Free Refresh by S. Moose

couch and watch her. She tries so hard to get me to smile or talk, but I just sit there, motionless and in my own world.
    “Okay. Ew. Go shower and come back down. I made dinner.” She smiles. “Why hello, Mason. You look terrifying as usual.”
    “Oh, Tonya. When will you admit you want my sexy body?”
    “Gag, please. I wouldn’t want you if you were the last man on this earth. I’d rather die alone.”
    “Admit it,” he smirks, “you want this.”
    “I’m not drunk enough for this,” Tonya rolls her eyes and settles on the couch. “Go shower, Caroline, you smell and I need my drinking partner!”
    “Fine, just don’t kill each other,” I tell them and head upstairs.
    After my shower and getting ready I head back downstairs and see Mason in the kitchen, shirtless mind you, and at the stove. I’m not sure what he’s making and I don’t ask. Instead I sit down with Tonya in the living room and pour myself a glass of her delicious margarita.
    “Well, well. I’m glad I have someone to drink with.” We clink glasses and I listen to Tonya talk about her day and it’s nice to feel something again. “You look good, Caroline.”
    “I do?”
    “Yeah,” she says. “There’s something about you that wasn’t there before.”
    “I showered, so there’s that,” we laugh. “I feel good ya know? I broke down and had a complete meltdown. It felt good. Then Mason made me run.”
    “You ran?”
    “Yep. Apparently running isn’t the devil and I actually like it.”
    “That’s awesome, babe. You need to let it out and stop feeling alone okay?”
    “I’m trying.” I drink the margarita and lean back on the couch. I’m thinking about the past few hours with Mason and something isn’t sitting well with me. Here I am with my best friend, who has been there for me every day since losing Evan, and now with Mason in the picture I instantly feel better.
    Tonya’s my person; you know, someone you can lean on and count on. We share so much and out of everyone in my life she’s the one I truly trust. When Evan died I was alone, more alone than I’ve ever been, and every single day she left her husband, Clarke, home and came to stay with me. This went on for six months and I never cracked a smile or cared what I looked like.
    Now. . . . I am.
    A few hours pass along with two pitchers of margaritas. Tonya and I laugh at just about everything and Mason sits on the bar stool watching us, laughing, and staring at me. I catch him a few times, but don’t say anything.
    “Okayyyyy,” Tonya says. “Clarke’s here and I need sex so you kids have a good night.” Tonya leans down and kisses my cheek. “Good to hear you laugh, babe.”
    “Thanks for everything.” I take her hand and give her a squeeze. “Love you, bestie.”
    “Forever and ever.”
    Mason walks Tonya out and talks to Clarke for a few minutes before walking back inside and locking the door. This makes me giggle, falling on my back on the couch, and laughing as if he did the funniest thing ever.
    “Drunk?”
    “Maybeeeeee,” I squeal. Sighing I sit up and pat the cushion telling Mason to sit down with me. When I turn to face him, he’s giving me that look again. I can’t describe it and I’m not sure if I want him to stop. “Why are you really here?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I know there’s another reason why you’re here. So why?”
    “Listen,” he wipes his face and sighs. “Let’s talk tomorrow okay?”
    “Why? Tell me now, Mase.”
    He sighs again and takes my hand. “Evan made me make him a promise.” He pauses and studies me. “If anything were to happen to him then I was to take care of you and make sure you didn’t stop living. It took me a while to come here because I was undercover for a little bit. I’m here now and you’re going to start living again.”
    “Oh,” is all I can say.
    “Is something wrong?”
    “I don’t know. Don’t get me wrong I’m getting used to the idea of you being here and I like