Blind Side Of Love (33 page)
Read Blind Side Of Love Online
Authors: Beth Rinyu
“Oh really and what was this for?” “Well…..I met a guy, and if I could ever find my darn phone I could show you a picture. And please tell me if I look hideous in this dress.”
“What’s his name and how’d you meet him?” I could hear the excitement in her voice.
“His name is Mason Boudreaux. He’s a DEA agent and I met him through work.”
“Oh, sounds exciting!”
I finally felt the side of my phone and pulled it from my purse. “Go into the pictures section. It should be the one and only picture in there.” I giggled.
“Oh, I cannot wait to see what he looks like!” she exclaimed, taking the phone from my hand.
I waited to hear her reaction, but instead there was silence. “Did it come up?” I asked.
“What? Oh… umm….yeah,” she said, sounding a little confused.
“Well, what do you think of the dress and more importantly what do you think of him?”
“The dress is beautiful. You look beautiful,” she replied, sounding like someone had stuck a needle into her and sucked all of the excitement that she had been conveying just a few moments ago.
“And? What about him? Is he as cute as I imagine him to be?”
“Umm….yeah, he’s really nice looking. So what exactly does he do as a DEA agent?”
“He mainly works undercover and breaks up drug rings.”
“Oh,” she replied, sounding deep in thought.
“Okay girls, I got ice tea, chips and salsa, and some cheese and crackers.” My mom’s voice came closer as did the rattling of Lilly’s dog tags.
“Krista, show my mom the picture,” I said.
“Of what?” my mother asked.
“My new
friend,
Mason.”
“Oh yes, hand it over!” my mother said.
“Oh darn!” Krista shouted. “I think I accidently deleted it. I’m so sorry, Becca.”
“Oh really? Oh, well I can get his sister to send it to me again.”
“Aww, I wanted to see!” my mother pouted.
“I promise I’ll have pictures next time, Mom.”
“Oh my God. I cannot believe what an airhead I am. I actually have a three o’clock appointment that I just totally remembered. I’m so sorry, Becca. I promise we’ll catch up the next time you come and visit.” I heard the chair move and felt Krista’s lips grazing my cheek.
We said our goodbyes and my mother got up to walk her to the door. I was feeling a little saddened, wishing that Krista and I could have hung out for a little while longer. I jumped when my phone began to beep and the voice on the speaker said, “Call from Mason.” Suddenly, I wasn’t feeling so down anymore.
Mason
I said my goodbyes to Becca and slipped my phone back in my pocket just as Liz got back into the car. “Well, did I miss anything?” she asked. We had been waiting on a bust for the past hour and a half and something told me it wasn’t going to happen today.
“Not a thing. I think Ortiz got stood up.”
“Since when are dealers on time?” she asked.
“True.” I remained focused on Agent Ortiz as he stood out on the corner, waiting for the deal to go down.
“So, I haven’t talked to you in a while. How was your trip home?”
“It was really nice.”
“Did Becca have a good time?”
“Yeah, I think she did.”
“Guess she still doesn’t know?”
“I’m working on it, Liz.” She raised her eyebrows and nodded. “What’s that look for?” I asked.
“Nothing. Nothing at all.”
“What fuckin’ ever!”
“Boy, someone is cranky. Is it because his girlfriend isn’t around?” she taunted.
Maybe it did have a little to do with Becca not being around and a lot to do with knowing that my time was coming closer and I had to tell her the truth. Every time I thought about it, I got a sick feeling in my stomach, and I didn’t need Liz reminding me of that fact and making me feel worse.
“How do you know she’s away?”
“Natalie was talking to her the other day. She wanted to get together with her this weekend to go over the details of the meeting Becca’s going to be speaking at.”
My eyes shifted to the guy talking to Ortiz, trying not to look conspicuous. I watched as the money exchanged hands. “Can I do the honors?” Liz asked.
“Be my guest.”
If it will get you off my case about Becca, do whatever you please.
“Hey gorgeous girl,” I shouted as the conductor helped Becca off the train. I took her bag from her hand and pressed my lips against hers.
“Well, that was a very nice greeting.”
I looped my arm in hers and we began to walk. “Are you hungry?” I asked.
“Actually, I am starving.”
“Good, so am I.” We decided on a place and were on our way.
Lilly lay under the table as we sat in the outside seating area and ate our dinner. Becca told me all about her doctor’s visit and the new surgery that he had told her about. “I don’t get it. Why wouldn’t you want to go for it if there’s a chance that you may be able to see again?”
“It’s a fifty percent chance,” she said very nonchalantly as she took a bite of her fry.
“Okay? And that’s fifty percent more of a chance than you would have without it.”
“I-I just don’t want to talk about it right now.” She shook her head and ran her hand through her hair. “So, my friend said you pass the cuteness test.”
“What?” I asked in confusion.
“I asked your sister to send me a picture that she had taken of you and I at your parents’ party and I showed it to my friend, Krista. She said you were very nice looking. I wanted to show my mom, but Krista accidently deleted it.” I felt my insides twisting.
What the fuck?
There was no way in hell that her friend Krista didn’t know who I was and then to delete the picture? Clearly, she didn’t want Becca’s mother knowing, but why? I tried my best to focus on Becca’s conversation, but I couldn’t turn off the million thoughts racing through my mind. I knew I had no choice but to come clean right away. The last thing I wanted was for her to find out from someone else.
After Dinner, I took Becca back to her apartment. I sat on the couch, battling with my nerves and the fact that this may be the last time we spent together. After tonight she may never want to talk to me again. I took a deep breath and prepared myself for one of the hardest things I was ever going to have to do.
Becca
It felt so good to have Mason’s arms wrapped around me as I cuddled up with him on my couch. Even though it had only been two days since I had last seen him, I missed him like crazy. "Is everything okay?” I asked. “You seem like something is on your mind."
He let out a deep breath and I felt my stomach begin to drop. I could just sense that something wasn't right. "I have one more week to make a choice about this promotion.”
"What promotion?" I asked.
"It's a supervisor job. I wouldn't be doing undercover work anymore."
I could feel the happiness building inside of me, but I wasn’t going to let it show to him. I didn't want him basing his decision just on how I was feeling. But I was hoping that he would take it. I worried about him every day. At least with this job he would be a lot safer. "Well, what do you want to do?"
"I don't know. I'm just so used to doing undercover work it's like it's a part of who I am."
I nodded, trying desperately to not show my disappointment, but I knew where he was coming from. I was fighting the same battle in my head with this surgery. I had been blind for so long now, it was kind of who I was. "Well, then -"
"But since you've come into my life, everything has changed."
"Mason, I don't want you basing your decision on what I want or because of me. I want you to be happy, and if working undercover makes you happy then please don't let me stop you."
"You know what makes me happy, Becca?" I shook my head. "You."
I closed my eyes, holding back the tears. I didn't deserve this man; he was too good to me. I reached for his hand and wrapped my fingers around it. "Thank you, Mason. That makes me really happy, but will I be enough?"
"What do you mean?"
"Do you really want to be stuck in an office job because you feel like you have to be around to take care of your blind girlfriend? I don't want you to resent me for feeling like I was the reason you took it. I want you to base this solely on how you are feeling. Take me totally out of the equation."
"Why would I do that? You are part of my life now and I don't want to lose you again."
I lifted my head from his shoulder. “Again? What do you mean by again, Mason?" He let out a deep exhausting breath. "What do you mean by again?” I repeated, this time raising my voice a little louder.
He grabbed the back of my neck and pulled me into a kiss. I struggled to break free but he wouldn't let me. I was breathing heavily as our lips finally disengaged. "Becca, tell me who you're seeing when I kiss you."
My head was spinning and I was praying that what my heart had been telling me for a while wasn't true. "I-I don't know."
"Damn it, Becca, tell me!" All the signs were there and I chose to ignore them because I didn't want to believe it. "Say it, Becca!" he shouted.
The tears began to spill. How could this be happening again? "Drew," I whispered.
I backed away when he went to touch me again. "Becca, I wanted to tell you but-"
"But what? You just figured you would use me like you did back then and leave me again?"
"No, that's not what I did back then and that is not what I'm doing now."
"You are a sick bastard, you know that!?"
"Becca, I had no choice back then. My cover was going to be blown. They had you running drugs to some pretty dangerous people and I had to do everything I could to protect you." I shook my head. None of this was making sense to me. "That Simms guy; he is in prison right now for human trafficking. Becca, don't you see? The Barretts’ had you doing all of their dirty work and were going to use you as an added bonus for this guy." I covered my ears with my hands. I couldn't listen to any more of it. How could I have been so naïve back then and still be so naïve now? "I may have lied to you about who I was, but I never lied about my feelings for you. I would have given up everything to be with you back then."
