Page 30 of I Still Love You (Citation Needed)

“Hold the door!” a voice said as I turned around and pressed the button for my floor.

I pushed the button to open the doors and looked up to see Mason.

“Hi,” he said when the door closed.

We were alone in the elevator. My heart raced, and I had to remind myself to breathe. If he was going to reject me again, this was the perfect moment for it to happen. I could cry through the night, get ice cream instead of dinner from room service, and put my feelings back in their box while I enjoyed my trip around the UK.

“What floor?” I asked.

Mason raised an eyebrow and looked at the panel. “The same one you’re going to.”

“Do you have to get your bags?” I asked him. “Are you leaving tonight?”

Mason shook his head and got down on his knee so we were eye to eye. “My bags are with the concierge for the moment.”

My pulse thudded in my ears, and I felt it in my fingers. I was sure it was loud enough for him to hear it too. I opened my mouth to speak, but it was dry and nothing came out.

“I saw your note,” he said in a low voice.

“Oh?” I said, still unable to form words. All I wanted to do was lean closer and kiss his lips.

“You should only have hope,” he whispered and leaned closer until our lips met.

I inhaled the soft scent of clean cotton, something I had fought to cling to over the years but had failed to fully remember how distinct Mason’s smell was.

“I have my room for another day,” I whispered when our lips parted.

My plan for the evening was only slightly changed by Mason coming to the room with me. We did spend the evening in bed, ordered room service, and watched shows we couldn’t get in America. We also made love and talked. We agreed he should go back to Lacock on his own.

“You’re going to move to Lacock?” Mason said, the hope on his face making me want to cover him in kisses. “I admit I fantasized about this after February’s conference, but I never thought you would agree.”

“It’s not the same anymore. I think they’re open to my help,” I said, running my fingers through his hair. “I’ve been working with Carrie Woodhouse and I know I can help make their plans happen.”

Masson nodded as he leaned in to kiss me again.

“I can’t promise not to go to war with Lois,” I added. “She pushes my buttons every time I see her.”

Mason groaned and buried his head in my neck. “She’s not evil, but I understand.”

“She took my research and presented it as her own,” I reminded him.

He let out a deep sigh. “After you left, I asked her about it. I had assumed she had been slow to ask for your help and moved before she got your permission. She swore you had given her permission since you were leaving. When I saw her present her plan to the campus and not credit you, I confronted her. I tried to convince her to at least acknowledge you. I think Mee did the same and resigned soon after. Lois gives advice freely but sucks at taking it.”

I couldn’t disagree. Whether you wanted her advice or not, she gave it.

“Speaking of her advice, Grace told me about the tenure situation. Have you heard yet?” I asked in a low voice.

Mason wrapped his arms around me and pulled my body closer. “It doesn’t matter. I don’t want it.”

“You aren’t curious?” I asked as I traced the lines on his face. He had aged over the last few years, but I liked the way they matured him.

Mason closed his eyes to my touch and smiled. “My assumption has been that I’ll be rejected. I knew that as soon as she told me I was lacking the research expected for tenure. Walking away now means nobody has to make that decision.”

“It’s like she’s made a mountain out of a molehill and decided to die on that molehill,” I said with a giggle.

“I like that way of thinking about it,” Mason said as his smile spread. “I already gave my notice to the chair of the department and offered to teach as an adjunct for the semester while they find people to replace me. I withdrew my tenure application to the trustees.”

“Did you tell Lois?” I asked.