Moon God Mates

Home Life

IRIS’ pov:

Walking out of the break room, I run right into a rock-hard chest. I look up, “Mason.” My breath catches in my throat and I am suddenly tongue-tied.

“Did I startle you?” He says. His dark gray eyes bear right into my soul; making me melt into a freaking puddle. His eyes hold something of content, but they are also full of desire. Desire that is directed at me.

“Um. no, I…” Come on, words work. I look down, feeling the heat from the proximity of our bodies. I take a step back, trying to give myself some room to think. He steps forward and rests both of his hands on the wall behind me, trapping me between the wall and his chest.

“I have been watching you, Iris. You have been watching me too. Wanting me as much as I want you.”

“Yes. No… I.” I am a damn mess. What the hell, brain; think?! Mason moves one hand from the wall and rests it on my hip. The warmth of his hand sends shivers throughout my body. “I… I..” I can’t think. I can’t speak. I am captivated by his woodsy; musky smell. I look back up at him as his eyes find my lips, just as I take my bottom lip between my teeth. He leans in closer…

My eyes shoot open to the radio blaring country songs. Ughhh! She is at it again. I roll my eyes with a huge yawn and grunt. Every night since Mason started coming into the bar, I have been having these dreams. Dreams that feel so real. Dreams that I wish were real. But who am I kidding I can’t even talk to the guy other than asking him if he wants a refill. How pathetic.

I look over and see that the noise has not disturbed James, yet. I rub his soft cheek and brush back his brown hair from his face. My little guy can sleep through anything. I scramble out of bed, slipping into my gray fuzzy slippers; looking at myself in the mirror above my dresser. The bags under my eyes have doubled in size since the night before. We closed the bar pretty late last night. By the time I picked James up from my friend Ana’s, got him into bed, and finished some reading it was already around three in the morning.

Turning on my heels I head out my door, down the narrow hallway, and into the small living room. I catch Mary, my mother, dancing in the middle of the living room while bumping between the green loveseat and the wooden coffee table balancing a glass of red wine in her hand.

“Mom, please. James is still asleep.” I scan the room with my eyes looking for the remote to control the volume. I start tossing the couch pillows scattered all over the floor back onto the couch. She looks a mess, but she's still beautiful. I half smile at how ridiculous she looks dancing there alone with her blonde curly hair swaying from side to side. She is wearing a tight black dress, obviously from her previous night’s adventures. She looks happy; I would be fooled if I didn't know better or if it weren’t for the two empty bottles of Merlot tossed on the floor in front of the radio. I walk over and unplug the radio cord from the wall, pick up the empty wine bottles, and make my way to the kitchen to toss them.

“What the hell did you do that for!?” she yells, spinning vigorously until her eyes land on me. Mary’s eyes are more bloodshot red hiding their normal hazel hue. She has been crying again.

Sympathetically, I approach my mom putting my hand on her shoulder. “Are you alright?”

“Oh, what the hell do you know!?” Mary slams her glass on the coffee table and stomps out of the living room, heading straight to her room, and slams the door behind her.

I let out a heavy sigh and start straightening up the place and preparing breakfast before James gets up.

***

“Here babe,” I set the pancakes in front of James just as the front door swings open and Ana walks in.

Ana, my childhood best friend, and next-door neighbor. My only friend really, we have been inseparable since we were kids; even though we are complete opposites. The platinum blonde, blue-eyed, tall, slim, and well freaking gorgeous goddess that she is, never leaves the house without a full-on caked face. I wish I had the time for that. Some mascara and lip gloss are all I can usually manage.

“Hey girl, my mom sent over some leftover lasagna for little James. We know it's his fav!” She calls out as she walks over to kiss James on the head. Did I mention she is also a freaking lifesaver? Her family is the closest thing I had to a stable family growing up, and have become so much help with my son.

“Ana, what would I do without you guys!?” I meet her halfway for a hug.

“Yeah, yeah whatever.” She shrugs my hug off, “What time are we dropping James off before the party tonight? My mom has a puzzle and movie picked out, no backing out!”

How could I forget, oh right because I am not interested. A line appears between my brows. “I don’t know Ana, it’s my only day off this week and I have so much school work to catch up on.”

“No, Iris. We are going. You NEVER do anything for yourself. Work, school, James, your mom. You are a freakin’ robot. We are going, that's final!” She starts walking away before I even have a chance to answer,

“Ana, No, wait…”

“And brush your hair! I will be back around seven!”

The door slams as my hands self-consciously rise to my head to feel the tangled mess that is my hair.