-Bennett-

I ducked down, cursing under my breath, and dashing down the aisle of semi-decently organized chips and snacks in order to avoid detection. I didn't even know why I felt so nervous, yet I found myself hiding before I could even process anything beyond the sudden surge of panic. I sneaked one more look over at Mason, who was perusing through the aisle of energy drinks, holding one in his hand and glaring at the label.

I glanced at the exit, sourly huffing under my breath; it was near the cashier, right beside the row of drinks, which meant Mason would see me no matter what I did. The bodega cat was surprisingly also trailing after Mason like he was made of catnip, which usually would've been enough to have me swooning.

"You should've just played it cool, dumbass," I whispered under my breath, wondering why my first instinct had been to hide when this store was right beside the gym; it wasn't like us bumping into each other here was weird or anything, right? Sure, it was odd that we'd both left the gym at a similar time and had both decided to come in here, but—despite my initial panic—it wasn't an impossible situation by any means.

Still, at this point, it would be more suspicious that I'd suddenly appeared in the store when I'd clearly been nowhere in sight when he first stepped in.

I whined under my breath, slowly peeking from behind the aisle and gasping in surprise as I noticed him glancing in my general direction. I immediately hid back down, struggling to keep my breathing under control upon hearing the approaching footsteps.

"Damn it," I cursed under my breath, suddenly locking eyes with the cashier as I searched for another exit. I forced a polite smile before turning to stare at the row before me, desperate to look busy. And it honestly wouldn't have been a problem if it had been literally any other row...

Mason was going to find me accidentally shopping for condoms. Perfect.

I darted my eyes between the condom boxes and the cashier, debating whether it'd be better for me to just make a run for it and be accused of shoplifting or stay frozen in place, and be found ogling at the display of rubbers and lube bottles.

I pleaded with my eyes, begging the cashier to remain quiet. The older man's left eyebrow shot up in response, no sign of empathy in his face; he was clearly unimpressed by my desperate pleas.

"Kid, I'd appreciate it if you didn't sit down in the middle of the aisle," he asked in a bored, monotone voice.

My jaw slacked. I had genuinely not expected him to call me out, even if I was technically acting like a weirdo in his store.

"I—I'm just... looking," I lied, most certainly coming across as inexperienced as I was.

"Are you even old enough to—"

"Yes!" I exclaimed, immediately realizing how much of a spectacle I was probably making of myself in front of Mason. "I'm in college, damn it," I retorted under my breath, not that it would make me look any less like some horny high school brat trying to shoplift condoms from the neighborhood bodega.

"Whatever you say, kid."

I somehow mustered up the strength to stand up, immediately aware of both men's eyes on me. I tried to convince myself that it would be all right if I didn't turn around, casually grabbing the first box I could get my hands on while keeping eye contact with the cashier, who could no longer hide his amusement at the ordeal unfolding before his eyes.

Humiliating me was probably the most excitement he'd had all shift.

I tightened my grip on the box, indignantly cursing him out under my breath as I walked up to the counter. I didn't even know what it was, but it would have to do.

"I'm not a kid," I muttered under my breath whilst slamming the box on the counter. "Ring me the hell up... please."

The older man chuckled under his breath, instantly lighting up with glee as he caught sight of the box's label.

I glanced down and my eyes widened in disbelief as I read over the bold label a few times, jolting back as it settled in that I'd accidentally grabbed a box of extra-extra-large condoms.

"Hey kid, are you sure about that?" The cashier asked, only somewhat trying to stifle down his laughter. And the sodium chloride levels within my body must've matched the ocean's since I suddenly felt like lunging over the counter.

"T—they have sizes?" I muttered helplessly, sighing in disbelief.

"What was that?" The man asked, rejoicing.

"Shut up, would you?" I grumbled, ignoring the wave of nausea that washed over me as I fought to maintain my composure. I angrily grabbed a few candy bars from the display beside us and a pack of gum for good measure...

I could hear Mason's footsteps as he wandered along the aisles, just minding his damn business. And goddammit, why did it feel like a threat?

"It'll be fifteen eighty-four," the cashier explained, the mocking grin still firmly plastered across his face. "Also, just a friendly reminder that we don't allow refunds for condoms."

I could feel a scowl forming across my face as I angrily searched my pockets for my wallet, only to quickly realize why I couldn't find it... why I was never going to find it. I felt my soul feebly forsake my body as another layer of fear clung to me like a second skin. I hadn't had my ID with me today, which was in my wallet. My wallet... which was where I also kept my goddamn money.

"Uhm," I stammered, genuinely unable to come up with any excuse that didn't sound like a lie. I threw my head back, staring up at the ceiling and wishing for the ground to split open and pull me into the very depths of hell. I could deal with the heat as long as there was no molten lava involved.

"Are you going to pay for these or not?" The man asked once more, tauntingly shaking the box of condoms in front of my face.

My left eye twitched.

I took a step back, yelping when I felt the heel of my shoe landing on the edge of someone else's. I flinched at the familiar sensation of bumping into a wall of muscles, releasing a defeated sigh before turning around to face the epitome of broodiness himself. I timidly peered up at Mason, who was suddenly too close, and I noticed his hand tightly gripping a semi-full shopping basket.

"Hi there," I greeted him with a weak smile. I was already exhausted from working out and tired from my classes and just... everything. Why couldn't the ground just do its job and split open already? How much longer did I have to wait for the sweet, sweet release of death?

Suddenly, Mason was shoving a twenty-dollar bill into my hand, rolling his eyes when I felt literal tears forming in the corners of mine. "You can panic later," Mason reassured me, coaxing me with his hands before physically forcing me to turn around and face the cashier. "Go pay."

"Right, sorry," I said under my breath before hesitantly placing the money into the cashier's extended hand.

A few silent seconds passed as the cashier's eyes flickered from the looming jock behind me and then back to me. He furrowed his eyebrows, probably wondering why the hell Mason had given me the money to pay in the first place. Hell, I was wondering that too, although I didn't have it in me to question it aloud.

"At least it makes more sense, now," The man murmured before making a move to scan the box, approvingly nodding his head at Mason.

I rolled my eyes, opening my mouth to curse him out just as I felt a large, muscular arm wrap around my shoulder. I felt the words catch at the back of my throat, my entire body tensing up as Mason's warmth enveloped me; I stood with the overwhelming comfort, equal parts reassuring and ruinous.

"Not that it's any of your business, but they actually are for him," Mason explained unabashedly, flashing me a devious grin before pressing a chaste kiss against my temple. "I promise I'll be able to handle you tonight, babe; I've been prepping for it every night like you taught me," he muttered against my ear with absolutely no sense of subtlety.

I stared.

The cashier stared.

The bodega cat stared.

Then, the cash register clinked open, effectively shattering the uncomfortable stillness that had settled over the store. The cashier's hands moved impressively quickly as he rushed to ring me up, shoving the items, receipt, and change into the bag before hastily forcing it into my hand, clearly hoping I'd get the hell out of there before Mason said anything more embarrassing.

"Have a good night," the cashier said as monotonously as possible while avoiding eye contact, yet his voice wavered.

"Oh, don't worry; we will," Mason retorted defiantly. And damn it, how could something sound so threatening, yet so appealing?

I just stepped aside, awkwardly removing myself from Mason's grasp before questioningly peering up at him, unwilling to look at the cashier any longer. Mason could probably tell how flustered I was, but he didn't even seem fazed by it.

"You can wait for me outside, babe," he assured me while rubbing his hand across my back, grinning at me before setting his basket of items on top of the glass counter. I just stood there in disbelief, unsure of how someone so seemingly stoic could suddenly be so inviting and... affectionate.

"No, I—I'll wait here... uh, babe," I replied, the word feeling like a loaded gun on the tip of my tongue. I felt myself grow flushed at the way Mason snorted in response, and possibly at risk of overheating as he reached over to caress my hair, nodding in agreement.

Still, I didn't miss the way Mason's grin darkened at my use of the pet name, seemingly thrilled that I was playing along for the sake of sweet, sweet revenge.

"Whatever you want, babe," Mason replied, his tone surprisingly warm for someone who'd spent our last two interactions scowling. And honestly, it made my chest ache because I'd been unaware that he could even sound so tender. It was a revelation in of itself, like I was seeing something not meant for me. It left me yearning... even though that made no sense.

Get a grip, Bennett.

The cashier began scanning Mason's items, no longer engaging with either of us at all. Mason, however, seemed more than willing to engage now that it was clear the man was squirming. Oh, what a development.

"You're suddenly very quiet," Mason pointed out to the poor man, flashing a grin that was all teeth. I shivered at the underlying glint of irritation in his voice, feeling somewhat intimidated despite it not even being aimed at me at all. "Something wrong?"

"My apologies," the cashier replied while bagging the rest of the products, a furious blush creeping across his face. I couldn't tell if he was mortified or embarrassed; it was likely a combination.

"It's okay," I cut in, tugging on Mason's sleeve until he looked at me. "Seriously."

"Yeah, fine; it's okay," Mason agreed while turning back to face the cashier, even as the grin faded from his face, replaced by a cold scowl. Thankfully, he didn't say anything else, even if the corners of his mouth occasionally twitched as if he was aching to.

---

"You didn't have to do all that." The words left my mouth as soon as we exited the bodega, even if I was suddenly unable to look Mason in the eyes. Honestly, part of me wondered if I would ever be able to look anybody in the eyes again after the humiliation that I'd stupidly submitted myself to, just today. Or the fact that I'd felt my whole body melt at the slightest bit of affection from a stranger, which there was no way he hadn't caught onto.

All I could do was pray that Mason had assumed I was incredible at acting. Because, hell, I'd spent most of the time he was paying for his groceries gazing at him with a soft, simmering fondness.

"Oh, I know," Mason replied, that same flustering, devious grin finding its way back onto his face. "But that idiot was all up in your business."

You were also all up in my business, I thought to myself, not that I'd ever say it aloud, lest my heart actually implode in my chest.

"I promise I'll pay you back tomorrow... for everything. I just—I forgot I didn't have my wallet, which is actually why I didn't have my ID earlier. Otherwise, I wouldn't have had to waste your free pass and—"

"Bennett," Mason called out like an order. I grew still, somehow mustering up the courage to expectantly gaze up at him.

I felt the air being ripped from my lungs as Mason's free hand settled firmly upon my left shoulder, a deep chuckle escaping his lips as he gently shook me down from another tangent.

"Breathe, Bennett. I told you already; I don't mind."

"I'm sorry," I said, still, for what felt like the millionth time that day.

"Stop apologizing. You're just having an off-day; we all have those," he assured me before signaling towards the bag. "At least you, uh, got what you needed, right?"

"I—I grabbed them by accident—the condoms," I blurted out, glaring down at his chest because at least that was less intimidating than looking at his face. I didn't even know why I felt so compelled to explain myself anyway, or why I couldn't look him in the eye while doing so.

"Wrong size?" Mason asked, quirking up an eyebrow.

And somehow, that was enough to have me pouting up at him.

There didn't seem to be any judgment in his face, but I still found myself reeling at the insinuation.

"I don't—I don't even know what size I'd get." I pondered apprehensively, not even realizing I was glaring at my own crotch until I looked up and found Mason chuckling under his breath again, his cold blue eyes warily darting between my face and the front of my black shorts.

"Oh," Mason replied whilst letting go of me, releasing a weak laugh. "Sorry, that was none of—" he coughed, stiffly looking away before abruptly turning to face me again. "It was none of my business."

"Huh? No, it's... fine. Really." I found myself replying, my body tensing up at the soft way his warm breath brushed against my forehead. I could feel my brain short-circuiting as I tried to form more words, anything to change the topic. He was far too close, but I couldn't find it in myself to take that much-needed step back. "I—I really don't know."

"Do you need help figuring it out?" Mason suddenly whispered.

---

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