The drive from the park to the neighborhood was always long, but today, it felt even longer than usual. Trees crept past my car at a snail's pace and it seemed like an eternity before any houses finally appeared.

But eternity or not, they did appear eventually. Soon, the familiar white picket fences and manicured lawns popped out to greet me, and I began to recognize the faces that passed me on the street.

Unfortunately, that fact was a bit of a double-edged sword. I joked with Mason that I only needed to travel the distance between my car and the front door without getting caught, but the closer I got to home, the more I realized exactly how realistic that concern might be.

Between visiting Eli and my little rendezvous with Mason I'd been out all morning. It was close to one now. Lunchtime. And lunchtime on a weekend no less. Kids home from school, husbands home from work, grandparents coming over for the weekly ritual of "sharing a meal with the family," not to mention the church groups that were probably eating together today.

A neighborhood filled with the most manipulative, cutthroat, social-climber wannabes you could never hope to see, and I was right smack-dab in the middle of it. God, if even one of them tried to come over and "say hello" while I was like this... Well, let's just say I'd have better luck slathering myself in gravy and jumping into a tiger cage.

But it was only a short distance. Just a few steps from the car to the front door. That was all. If I could just hurry inside and avoid running into anyone, then I'd be fine. I mean, it was like I told Mason, right? If somebody saw me I could just ignore them and make up an excuse later, right?

A nice plan in theory, but as I turned down my street, I started to wonder more and more about how my actual execution of it might go. Still, I couldn't spend forever dwelling on the "ifs and buts" of it. Every second that I dragged out leaving the car would be another second someone could get closer to catching me. And I couldn't afford to waste a single one.

I took a deep breath as I pulled into the driveway, letting it out slowly as I started the countdown in my head.

3...

2...

1...

Go!

I cranked the car into park, unbuckling my seatbelt with my free hand. I snatched the keys out of the ignition and opened the door, practically leaping out of my seat as I did so. I didn't even look as I closed the door behind me with a firm push. I didn't run, but I took large steps, my heart pounding in my chest as the door came closer and closer into my view. My hands were shaking as I tried to quickly fumble around for my key.

Just a little more. Just a little more. I repeated to myself as my trembling hands struggled to shove the key into the lock.

Thankfully, not two seconds later, I heard the resounding sound of metal sliding against metal as the key slipped its way inside. I opened the door and rushed inside like a victim trying to outrun the killer in a horror movie.

Relief. Instant relief flooded through every last cell and nerve of my body as I closed the door behind me. I pressed my back against it and slid to the floor, letting out a satisfied sigh as euphoria overtook my body.

My hands were still trembling with adrenaline. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to calm myself.

Okay. I made it. That was the hard part, but I still wasn't finished yet. I needed a shower. Now.

Like most nine-to-five jobs, Phil, technically, didn't work on weekends. He spent his weekends doing overtime and schmoozing clients. And while it kept him out of the house for most of the day, it wasn't exactly as guaranteed as when he was actually scheduled to work. Plus, after the whole "condom-gate" incident, I didn't trust him not to show up at a moment's notice with more bullshit attempts at romance.

And just like that, my body sobered in an instant. It was almost impressive really. Like some kind of cursed sponge, the mere thought of Phil was somehow enough to immediately sap all the excitement, joy, and ecstasy from my existence.

As depressing as that fact was though, I suppose it had its purpose. My body was no longer shaking with adrenaline, which made it much easier to finally force myself off the floor. I sighed heavily as I made my way to the bathroom.

I didn't even dare to take a sock off until I had triple-checked that the door was locked. After last time, no way in hell I was risking anything that he might see as an "open invitation" to make a move on me.

I gathered up my clothes and shoved them to the bottom of the hamper. I was planning on doing the laundry later anyway, but better safe than sorry. The last thing I needed was for Phil to find something he shouldn't just because I assumed that he wouldn't.

But that was enough moping and worrying about Phil. I had better things to think about. For example, Mason. More specifically, whatever he intended to talk about on that little phone call later.

My mood instantly brightened at that thought. Right. The sooner I got cleaned up, the sooner I could talk to him again. I mean, I'm sure he didn't leave that much later than I did. Hell, he'd probably already be home by the time I finished in the shower. If anything, I was keeping him waiting at this point. And I certainly didn't want to do that.

I smiled as I turned on the shower, hopping inside. I was still careful to be through with my cleaning, but I'd be lying if I said that I didn't rush through it at least a little.

I just couldn't stop thinking of Mason. His voice, his laugh, what he might want to say to me. Who knew, after our little conversation I might need to take an even colder shower.

I giggled to myself at that thought. Alright, that had to be clean enough, right? At the very least, I was sure I didn't smell like another man anymore. I shut off the shower and grabbed a towel, scrubbing it quickly over my body before tossing it over my hair and hurrying into the bedroom.

I grabbed my phone and flopped down onto the bed, smiling like an idiot. Normally, I would have chastised myself for that fact, but not today. Maggie was in too good of a mood for stuffy, old Mrs. Henderson to get her down. I scrolled until I found Mason in my contacts and hit the call button.

My heart seemed to trill in time with the ringing of the phone. Goosebumps tickled my skin as they rose up in anticipation. My fingers picked at the blanket anxiously, waiting for that resounding click on the other end.

And then, finally, I heard it. Followed quickly by a soft chuckle.

"Jeez, you don't waste any time, do you?" Mason teased.

I knew it was a joke, but I still couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed by the comment. I mean, he was right. I'd been rushing to talk to him pretty much since I walked through the door. Had I called too soon? Should I have played it cool and waited a little longer?

I shook my head. Okay, now I sounded like a stupid teenager. Of course, he was expecting me to call around now. He told me to call when I got settled. It was just a stupid joke, Maggie. No need to take it to heart like that.

"Sorry, are you still in the car?" I asked, brushing off the comment.

"Nah, your timing was perfect actually. Just got in the door two minutes before you called," he explained. "So, you all good then? Clothes burned, hitmen hired, and all that?"

I rolled my eyes. "Well, I wouldn't go that far, but yeah. I'm good.

"So, what's up? Is there something you need to talk to me about? You could have just told me in person." I paused dramatically. "Or is this the famed 'phone breakup because I chickened out doing it in person' call?"

"What? No! Come on, I'm classier than that... In that case, I would have just sent you a text."

I couldn't help the laughter that sputtered through my lips. "Oh my, what a gentleman."

He chuckled again. "You know it. But in all seriousness though, no nothing's up. Just thought it would be nice to talk. You know, like friends."

"Friends, huh?" I said playfully. "Well, you certainly seemed pretty 'friendly' earlier, I'll give you that."

"Friends with benefits count as friends," he commented. "That said, as you oh-so-subtly hinted, I feel like we've been neglecting the 'friends' portion of that title a little bit. So, I dunno. I thought it might be nice to talk a little. Is that a problem?"

Yes, honestly. It was a huge problem. Becoming 'friends' with Mason, even without the benefits was just asking for trouble.

Our lives were already far more intertwined than I had ever planned on them getting when I first started this little game. I mean, it was just supposed to be a cheap thrills, window show kind of deal. You have your fun, I have mine, and never the two shall meet. Now, here we were, fucking and chatting on the phone not even a week later.

It was a disaster in the making. I could already sense that much. If anything, I should be doing everything I could to discourage any form of personal relationship between us.

But that would've been the smart thing to do, and God forbid I do something like that for once.

"No, it's not a problem," I stupidly said. "You might have to kick off the conversation though. I've been faking polite suburban small talk for so long, I don't think I remember what normal friends usually talk about anymore. Unless, of course, you do want to have a chat about the new HOA regulations?"

I heard him repress a laugh on the other end. "Another time maybe. Actually, I had something that I wanted to ask you about."

"I will not help you unpack again," I teased. "I already repaid my debt once, and I'll be damned if you trick me into doing it again."

"No, not that," he sighed. I could practically hear him rolling his eyes as he said it. "Another thing."

"What's that?"

I'm not sure what I expected him to say exactly. Maybe a setup for the next time we meet. Maybe some silly chitchat about my hobbies or something. But the one thing I didn't expect was silence.

The line was so quiet I worried for a second that it might have cut off without me realizing. But no. The slight crackling sound I could hear in the background told me that he was still there.

"Hey? Is everything okay?" I asked.

I heard a soft sigh. "Yeah, I'm fine. It's just... Well, this might be kind of personal, and I really don't want to push you if you're not comfortable telling me. I mean, I know I'm still barely more than a stranger to you and all. But I noticed it earlier and it's been bugging me ever since you left and I—"

"Mason, you're rambling," I pointed out, knots forming in my stomach. "Look, whatever it is, just ask it. If it's too personal, I'll tell you. Honestly, I'm getting more nervous having you dance around it like this than if you just asked me to begin with..."

"Right, right. Sorry," he sighed again. "I just... really don't want you to stop talking to me over this or something."

"I won't," I reassured him. "Pinky promise."

He snickered a bit. "I think that only counts in person, but fine, I'll take your word for it."

He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. My heart tightened in my chest as I waited anxiously for whatever he had to say. After what felt like an eternity, he finally spoke.

"Maggie... does your husband hit you?"