Chapter Five - Jessica

When I woke the next morning, my room was empty. There was a part of me that was utterly bummed that Mason wasn’t sitting in that chair. I knew it was farfetched to think he would stay all night. I was being clingy to a guy I barely knew. I groaned and rolled over to grab my phone. It was only seven as I got up and walked toward the kitchen. The sound of talking and the smell of food lingered in the air. I stopped in the doorway. Mason and Jacob were cooking something in the kitchen. Jacob looked as if he hadn’t slept all night which was weird to me. Why hadn’t he gone to sleep? Didn’t they work at the sawmill? Jacob caught sight of me over his shoulder. “Look what the cat dragged in,” he said. Mason turned his attention to me and smiled. It melted my body into a literal puddle. If anyone had touched me at that moment I would have sank through the cracks in the floor. “Morning,” I said, rubbing my eyes. “What are you doing?” Jacob gave me a crazy look. “We’re cooking breakfast. Did that move to Denver make you dense?” I cut my eyes at him. “Funny. I just meant why are you cooking here?” Mason turned around and plopped a pancake onto a stack on the island. “We thought you’d be hungry. After all of that talking and moving around in your sleep.” A crimson fire lit underneath my cheeks. “I warned you…” “You did,” he said, smiling at me. “Jacob got called into work last night, so I stayed most of the night.” “Where did you sleep?” I asked. “In that reclining chair in your room. I didn’t want you to be scared if you woke up and no one was here.” My heart fluttered quickly in my chest and Jacob gave me a look over his shoulder. “The pancakes are ready. I’m pretty sure Mr. Henley is going to come over to speak with you soon. What time is your flight?” “Eleven. I need to leave in an hour or two.” I rubbed my head as Jacob handed me a plate of pancakes and bacon. “Thank you.” “Have you decided yet?” Jacob asked. “I know you have to go back to Denver either way, but do you think you’ll stay?” I hated the concern in his eyes. The studious part of me said leave and do not come back. The hopeless romantic that felt connected to this place and had dreams of wolfish men told me to give it a few months. I hadn’t even told Mason that he was in my dreams, as well. I didn’t want to scare him off. I wasn’t come crazy stalker woman. “I don’t know…” Jacob grumbled under his breath as I caught a glimpse of Mason’s face. He looked disappointed. Was it crazy to think he liked me after one day? I knew people could be physically attracted to one another without liking them. I wanted to believe he did. I wanted to believe if I stayed that everything would work out. Maybe taking a chance would give me a newfound courage. I walked my plate into the dining room, hearing both of them whisper to one another behind me. Why were they so worried about me staying? Did they know the true reason why Grandmother wanted me to stay? They both joined me at the table several minutes later. I took another bite of bacon and stole a glance at Jacob. His brows were down, but he wasn’t pushing me. I appreciate it. It was the look on Mason’s face that stalled me. He looked at me as if he saw right into my soul. It was lame and a wishful thinking moment, but I couldn’t stop myself from wishing he could. I was almost finished with my plate when someone knocked on the door. Jacob got up and went to answer it. I listened to him invite whoever it was into the house, and then Mr. Henley walked in with the same briefcase and top hot. “Ms. Lowery. It’s so nice to see you again. Are you finished? Could we continue our chat?” I stood up and went to grab my plate but Mason pulled it toward him. “I got the dishes, you go chat.” “Thank you,” I said and followed Mr. Henley into the guest bedroom. He ignored the unmade bed and sat down at the small desk in the corner. “I hope you slept well.” I sat across from him. I didn’t think he would care about my crazy dreams, so I nodded. “Well enough.” “Have you come to a conclusion about the will? Do you think you’ll give the estate a chance?” I swallowed the lump of change in my throat. I didn’t do well with change. When my plans got ruined it gave me a pit of anxiety in my stomach. But this wasn’t terrible, was it? I could still work from home. I would be at least giving it a shot while working, just delaying an in-office job for a few months. “I’m really scared to move here, Mr. Henley. This place gives me the creeps.” He interlaced his fingers on the table in front of me. “I understand your worries. You're young and this place is small. You feel trapped here, but I promise you won’t be. You’re just giving your grandmother’s wishes a chance to blossom. You may enjoy it more than you think you would.” I knew I would. Jacob and Mason had already mostly changed my mind. The four-wheeler ride and the breakfast. It’d felt nice to have someone do something for me for once. I’d been on my own for so long it felt like. When we moved to Denver, Dad’s mind had recoiled into itself. I spent so much time alone wishing my mother was there with me. “I guess I could give it a few months. I’m not promising a year. I can stay, see how it goes, but if a good job in Denver shows up, I will take it.” And I meant it. I couldn’t give up on my dreams for this. Mr. Henley smiled and reached over to shake my hand. “Your Grandmother would be so glad to know about this. Thank you, Ms. Lowery. If you need anything from me or my office in the meantime, please feel free to contact me.” I nodded and followed him toward the front door. When I turned, Mason and Jacob were lingering in the doorway to the kitchen. I laughed at the awkward stares and tucked my hair behind my ears. “I’m going to give it a few months…” Jacob hollered and leaped over to grab me. He hauled me over his shoulder embarrassingly and laughed. “Wow. I knew making her breakfast would make her stay," he teased. Mason chuckled close by and when Jacob flung me to the ground, I felt him closer than I intended him to be. His body brushed against mine and electricity rocketed through me. A scream ripped through my mouth as I stumbled away from him. Jacob froze. “What was that?” he asked. “Static electricity,” Mason said quickly. Jacob brushed it off. “I need to call Momma and tell her. I’ll take you to the airport. Are you coming back this weekend?” “As soon as I can get a flight,” I said, feeling Mason’s stare on the side of my face. That wasn’t static. It was something else and I wanted an explanation. It’d been happening for the last two days. But when I looked at him for answers, he shook his head. What did that mean? He didn’t want to talk about it in front of Jacob? Or he didn’t know the answer. I swallowed the questions on my tongue. “I need to get my things together. We need to leave soon, Jacob.” “Sure thing. I’ll call Momma. Tell me when you need help with your bags.” He bent down and kissed my forehead. “I love you, Cousin. I’m glad you’re going to stay.” Jacob left the room and I quickly walked down the hallway. I felt Mason’s eyes on the back of me and by the time I grabbed my outfit for today, he stood at the door. “I’m glad you’re staying, too,” he said, leaning his forearm against the doorframe. “I’m not committing to a year, but I’m going to see how it goes,” I said. “You don’t feel that electricity every time we touch?” I asked again. Mason only nodded. I wanted to pry his thoughts from his head. Demand he tell me what that meant. Someone’s touch wasn’t supposed to do that every time he came close. The front door shut and knocked us out of our daze. “We need to hurry because I need to stop in town to get gas before we leave,” Jacob’s voice traveled down the hallway. Mason pushed away from the doorway. “I’ll see you soon, Jess.” Him leaving me with no answers made me more anxious to get back. There was something about Mason, these dreams and his energy that drew me to him. I just hoped that staying here would give me the answer I needed to this unspoken of connection settling between us.