Chapter 86: Mason Reed Hurried to the Door

Mason Reed hurried to the door when the bell rang.

His pupils constricted the moment it swung open.

Grant Holloway stood there with Paige Lawson clinging to his arm.

"Holy shit..." Mason gasped.

Grant remained impassive. "Long time no see."

"Come in, man!" Mason fumbled to welcome them, uncorking whiskey and slicing fruit.

When Paige excused herself to the restroom, Mason finally blurted, "I thought you two broke up ages ago. What's going on?"

Grant downed half his whiskey, Adam's apple bobbing. "She's young. Needs time to adjust."

Mason nearly choked.

Twenty years old was young?

Grant must be bewitched.

"What about Clara Whitmore..." Mason trailed off.

That bastard Connor Hayes would throw a damn parade if he found out.

Grant's knuckles whitened at Clara's name. "Who said I'm giving up?"

"But this..." Mason glanced toward the restroom, "You're stringing them both along."

"Once Paige's settled, I'll win Clara back."

Mason opened his mouth.

He wanted to say love couldn't wait, but Grant's determined expression made him swallow the words.

By closing time, Mason was swaying drunk.

He barely signed the check before waiters hauled him into a cab.

Julian Cross stayed relatively sober, though reeking of cigarettes.

He had a permanent suite at the nearby hotel and walked there directly.

Only Grant and Paige remained on the curb waiting for their driver.

Paige pressed against him, fingers curling around his bicep. "Let me stay at your place tonight?"

The implication couldn't be clearer.

Grant extracted his arm. "You have morning classes. I'll take you back to campus."

Her smile faltered before she nodded obediently. "Whatever you say."

After dropping Paige at Ashford University's gates, Grant suddenly told the driver, "Keep the car. I'll walk."

His feet carried him unconsciously to Ashford University's main entrance.

Every tree and brick felt familiar.

He'd loitered here endlessly while courting Clara.

Sometimes she'd appear within minutes. Other times he'd wait all day in vain.

Yet he'd relished every second.

Through the dim alleyway lay Clara's apartment.

Grant stumbled upstairs in the dark, kicking over empty liquor bottles.

At last he stood before her chipped security door.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

"Clara, open up."