Mason Book 3

LAUREN

A soft touch grazed my cheek. Lips brushed against it, a fleeting kiss. A hand intertwined with mine, and I felt my fingers curl around it.

A voice whispered to me, gently pulling me in. I was drawn to it, to the hand on my shoulder, to the voice that was luring me.

When I managed to open my blurry eyes for a moment, the room was pitch black. I felt like I was floating, drifting in the air. I couldn’t wake up, but I wanted to so badly.

“Sleep,” the voice murmured, sounding distant like in a dream. “~I love you~.”

I hummed in response, not knowing what I was saying. I felt lips brush against mine.

I fell back to sleep in no time.

When I woke up, I was alone.

I rubbed my eyes and stretched, but the sheets felt different. I opened my eyes to a hospital room, but this time I wasn’t hooked up to any IV drip. I looked around, trying to figure out why I was in a hospital again.

What had happened?

I relaxed for a moment, then quickly looked around when a thought struck me.

Had someone been here with me?

I had a vague memory of someone being in the room. I might have been groggy and out of it, but I was sure someone had been here.

I lifted a hand to my lips and wondered if I had dreamed about someone kissing me. I stared at my hand as if I could still feel the imprint left on it.

Was that a dream?

I covered my face in frustration. I checked the time and saw that it was half past three in the afternoon. I lay back on the bed, and that’s when the door opened, and Beth walked in.

“Finally,” she exclaimed, walking over to the bed. “How are you feeling?”

Gale walked in behind her, watching me like a hawk. Stress lines appeared on his forehead, and I furrowed my brows when I saw him tiptoeing around me. I didn’t dwell on it, so I decided to shift my gaze to Beth.

“Why am I in the hospital again?”

“You don’t remember?”

I frowned, shaking my head. “No, the last thing I remember was trying to get my charger from my room. Did I faint?”

She frowned deeply but seemed like she was trying not to worry. I hadn’t known Beth for long, but I felt like I could read her. She was worried. I turned my gaze to Gale, who was also frowning.

My heart started to race. “Is something wrong?”

“No, no.” Beth touched my hand reassuringly. “Nothing is wrong. You just collapsed. Must have been exhaustion.”

“How long was I out for?” I asked Gale because the longer he stayed quiet, the more suspicious I was getting. He was usually quick to give answers, but he seemed more hesitant now, quiet even.

“Two days,” he replied, pulling his hands out of his pockets to cross them over his chest. “It’s not something to worry about. The doctor already scanned you. You’re all good.”

“So why does it feel like that’s not the case?” I looked between them with raised eyebrows.

Beth answered next. “It’s been a little scary, Lauren, that’s all.” She gave me a small smile, glancing at Gale to say, “Can you please sign the discharge papers?”

She turned to me and explained as he left the room to free me. “Dr. Benedict said you can get discharged as soon as you wake up, but to let you rest at home. You were probably overwhelmed by everything and fainted.”

Ah. That explained it.

“At this point, I don’t ever want to set foot in a hospital again,” I murmured, making her laugh. “You guys must have been so worried. I’m sorry.”

“There’s nothing to apologize for. You were in a terrible accident. No one expects you to be okay one hundred percent. It’s better than being dead.”

“I suppose.”

“Good, now let’s get you out of here. You’re not the only one who hates hospitals.” She made a face that made me laugh. Beth moved to pick up a small duffle bag. “I’ll take the bag out to the car. Wait here.”

She left the room, leaving the door open.

I sat up and swung my legs over the bed, my toes touching the floor. I closed my eyes for a moment, letting my cheek rest on my shoulder. I stayed like that for a few minutes until my heart started to pound out of nowhere.

My skin tingled.

Goosebumps rose, and the room suddenly felt suffocating.

I opened my eyes.

His large frame filled the doorway.

I froze. My heart practically exploded the second I saw him, and then an ache set in. His dark hair was neatly combed and trimmed.

He was tall, about six feet two, and had a five o’clock shadow that highlighted his strong jawline. Deep lines were etched into his forehead as he studied me.

He leaned against the frame with his arms crossed. He looked tired, and just as surprised to see me as I was him, but what caught me off guard the most were his deep gray eyes.

They were bright and striking. I felt something rip through my body that I hadn’t felt since I’d woken up. It was almost as if life had been breathed into me. It was crazy how suddenly breathless I was.

Where had I seen him before? His face looked familiar.

The man wore a coat thrown over clothes very similar to those I was wearing, a hospital gown. He took a step toward me but paused, hesitant.

It was at that moment that Beth came rushing back in and did a double-take when she saw him. Her eyes moved back and forth between us.

“I see you’ve met Mason,” she said. She was oddly looking at him as if she was trying to convey a message through her gaze, but he wasn’t looking at her. He was looking at me.

He hadn’t taken his eyes off me even for a minute.

Mason. I said his name in my head, but outside of my head, I said, “You’re awake.” A smile spread across my lips.

“You’re up and about. Does he remember everything?” I asked Beth, avoiding direct conversation with the man who was the subject of my question. Looking at him felt too personal. He made my heart flutter.

Beth nodded, her face serious.

Turning back to him, my smile widened. “Well, you’ve got it easier than me. I’m sorry about the accident. I don’t know who was at the wheel, but I’m sorry we both got tangled up in it.”

I knew I was babbling, my fingers nervously intertwining and then releasing. “I’m just glad there’s no lasting harm.”

“You really don’t remember, do you?” he said, his voice deep and resonant. It seemed to echo in my chest, sending an unexpected shiver through me. I shook it off.

“Mason…” Beth’s voice trailed off in a warning tone.

“No, it’s okay,” I interrupted, brushing it aside. Did she think my memory loss was a touchy subject for me, especially since Mason had retained his memories? Seriously.

I was happy he remembered everything, and I wasn’t about to act like it upset me.

Keeping my voice steady, I continued, “Dr. Benedict says it’s traumatic retrograde amnesia. I’ve lost all my memories of people and events, but I can still do other things—like read a book, drive a car…stuff like that. I’m glad at least one of us remembers.

“It would have been a real bummer if neither of us could recall the accident—you do remember, right?”

Mason nodded, seemingly at a loss for words. His face was a mask I couldn’t decipher, but his eyes were filled with regret, and he looked sad.

He stepped into the room. I drew in a soft breath, my throat tightening as he approached the bed. He took the empty chair and glanced at the bruises on my arms and face.

He took my hand, which startled me, and gently traced my knuckles with his fingertips. My heart clenched.

“Does it hurt?” he asked softly, his gaze fixed on the bruises as if he could will them away, cradling my hand in his.

His proximity made me catch my breath. “Not anymore,” I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.

His touch on my knuckles felt intimate, and the familiarity of it made my heart pound in my chest. His touch coaxed me to relax.

Strangely enough, it comforted me. It felt as if it belonged there. It was strange, being touched by him, as if he had some sort of claim over me.

I looked at him. He looked up. His gray eyes were filled with concern, and I tried to decipher what else he was hiding.

He smiled at me, a comfortable smile, as if he was used to smiling at me, as if I was used to seeing those perfect white teeth and sharp features soften into a gentle expression.

There was something so utterly confusing about this man—this feeling etched in my heart, this uncomfortable pounding in my chest—this sweet, familiar scent that made me feel nauseous.

I was trying to concentrate, really trying to figure him out.

He was too close, too intrusive, too much in my personal space. I gripped the edge of the bed with the hand he wasn’t holding. I was torn about what to do.

The right thing to do was to push him away. I didn’t know him. I didn’t know who he was, but he clearly shouldn’t be touching me. His touch was too personal, too intimate.

It scared me how good it felt. His touch was as intense as his gaze. Should I push him away, or should I ignore my concerns because his presence, his touch, was so soothing?

No, Lauren. He’s married. That fact was like a bucket of ice water being dumped on me.

For a moment, I’d forgotten, too wrapped up in trying to decipher his touch, his gaze. He’s married. He’s a married man with a child.

What was I doing?

I did the only thing I could do. I listened to my gut, and my gut told me that I wasn’t a fool. Even without my memories, I couldn’t be a fool.

So I pushed him away—not rudely, but firmly enough to make it clear that I didn’t want him touching me or being so close.

He looked surprised by my reaction. I tried not to dwell on it. Maybe I’d been overthinking it. Maybe it wasn’t what I thought—that he was just a friend showing concern.

After all, we’d been in an accident together. He’d just found out that I couldn’t remember anything, so of course he was worried.

I smiled, moving away from him. “I’m fine,” I reassured him, my smile broadening in an attempt to appear friendly. “The doctor said the memories will come back gradually.”

Mason nodded, clearing his throat. He looked at Beth. I couldn’t see his expression, but I saw hers, which was sympathetic. But when she saw me looking, her expression changed.

“The doctor said he might need to keep you for another night, Lauren.”

She moved closer to the bed, saw my reaction, and quickly added, “It’s just for one night. He wants to do a scan and observe you. You were unconscious for two days. We need to make sure everything is okay.”

“I thought everything was okay?”

“It is,” she reassured me, glancing at Mason. “But it’s just one night,” she repeated.

“Beth, I really don’t want to stay for another night.”

“Lauren.” Mason turned to me, his gaze intense.

“You were hurt worse than me. You lost all your memories, and you were unconscious for two days. If the doctor wants you to stay for one night, you need to stay.”

I frowned.

He blinked in realization. “I mean, it would be best if you stayed for another night, please,” he added, leaning forward to take my hand in his, brushing his fingers over my knuckles again.

“We don’t want any complications. Please, stay and let them check you out.”

The way he said please, the pleading look in his eyes, it all made me nod in agreement. I could see he was worried about me.

His eyes mirrored the concern I saw in my friends’ eyes. I couldn’t even begin to imagine what it must have been like for them, finding me unconscious and then watching me remain that way for two days.

His face relaxed into a smile, and my stomach fluttered with butterflies.

Beth left the room, leaving me alone with Mason. He stayed put, taking a seat beside my bed. His gaze returned to my face, lingering on the small scars there.

I tilted my head. “Should you be out of bed?”

His mouth twitched into a half-smile. “I feel good.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

He laughed softly, murmuring, “Still the same, huh?”

I didn’t quite catch his words. “What was that?”

“You’ve lost your memories, but you’re still bossy,” he said, grinning.

I blinked, my cheeks heating up. “I don’t think I was being bossy?” My statement came out more like a question, but he didn’t respond. Instead, I asked another question. “So, you know me?”

“I thought that was obvious, since we were together when the accident happened.”

I laughed, a little surprised. “That doesn’t really answer my question.”

“It doesn’t?” He leaned back, watching me with a soft smile. “I thought people only get into cars with people they know. Surely, you remember that, Lauren.”

“For all I know, you could have asked for a ride, and I was nice enough to give you one.”

“So, I asked you for a ride, and you graciously let me drive your car? Does that make sense?”

I shrugged, though his words surprised me. I had assumed I was the one driving. “Maybe you knew the area better than me.”

He tried to hide a laugh. “And the GPS?”

“You’re really argumentative, aren’t you? Are you a lawyer?”

He shook his head. “Not quite. I’m a small businessman.”

“I think you would have made a good lawyer.”

“Most people find me quiet, so they would disagree with you there. You would have, too, if you hadn’t lost your memories.”

I scrunched up my face. “How long have we known each other?”

“Five years—give or take.”

“And how did we meet?”

“We—” He started to speak, then stopped, as if reconsidering his words. “We worked at the same place. We became friends instantly.”

“How would you describe my personality? Sorry, but I’m asking everyone that question.”

I wanted to see if their perceptions of me had changed, if I was different to them now. But I knew I was just fishing for more information, more connection.

“Fierce,” he answered immediately, without hesitation. It was as if that was how he truly saw me.

“Strong,” he added, grinning. “You’re loyal. You have so much love to give, and you love watching TV.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his thighs. “You’re not picky about food, and you love your friends.”

Instead of smiling back, my stomach dropped, and I clenched my hand. “Oh.” Worry crept into my voice.

He moved closer to the bed. My stomach did a weird flip at his proximity.

Did we date before? Maybe it’s just muscle memory, the way I react to him. I wanted to ask him, but I also didn’t want to.

“What’s wrong?” He didn’t say anything else, just tilted his head to show he was listening.

“I’m not sure if I can live up to who I was before if I don’t get my memories back.” I wiped away the tears that had started to fall.

“Everyone keeps saying great things about me, but I’m not sure this version of me can live up to that.”

His shoulders sagged. His gray eyes lightened a shade. The light in the room seemed to reflect his mood, his thoughts. “Lauren—”

“It’s fine,” I cut him off with a forced laugh. “A lot of things influenced who I was before, but with no memories now, I’m wondering what kind of person I’ll be.

“Forgetting your life is bad enough, but actually rebuilding…” I trailed off, licking my bottom lip and forcing myself to breathe.

His hand closed over mine.

“I’m here,” he said, his voice firm. I stared into his steady gaze. “No matter what changes, you’re still you. Don’t stress over your memories and who you were before. Focus on the present.”

His fingers intertwined with mine. “With or without your memories, Lauren, you can find meaning in your present. You can create a new world that belongs to you.”

He extended his hand with a smile. “Hello, I’m Mason. Nice to meet you.”

My bottom lip trembled. Tears blurred my vision as I nodded at him, forcing a smile. Whether he knew it or not, his words meant a lot to me.

I gripped his hand and smiled back. “Hello, Mason. Nice to meet you too.”