Free Grounded by Constance Sharper Page B

attention back to the street
    A cozy coffee shop sat on one side of the street. Hopping jazz filtered from the shop’s speakers along with the rich scent of coffee and cinnamon. Despite her vertigo, Avery’s stomach grumbled and called out for sustenance.
    “There. Let’s grab something.” She didn’t ask but told him and pushed him into the coffee shop.
    Eyes bigger than her stomach at the moment, she ordered the biggest muffin on the rack and settled in at a table in the back. Mason slid in next to her.
    “I can’t wait too long or our cover will be blown. And I’m afraid Patrick will likely be looking for you.”
    “He’s probably still looking for me in Alaska.” Avery paused mid-thought and stared down at the table. “Did you take my muffin?”
    The table was empty. Her eyes went straight up to him.
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He tried to defend himself, but by doing so, condemned himself. When he opened his mouth to speak, Avery caught on immediately. Mason hadn’t just snatched her food but he’d done it quickly and nearly swallowed it before she realized.
    “You totally snatched it from me!” Her voice hit a higher pitch than she’d intended and her stomach churned violently. “You’re such a- a-- you’re such a harpie!”
    When Mason’s only response was half a smile, she sunk back into her seat and glared daggers. The harpie’s face sobered up and he directed her back to the topic at hand.
    “Seriously Avery. I have to go now. I need to meet Adalyn again before she realizes I’m with you.” He said slowly, doing well to carefully measure his words.
    It didn’t matter how nicely he said it. His comment brought back up a sensitive subject. Avery found herself afraid to approach it but unable to stop herself.
    “I thought you were just going to steal the book and get out. Why do you have to buddy up with Adalyn? Are you still... are you still in love with her?”
    Mason didn’t lift his head to look at her. He didn’t answer right away either. The atmosphere thickened with agonizing awkwardness. After a full minute, Mason answered softly.
    “You can’t possibly understand.”
    That one hurt. Avery tried desperately to control her emotions and go for the rational approach. Despite what Mason wanted to believe, Avery was involved now and Adalyn in the picture very much affected her.
    “Try me. I’d rather know what I’m dealing with.”
    He groaned before answering.
    “I do love her. It’s not a choice of mine, Avery. And despite what I continue to do, I continue having to deal with her again and again.” He looked up and held both hands out in a helpless gesture.
    Mason’s emotions, though usually guarded, played over the shadows in his face. Avery bit her lip.
    “So I did interpret that kiss the wrong way then. If you’re not ready to move on, then don’t. I’d rather not get stuck in the middle of this if you can’t pick one of us.” She pled through a whisper.
    Mason pushed back into his seat
    “It’s not like that. I’m not trying to be with Adalyn. It’s not about me choosing. I already did that when I stayed with you. But until I can break it off with Adalyn for good, you and I are just a side note. She was here first and I have to do what’s right by her. And then by us.”
    Avery couldn’t have asked for much more of an answer, pleasant to hear or not, so she accepted it with a tiny nod. If he broke it off with Avery again, she wasn’t sure how low her heart could sink into her stomach. She let the conversation die. It wasn’t hard when Mason had lapsed into a deep thought.
    Avery jumped when her pocket rattled and the unfamiliar cell phone jingle rang loudly. She scrambled to jimmy the phone from her pocket and hit the silence key. Since Patrick had destroyed her phone, she had to buy a contract free replacement to recover her number and finally receive the missed voicemails. Mason hadn’t agreed with her on the importance of such a