Free Ambrosia by Erin Noelle Page A

actually hear his name to encourage my subconscious to dwell on him any more than it did.
    Things between Mason and I were going great. It seemed once everything about Bentley and the move had come out in the open, he could completely relax and enjoy our time together. When he had explained everything to me, I was hurt that he had kept it from me, but I understood why he had. It was easy for me to forgive him; I believed in my heart he was being honest with me about how he felt and what he wanted. He had given me a second chance when I intentionally kept information from him in order to be with him, so I felt I owed him the same. I still didn’t know what would happen to us come November, but I tried not to think about it. Mason rarely discussed the move either. I kept hoping that he would ask me to join him at the end of the semester or the end of the school year, even though that was months away, but he didn’t. I wasn’t about to invite myself to live with him, even though we were already practically doing that more than half of the time.
    Mason had bought me a slew of girly bath products and my own toothbrush that he set up in his bathroom so that I wouldn’t have to bring a suitcase each weekend that I came. I had moved over some clothes that earned their own spot in a drawer and in the closet. Every Sunday when it was time for me to go back to my apartment, he would try different seduction techniques to get me to stay, and as much as I wanted to do just that, I knew that we needed breathing room so that we didn’t suffocate each other. It was extremely hard for me to say no to him, especially knowing that the days I had to spend with him were numbered, but that was exactly why I needed to spend time without him. Soon I would have to spend every day without him.
    Bentley called and texted regularly, but Mason assured me that it was regarding work and that she was keeping their conversations strictly professional. He told me that he had talked to her about me and their current/ future relationship, and there was no confusion or misunderstanding about how she was to conduct herself around either of us. I really didn’t believe that she had backed off so easily, and even if she had, I knew it was only temporary. However, I trusted Mason and had faith that he wouldn’t succumb to her advances. He also knew as well as I did that if something did happen, I would find out quickly. She wouldn’t be able to wait to gloat in my face about how she was right and she got him back.
    Before I knew it, October was upon us and the dreaded November first date was quickly approaching. The rest of the band was excited and I couldn’t blame them. Not only were they moving to a new place, there was a really good chance that things were about to get going for them musically. I felt guilty that Mase wasn’t looking forward to the move like they were; I knew that our relationship was the only thing holding him back. I tried being encouraging and supportive when he did talk about it, but it was forced from both of us.
    All of the members of Jobu’s Rum had planned to go forgo practice for a few days to make a trip to Austin to purchase furniture for their new apartments and tie up some other loose ends for their relocation. In total they had three apartments to outfit~ Aaron and Sophie in one, Cruz and Sebastian in another, and Mason had his own place. They were all in the same building and coincidentally, Sophie had gotten a job in their leasing office. Unfortunately, it was the same place that Bentley lived as well. I wanted to go with him for numerous reasons but they had gone during the week and I couldn’t miss class or work. He promised me that Bentley would not be there, she was still on tour, but I didn’t put it past her to make a surprise trip home knowing that he was going to be there. But what was I going to do? Soon he’d be there all the time.
    I tried keeping myself busy as I usually did studying and working the first