No, no, not bad...The complete opposite actually."

He nods his head slowly, the tension in his shoulders deflating from my words and I lower my head down a bit to get a better look at him.

"I wish you were always like this- how you were tonight." He flicks his eyes over at me, looking deep in thought. "It reminded me of how you were years ago, before everything."

"And you... you liked that guy better?" He asks, trying to understand me like he always does.

Honestly if he were to ask me that question a couple days ago I would have said yes in a heartbeat. But now I'm learning that even though there's multiple different sides of him, that childish boy I knew years ago is still there somewhere.

He's just different now, scarred and hurt, but he's there.

And even when Mason is at his worst, I'm still there for him. It's just now hitting me that I always will be, no matter what happens between us I would never abandon him like he did me. Because he's not just my childhood crush, he's my first kiss, the first guy I've ever slept with at a party, the first one who's ever made me question everything, the one who made me see and feel things as differently as I do all wrapped in one.

"No, I... I like this guy just the same." I answer honestly and the corners of his mouth twitch upward.

An amused lopsided lazy smile forms on his lips and I go back to looking at the ground, suddenly feeling nervous about this whole interaction.

"So... I was a good boy tonight then, huh?"

I look back up at him, smiling shyly at the fact that the playful Mason has returned. The smirk etched firmly on his face only adds to his entertained expression and I shake my head.

"Don't push it." I say, smiling as I begin walking past him.

We continue on for a few more minutes in silence, and the whole time we do I find Mason's body somehow getting closer and closer to my own.

"What's that?" He asks me, and I look up from the ground to see the bright lights ahead of us.

"The County Fair, just opened a couple days ago."

He looks at the lights in the distance momentarily before returning his gaze back onto me.

"Let's go."

"What?" I question.

"You said you're having fun tonight, right?" He steps in a bit closer to me, his fingertips brushing along the sides of my arms so gently my body almost trembles. "That you uh, like this version of me?"

I give him a nod, mentally shaming myself for how his simple touch is enough to weaken every part of me.

"Well then don't fret Isabelle, because the night isn't over just yet."

A.N.

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