Bruised Angel (River of Lies #2) (19 page)

Kelly nodded her head.

“I’m making them for you two, I’ve already eaten. I came in to ask if you guys wanted some, but you were both kind of busy” she said with a reddening face.

Mason burst out laughing, holding his stomach as tears slipped from his eyes. Chelsea was mortified that she had been seen like that, but Mason’s giggles were contagious and she couldn’t stop herself from joining him in laughter. Soon all three of them were folded over each other in hysterics.

“What’s so funny?” Duggar said from the doorway.

Instantly the hair on the back of Chelsea’s neck stood up as she spun to look at him with a toothless grin spread across his face. Mason noticed the sneer of disgust that had taken over Chelsea’s face and stepped in front of her.

“Just an inside joke Duggar. I think Dad’s in his office” Mason said as he reached around behind him and touched Chelsea’s hand, rubbing her palm with his thumb.

Kelly watched the going’s on with a frown and nodded at Mason and then Duggar. Chelsea nodded in a silent sign language that she would explain later. When Duggar turned to leave Kelly looked at Chelsea for an explanation.

“I just don’t like him. I can’t explain it,  but he reminds me of Carl” she said with a shudder.

Kelly nodded and put her arm across Chelsea’s shoulder.

“Stay away from him, often the gut feelings you have about someone is right” Kelly replied with a nod of her head.

Chelsea nodded and she could feel Mason’s tension beside her. She had never explained why she didn’t like Duggar before, she hadn’t been able to explain it before, but in that moment she realised that was exactly the problem she had with him, he reminded her of Carl. The way he looked at her, the way he smelt, the way he behaved. They were all actions of Carl and it just filled Chelsea with fury. Kelly finished up the pancakes and Chelsea stuffed herself full, letting out a big burp once she’d finished. Mason and Kelly looked at each other before bursting into a giant belly laugh, Chelsea shrugged her shoulders and laughed.

“What day is it?” Chelsea asked.

She had lost all track of time and wasn’t even sure how long she had been sick for.

“Saturday” Mason replied. “I don’t know if you feel up to going, but Lincoln is having his eighteenth birthday party tonight, do you want to come?”

Chelsea sat back in her chair, she really wanted to go, she loved that Mason wanted to include her in his world, she loved that Lincoln had accepted her and didn’t see her as the emo freak anymore. However, she was terrified of seeing Maddison.

“If it helps convince you I invited Dylan” Mason said with a sly smile.

“How did you know I would be well enough to go?” she asked.

Mason grinned and shrugged his shoulder.

“I figured even if you weren’t I would try and get along with him” Mason said sheepishly.

Chelsea stood up and went around to where Mason was sitting and flopped down on his knee kissing his lips.

“Wow Mason that really means a lot that you are trying to get along with him” she said.

Mason shrugged again and smiled at her.

“Trying being the operative word” he said with a laugh.

Chelsea smiled and kissed him again before turning to Kelly.

“Are you coming?” Chelsea asked Kelly.

Kelly’s face blushed and she nodded. Chelsea looked between Mason and Kelly with a frown on her face.

“Alright you two what is going on?” Chelsea asked.

Mason barked out a laugh.

“Yeah Kel. What’s going on?” he asked.

Kelly’s face blushed deeper and she lowered her eyes before looking up at Chelsea.

“Lincoln and I are kind of seeing each other” Kelly said quietly.

“She means they are fucking like rabbits” Mason said laughing so hard his body was shaking.

Chelsea grinned and leapt off Mason’s knee giving Kelly a kiss on the cheek.

“I’m happy for you” she said into Kelly’s ear.

Kelly looked up at her and smiled.

“Thanks Chels” Kelly replied. “Now I have to go and decide what to wear tonight, what will you wear?”

Chelsea tapped her chin and crossed her arm across her chest before opening her eyes wide as she remembered her summer dress that she hadn’t had a chance to wear.

“My dress I bought, I forgot about it” Chelsea said.

Mason smiled at her and nodded slowly.

“Oh yeah I like that dress” he said with a sly smile. “Maybe you can leave the panties behind though?”

Chelsea shook her head and punched him in the arm.

“Really?” Chelsea laughed.

Mason shrugged and laughed.

That evening Chelsea put her dress on smoothing it out over her stomach, she stood in front of the mirror behind Mason’s door and looked at her legs, just the very end of the scar poked its head out, and she pushed the dress down further trying to cover it completely.

“You can’t notice it Chels” Mason said behind her. “You look gorgeous. No one will even be looking at your leg”

He came up behind her and put his arms around her waist kissing her shoulder. Chelsea smiled at him in the mirror. Kelly did Chelsea’s makeup and hair. She wasn’t used to wearing makeup it wasn’t something she did. Chelsea looked in the mirror and didn’t believe what she saw. She had completely transformed.

“Wow Kelly, I don’t even look like me” Chelsea said gazing in the mirror, studying her face.

Kelly giggled and put her arm around Chelsea’s shoulder.

“I like you without makeup, you have the most beautiful skin, it seems a shame to cover it up, but I think you look gorgeous. Watch Mason’s eyes bug out of his head when he sees you” Kelly said.

Chelsea appreciated Kelly’s honesty. She wasn’t sure she liked wearing makeup, it seemed like so much effort. Chelsea liked to be able to get out of the shower and throw her hair into a pony tail, not thinking about it again. When she and Kelly came out into the living room, Mason, Blade and Knox were standing waiting for them. They all wolf whistled and commented on how beautiful both girls looked. Chelsea and Kelly blushed and smiled at the compliments. Neither girl had much experience with compliments.  Mason stepped forward and put his arms around Chelsea’s waist and leant in for a kiss.

“Don’t you dare kiss her, you will mess up her lipstick” Kelly yelled stopping Mason mid kiss.

Chelsea laughed and pointed to her cheek. Mason gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before burying his head into her neck and nuzzling in making her squirm and giggle.

“Alright you two lets at least get to the party first” Kelly said laughing.

Mason turned around and put his arm around Chelsea’s shoulder. Knox stepped forward and took Mason by the hand shaking it.

“You’re a great kid” Knox said.

Mason shook his head and gave his Dad a wry smile, cocking his head.

“Yeah I’ve got a great Dad to learn from” Mason replied.

Knox smiled and winked.

“Have a good night and make sure you watch out for these two” Knox said.

Mason nodded and they headed out the door and into the car with Kelly’s crazy driving.

Chapter Eighteen

When they arrived at the party Lincoln yelled out to them, there were throngs of people everywhere, filing in out of every room of the house, which was massive. Chelsea had heard that Lincoln’s family was rich, but she hadn’t realised just how rich. The house was floor to ceiling pure luxury. Lincoln pushed his way through the people, many of who Chelsea recognised from school and hugged each Mason and Chelsea before pulling Kelly into a tight hug and kissing her passionately. Mason and Chelsea looked at each other, Mason rolling his eyes and Chelsea smirking. Jacob one of the guys that was on the football team came to where Mason and Chelsea were trying not to be made too uncomfortable by Kelly and Lincolns make out session and handed them both a beer. Chelsea didn’t really like the taste of beer but she smiled and took a small sip from it, fighting back the urge to shudder, making the decision to pour it into a pot plant later on.

Chelsea was looking around the room while Mason and Jacob talked football when she spotted Dylan standing in the corner. He looked up and caught Chelsea’s eye, she smiled and waved at him. Dylan gave her a small little wave and pushed past people to get to her. She gave him a quick side hug.

“I’m glad you’re here” she shouted above the music.

Dylan smiled and nodded. Chelsea could tell that he wasn’t too keen about being there.

“How are you feeling?” he asked with a frown.

Chelsea smiled before nodding.

“Much better. Mason said that he rang you and you had come over. Thank you” Chelsea said

Dylan returned her smile and scanned the room. He seemed to be looking for someone.

“Are you waiting for someone?” Chelsea asked.

Dylan shrugged his shoulder while he continued to scan the room.

“Maybe, I don’t know if they will come” he said.

Chelsea felt a little sting in her heart as jealousy rose its head. She frowned and inwardly scolded herself. Dylan was free to have other friends she thought. She forced a smile to her lips and nodded.

“I’m going to go get a drink, do you want something other than beer?” Dylan asked.

Chelsea chuckled and nodded.

“Yes please” she laughed.

Dylan smiled and headed back into the crowd to where a bar was set up in the corner of the living room. Music was thumping and there were crowds of people dancing, kissing, practically having sex and talking. She hadn’t been invited to parties since she was in primary school. They were very different the older they got. Mason took her hand and kissed her fingers. Chelsea looked over at him and smiled.

“Let’s go outside where it’s a little quieter hey?” Mason said.

Chelsea nodded and looked over her shoulder to see where Dylan was so she could let him know, but he wasn’t at the bar anymore. She quickly scanned the room but couldn’t see him anywhere. She gave up and followed Mason figuring Dylan must have found his friend. Mason lead them out to a big stone patio at the side of the house, in the middle was a giant fire pit surrounded by chairs. Off to one side was some concrete stairs that lead down to a grassed area that was surrounded by bushes and trees. Mason sat down on one of the lawn chairs and pulled Chelsea down onto his lap. Chelsea curled up and rested her head on his chest listening to the fire crackle, the music pounding and his heart beating. She still wasn’t feeling one hundred percent and could have easily fallen asleep in the warmth of the fire.

“You feeling alright?” Mason asked looking down at her.

Chelsea looked up at him and nodded.

“Yes I’m good. Just cosy” she said with a laugh.

He drained his beer and Chelsea handed him the one that Jacob had given her. Mason laughed and took it from her taking a big swig.

“I didn’t think you’d drink it” he laughed.

Chelsea scrunched her nose up and shook her head.

“No it’s not my thing” she said with a laugh.

She turned to sit between Mason’s legs leaning her back against his chest, staring into the fire.

“Mason did my Mum come when I was sick?” she asked.

Mason reached out and stroked her hair, running his fingers through the length and running his fingers lightly down her arm.

“No. Dad rang her, she said she was going to come, but never showed” he said with sadness in his voice.

Chelsea nodded her head and felt the sting of rejection and disappointment.

“I guess all she said to me about missing me while she was in jail was bullshit” Chelsea said sadly wiping a tear that escaped her eye.

Mason leaned forward and kissed her hair.

“I got you baby” he said gently.

Chelsea closed her eyes and pushed the tears away. She suddenly felt Mason stiffen underneath her and Chelsea opened her eyes to see Maddison coming up the stairs towards them. Her lipstick smudged and her dress crumpled. Chelsea couldn’t help rolling her eyes, miss prim and proper who fucked like a sailor, Chelsea thought. Maddison spotted Chelsea and Mason sitting by the fire and curled her lip.

“Mason, would you be a darling and zip the back of my dress up for me, it seems to have come undone” Maddison said seductively.

Mason growled and turned his head so as not to look at her.

“Fuck off Maddison” he spat.

Maddison stomped her foot and pouted.

“But I can’t get it done up without some help” she whined.

Chelsea stood up and walked towards her. Maddison sneered again.

“Turn around” Chelsea barked grabbing her shoulders and spinning her on the spot.

“Ouch take it easy, freak” Maddison said.

Mason growled again and Chelsea wanted to punch her in the face, instead she grabbed the back of her dress and zipped it up hard making sure to catch some of her hair in the zip.

“Oops sorry” Chelsea said as Maddison gave a squeal of pain.