Mason Walton

I found a parking space and parked my car before looking at her with a raised eyebrow, "You know the answer to that Kat..." She said nothing. She just kept staring ahead not moving an inch, not even blinking.

I frowned and reached out to her cupping her face so she would look at me. And boy when she did my heart stopped. She was so beautiful with those doubtful eyes of hers.

"Come on Kitty Kat, you know I'm over her right?"

She kept staring at me for a few seconds before shrugging, "Even if you're not Mason. It's nothing to me."

I let go of her and let out a frustrated sigh. Why wouldn't she just drop the act and admit her feelings for me?

"Damn, Katrina! For once, just once, stop pretending and let yourself go. At least just for today, be honest about us! You owe it to yourself."

With one last look at me, she got out of the car and opened the door for Max. I shook my head looking at them as they started walking toward the marker. Max you traitor! Keep running Kitty Kat, one day you'll get tired and stop.

I took my things and got out of the car, walking after them slowly hands in my pockets. The stands were filled with organic vegetables and fruits, others with different kinds of cheese and milk. I looked at all the people buying the products with smiles on their faces, looking happy and content. It reminded me of the few times I came here with my mom and Helena.

My eyes landed on Katrina. She was talking to an old lady who was selling handmade jewelry and was laughing heartedly with Max standing by her side like a bodyguard. Without wasting any time I captured that beautiful moment with a picture before joining her. It turned out Katrina knew this woman from her neighborhood; she was surprised to see her and was telling her about her eldest son who had just come back from the army. The lady surely wanted to marry her son and found Katrina Johnson a perfect match. I mean who wouldn't? Smart, independent, funny and so damn beautiful. Who wouldn't want a woman like that?

I shut them off my mind not wanting to hear more praises about the woman's son. I looked around and smiled finding a little lucky charm bracelet. It had a moon, a sun, a star, and a heart. I waited until Katrina was busy with Max and bought it quietly from the lady. She wrapped it in a small satin bag that I safely tucked into my pocket. I'll give it to her later when the time is right.

Katrina took us further down the street and stopped at a food stand. An old man was making sandwiches with the help of his son Sam. I never thought I was the jealous type. I was never jealous while with Celine, or with any of my former girlfriends. But the jealousy I felt when Sam swooned at the sight of Katrina was killing me.

"Look who the cat dragged in." He smiled at her and she blushed. She firkin blushed!

"Hey, Sam. How have you been?"

"I've missed you. What about you?"

She smiled but leaned into my side "I've been perfectly fine." She looked at me and I was confused for a second. She was acting all lovey-dovey.

"Oh, I see. Well, I'm happy you're happy."

"Thank you, Sam!" She looked at his dad "So, Uncle Earl, do you have your special today?"

"You know I do!" He winked at her and made us our sandwiches while Sam made us coffee.

Once ready, we took our order and went into the dog park where we found a bench to sit and eat on while Max started running around with other dogs. He seemed so happy that it warmed my heart.

"So, Sam." I took a bite and hummed, it was delicious.

She smiled with a shrug "He's had this crush on me since we were little kids and he asked me out a few times after high school."

"Did you go out with him?"

She shook her head but gave no explanation. I let the subject drop feeling like she didn't want to talk about it.

"Max is happy." She pointed at him as he jumped around chasing butterflies.

I chuckled "I don't have time to take him out as I did before."

"I didn't take you for a dog person to be honest."

"I wasn't until I got him." I took a sip of coffee relaxing on the bench "Jason got me Max as a birthday present so I would stop waking him up every time I needed to run in the morning."

"Did it work?"

"No... no." I laughed "Instead of waking him up once a week it lowered to twice or once a month. So partly it did work, but I still need my morning runs with him. He's the only person who listens to me without judging."

"It's nice having that kind of person in your life. I used to have Shelby, but she..." Kat swallowed "She stopped talking to me when I told her I didn't want to try again for the bar."

"That's harsh. She should have supported you. She knew about your heartbreak?" Katrina nodded. "She's not a real friend Katrina. She should have been there for you, not drift away."

"I know, but I miss her, a lot. Sometimes I feel so lonely that I dial her number but hang up before it even rings. How pathetic is that?"

I moved closer to her and casually put an arm around her shoulders "It's not pathetic. You're just too good for her. You're not alone. I'm here, you can call or text or even show up anytime you need. I'll be there for you no matter what."

Katrina looked into my eyes and for the first time, she closed the distance and kissed me softly on the lips. It was the first time after the club that she initiated a kiss. I couldn't contain my joy that I cupped her cheek with my free hand and kissed her back as softly.

She gently pulled away "I know you'll be there. You're just so amazing that I don't doubt for a second what a good friend you can be."

"Friends don't kiss..." I whispered with a smirk before kissing her again. Strangely, she didn't push me away.

Smiling against my lips she shook her head, "No they don't. But we're not really friends are we?"

I chuckled looking away "We are because that's what you want us to be."

"That's true. But I've decided to let myself go, just for one day. And since Mr. CEO is having a sick day, what better day can there be?"

I bit the inside of my cheek knowing how hard I was falling, and how hard it would be for me to act as her friend after today. But I couldn't pass up the opportunity of discovering how it would feel to really be with Katrina Johnson. Isn't that what I wanted all along?

"You know... I would have accepted your offer in a blink of an eye had you made it a week ago."

"But?"

"But you're too special to my heart now. I can't have just one day with you and then pretend it never happened. I'm sorry... I just can't Kat."

She smiled and nodded "That's because you're an honorable man Mason Walton."

Max came running to us with a ball in his muzzle. He clearly wanted to play catch. I grabbed the ball and motioned for Kat to follow me on the field where we both played with Max for about twenty minutes. We only stopped when Kat was out of breath and ready to leave.

The drive to her house was filled with silence as we were both diving into our thoughts. I knew I made the right choice by not accepting her offer, but it still pained me that she would take me for one day instead of a lifetime.

I parked the car in front of her driveway just as her mom got out of hers. She was an older copy of Katrina, and I could imagine how beautiful she was when she was younger. She paused in front of her car with grocery bags in her arms looking at us for a minute before walking toward us.

I got out of the car to greet her "Mrs. Johnson, Hi. I'm Mason Walton."

She smiled with a nod and glanced at her daughter "I Know who you are young man, I'm just trying to figure out what my daughter is doing with you."

"We're just friends mom, no need to be rude." Kat smiled and grabbed the bags from her mom's arms.

"I know all your friends, and don't know Mr. Walton." She looked at me with a knowing smile "We're having a barbecue tonight Mr. Walton. Would you like to join us?"

"Mom! He's busy!"

I looked from Kat to her mom and shrugged "If you really want me to stay Mrs. Johnson I can clear up my schedule. But you have to stop calling me Mr. Walton. It's Mason." I smiled trying to make a good impression.

Mrs. Johnson smiled and opened the door for Max to come out, "Nice dog, what's his name?"

"Max" Katrina answered "He's cute isn't he?"

Her mom looked at her with a smile and nodded, "Well, you can hang out together while I cook dinner. Your dad will be home anytime now." She took Max's leash and walked inside.

I took the grocery bags from Kat and walked after her mom. I loved the colonial look of the house. Come to think of it the whole neighborhood had the same colonial style. I stopped at the door and glanced back only to find Kat glaring at me.

"What did I do now?"

"You didn't have to say yes you know? You could have gone with the flow saying you had plans."

"But I don't have plans. And you met my family, it's only fair I meet yours."

She rolled her eyes and walked past me leading the way to the kitchen. I set the bags on the counter and noticed her mom was in the backyard playing with Max.

"Do you all love dogs?"

Kat came to stand next to me and smiled "She used to have a golden retriever as well. He got sick and they had to put him down."

"I'm sorry to hear that, I bet it wasn't easy."

"Not one bit. Ever since we've tried on many occasions to get her a pet but she wouldn't take them. She's afraid of getting attached to them only to be robbed of them again."

"That's understandable."

We joined her mom outside and played with Max for a while before she left us alone and went to the kitchen. Max was in heaven, having all this attention directed to him was bringing him joy. I sat down under the pergola and watched Katrina petting Max. I realized how much I wanted her to be in my life, how much I wanted us to be more than friends. It has merely been a week and I was already too attached to her that it scared the shit out of me.

Never in my life had I been so attached so quickly.

It was terrifying.