Page 93 of Without Judgment

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE

Avery

After shutting my laptop, I smiled and then stretched out on my very own sofa in my very own studio apartment. My place wasn’t completely furnished yet, nor was it very big, but it was absolutely all mine.

All done with my first homework assignment. I was taking a web design class at UT Austin while waiting to enroll in the master’s program come winter semester. It was interesting, and in three weeks, I’d already learned a lot.

I’d even managed to meet two girls in my class, and we’d gone out for drinks last weekend. They’d been fun and genuinely nice. It was refreshing to go back to college, this time focused on being a student and nothing else. What I loved most was the obscurity of a large school and a new city. Here I wasn’t the would-be mayor of Houston’s daughter, a rich girl, or someone’s fiancée. I was simply Avery. Free to make choices and do absolutely anything I wanted.

Since I’d so much enjoyed creating the website for Mason’s security company and also the work I’d done with Julia on my own PR fiasco, I’d decided to go for a master’s degree in marketing. My plan was to produce marketing plans for small businesses. And charities. Matter of fact, I’d already been in touch with Melanie about doing some revamps to the doggie rescue’s website. She’d been thrilled with the idea. Neither of us had brought up my former bodyguard.

Mason. I’d have loved to say that in the last four weeks I’d managed to get over him, but the truth was I found myself thinking about him a lot. Heck, he was living in the same city as me. I wondered how his business was going, if he was still having nightmares, and most of all, if he regretted how we’d left things.

Anger was no longer how I felt about that morning. I was more sad than anything else about how he’d pushed me away. I really shouldn’t have been surprised. After such a raw and vulnerable night, he’d probably been searching for the slightest excuse to end things. He didn’t want to become vulnerable to anyone.

Maybe he’d done me a favor. I’d been developing feelings for him at the same time I knew I didn’t want a boyfriend for this chapter of my life. So perhaps it was for the best. I could only hope my heart would get a bit of a reprieve before I had to see him again. There were a number of places in Austin where I could bump into him. I could just imagine him out with another girl and dreaded the possibility.

Leaning down now, I petted Koda, who was asleep at my feet. My priority while apartment hunting had been to ensure I could have a dog. Then I’d gone and adopted Koda. I had to. I certainly wasn’t leaving him behind as this was a second chance for both of us.

“All right, boy. Let’s get you walked before I go out.”

He perked up at the magical word: walk.

I slipped on some shoes and grabbed his leash and soft muzzle. When he looked up at me with sad eyes, I apologized for the latter. “I know, buddy. But this is the deal. It’s not your fault you don’t always get along with other dogs, but I have to protect you from getting another strike against you.”

Because he’d been a fighting dog, was pit bull, and I still was learning his triggers, the muzzle was for the protection of both of us. I didn’t like it, he didn’t like it, but we didn’t want to give animal control an excuse to take him away.

At first, my father had been vehemently opposed to my getting Koda, of all dogs. My brother, although cautious, was supportive. In all, I didn’t really give a fig. It was my life and I wanted to spend as much of it as possible with the dog of my choice. Not that I looked for my dad’s approval these days, but he had come around with Koda. He’d not only bought his new grand-dog a bed, but also a host of other toys. He may still be far from perfect, but the man was definitely trying.

Aside from the muzzle, Koda was completely spoiled. He enjoyed a bed at the end of mine, a fancy collar, and lots of attention and treats.

After I took him downstairs and out back to the small yard to do his business, I settled him down in his bed with a milk bone. Then I took off on foot for the sports bar where I was meeting my brother. He and Emma were visiting for the weekend, and I couldn’t wait to see them both.

As I walked into the sports bar, I was pleased to see Emma at the entrance waiting for me. She immediately greeted me with a hug.

“Hi. You look great,” she said.

“Thank you.” Considering it was rare I went out these days, I’d taken the time to put on makeup, curl my hair, and get into a dress. Most days I lived in jeans and sweatshirts with my hair in a ponytail.

“You look amazing, too. I love your shoes.” Regarding designer shoes, Emma had the best taste on the planet. Tonight, she’d paired her heels with skinny jeans and a flowy top. “Where’s Trevor?”

“In the loo. Come on. Let’s get a table.”

I always laughed at her British terms. So different from the American versions.

We were seated quickly at a booth in a corner of the restaurant. I grinned when I spotted my brother walking towards us. I rose to let him envelop me in a bear hug that lifted me off the ground.

“Good Lord, are you getting heavier?”

I swatted his arm. “Maybe you’re just getting weaker. How have you been?” The last word died on my lips when I glanced behind him at the man standing there.

It was Mason.

“Hi, Avery.”

Was it possible for a heart to beat through your chest? I was about to find out. “Hi, Mason.”

He looked incredible. Dark-wash jeans, crisp white shirt, and a slight scruff which did something to a girl. Like picture his face between my thighs. And those piercing blue eyes. Jesus. It was as though all my conviction that I was better off without him rolled over and said ‘take me.’ It didn’t put up a fight at all. Slutty conviction.