The re-opening at Jim's was a major success. He had tripled his average night sales within just a few hours. The smile on his face said it all when he locked the doors for the night.

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Lexi, Zach, Mason and I all collapsed on the couches in the living room once we got back home at around midnight. Lexi draped her legs over Zach while he flicked through channels on the tv. Mason sat on the arm of the couch looking like he was ready to make an escape. I thought I might do the same since I had my doctors appointment in the morning. I'd already been struggling to wake up in the mornings as it was without having a late night. Going to bed sounded like a really good idea.

"I'm gonna go to bed guys. I'll see you in the morning." I gave Lexi a hug and she kissed me on the cheek. Her eyes looked tired but you could tell she was trying to stay awake for Zach's sake.

I went to turn to walk through the double doors and out to the pool house but Zach chimed in.

"What about me sis? You're Lexi's chick friend which makes us practically related. I want a hug too." He held his arms open pretending to mope. I felt sort of uncomfortable hugging anyone other than Lexi... or Mason, but I guess he was right.

I shuffled over to him, leaned down and gave him a light, awkward hug.

"I want to do a surprise birthday for Lexi in a few weeks. Talk to you in a couple of days about it." He whispered in my ear while Lexi doted on Mason about his romantic performance. I nodded once so I was too obvious about it and let a small smile sneak through. Zach was the perfect guy for Lexi. He treated her like a princess and God knows she had gone through a lot of frogs to get her prince. Finally, she'd found a good one. I approved.

I walked out of the doors not really sure whether I should give Mason a hug, but it felt like I would have been leading him on so I decided against it... even though it took everything within me to fight jumping into his arms and crashing my mouth against his.

"Hey, wait up!" Mason called breathlessly as he jogged from the lounge room to where I was beside the pool. I stopped and waited for him to catch up.

Give me the strength to resist him. He's all I've ever wanted in a friend... in a lover... I don't want to hurt him.

"Are you sure you're okay Quinn? You left pretty quickly after that song. I know I made you uncomfortable, I'm sorry." He rambled, clearly nervous. I waved my hand and sat at the edge of the pool.

"No Mase, I'm okay. The song was so beautiful... I just can't go there right now. Believe me, I want to but... I..." I trailed off trying to find the perfect words. Ones that were't going to hurt him but words that wouldn't string him along either.

"It's okay Quinn, you don't have to tell me. I can wait until you're ready. I just wanted to show you how much you mean to me... sleep on it, okay?" He rubbed gentle circles on my back which made my body hum with need. All I could do was nod. No words would come.

Mason stood up from the pool side and padded back into the main house. I sat by the pool for a little while longer looking up at the stars.

There was a raging war going on inside me. My head wanted to steer clear of Mason and keep him as just a friend, maybe even less to protect him from me. But my heart wanted him, all of him. Right now I was just grateful that he was still speaking to me at all.

How did he weave his way into my heart so deep?