“I was in the hospital with a mild concussion.”
“If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call or knock on the door. Are you retired from the military?” She tried not to sound nosey.
“I was forced to accept a medical retirement. I’m actually not supposed to be living alone, but I like it.” He paused as if searching for words. “When Nicole moved out, I realized how nice it was not having someone controlling me so I told her not to come back.”
“Oh…well, at least let me make you dinner for plowing my driveway. I have no plans for this evening. And I have your mail.”
He nodded with a sweet smile. “Okay. I’ll finish up here, then I have other things I need to get done.” He paused again. “I’ll stop by later this afternoon. Is that good?”
“Yeah. Do you like ravioli?”
“Love it.”
“Great. I’ll see you later. Be careful out here today.” She offered him a warm smile.
He gave her a knowing look before she walked away. From her living room window, Sydnie watched Mason clear the snow. He seemed perfectly normal today. Though his flashback had been terrifying to witness, she wasn’t afraid to be alone with him tonight. He had the prettiest brown eyes she’d ever seen, eyes that revealed a gentle soul despite his crazy outburst the night before.
And he was in amazing physical condition. He didn’t appear disabled with the exception of seeming to struggle in finding the right words to express himself. She knew that not all disabilities were clearly visible on the outside. From what she’d seen the previous night, she had a pretty good idea of why he’d been given an early retirement. She’d heard of what war could do to a man’s mind. The question of why his girlfriend moved out did flit through her mind, but she dismissed it. Something about Mason intrigued her on a deeper level.
Evening arrived with Mason at her door holding two six packs of vodka coolers.
“Hey, come on in.” She opened the door, smiling. There was no reason to feel nervous. After all, this was just a casual dinner between new neighbors. Though he did look really hot dressed in faded jeans and a sleeveless designer t-shirt. Cropped dark hair covered his head where until now she’d only seen him in a cap.
“I brought something to drink.” He, on the other hand, seemed extremely anxious. His fresh inviting scent greeted her as he walked in.
“You smell good,” she said in natural response. And he did. “I recognize that scent, is it that chocolate stuff?”
He nodded with a light laugh. She accepted the coolers, then placed them in the fridge. He followed her into the kitchen, taking a seat at the table in a chair against the wall. She noticed him chugging the liquor rather quickly.
“We should eat before drinking. Dinner is ready. I hope you’re hungry.” She set two plates on the table, along with bread and a casserole dish full of ravioli. “How’s your head?”
“A bit sore, but not bad.”
They made scant small talk over dinner. He told her about the improvements he made to the house after he bought it, talked about his truck, but said very little about his time in the service.
“What do you do?” he asked, pushing his empty plate aside, then wiping his mouth with a napkin.
“Graphic design. I work part time at Designs Incorporated and do a lot of freelance work from home.”
“Cool, so you make pictures and shit like that?”
Sydnie let out a little laugh. “Yeah, shit like that. Actually I design websites, book covers, and pretty much anything web related. I can show you my portfolio later if you’re interested.”
“Sure.” He appeared more relaxed after his third cooler.
She cleared the table and returned to her chair. He didn’t seem in a hurry to leave. They sat in awkward silence for a few minutes with him staring at her.
“Sooo…” she began with a nervous breath. “What do you do now that you’re retired?”
“Spend time with my kids when I can,
“If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call or knock on the door. Are you retired from the military?” She tried not to sound nosey.
“I was forced to accept a medical retirement. I’m actually not supposed to be living alone, but I like it.” He paused as if searching for words. “When Nicole moved out, I realized how nice it was not having someone controlling me so I told her not to come back.”
“Oh…well, at least let me make you dinner for plowing my driveway. I have no plans for this evening. And I have your mail.”
He nodded with a sweet smile. “Okay. I’ll finish up here, then I have other things I need to get done.” He paused again. “I’ll stop by later this afternoon. Is that good?”
“Yeah. Do you like ravioli?”
“Love it.”
“Great. I’ll see you later. Be careful out here today.” She offered him a warm smile.
He gave her a knowing look before she walked away. From her living room window, Sydnie watched Mason clear the snow. He seemed perfectly normal today. Though his flashback had been terrifying to witness, she wasn’t afraid to be alone with him tonight. He had the prettiest brown eyes she’d ever seen, eyes that revealed a gentle soul despite his crazy outburst the night before.
And he was in amazing physical condition. He didn’t appear disabled with the exception of seeming to struggle in finding the right words to express himself. She knew that not all disabilities were clearly visible on the outside. From what she’d seen the previous night, she had a pretty good idea of why he’d been given an early retirement. She’d heard of what war could do to a man’s mind. The question of why his girlfriend moved out did flit through her mind, but she dismissed it. Something about Mason intrigued her on a deeper level.
Evening arrived with Mason at her door holding two six packs of vodka coolers.
“Hey, come on in.” She opened the door, smiling. There was no reason to feel nervous. After all, this was just a casual dinner between new neighbors. Though he did look really hot dressed in faded jeans and a sleeveless designer t-shirt. Cropped dark hair covered his head where until now she’d only seen him in a cap.
“I brought something to drink.” He, on the other hand, seemed extremely anxious. His fresh inviting scent greeted her as he walked in.
“You smell good,” she said in natural response. And he did. “I recognize that scent, is it that chocolate stuff?”
He nodded with a light laugh. She accepted the coolers, then placed them in the fridge. He followed her into the kitchen, taking a seat at the table in a chair against the wall. She noticed him chugging the liquor rather quickly.
“We should eat before drinking. Dinner is ready. I hope you’re hungry.” She set two plates on the table, along with bread and a casserole dish full of ravioli. “How’s your head?”
“A bit sore, but not bad.”
They made scant small talk over dinner. He told her about the improvements he made to the house after he bought it, talked about his truck, but said very little about his time in the service.
“What do you do?” he asked, pushing his empty plate aside, then wiping his mouth with a napkin.
“Graphic design. I work part time at Designs Incorporated and do a lot of freelance work from home.”
“Cool, so you make pictures and shit like that?”
Sydnie let out a little laugh. “Yeah, shit like that. Actually I design websites, book covers, and pretty much anything web related. I can show you my portfolio later if you’re interested.”
“Sure.” He appeared more relaxed after his third cooler.
She cleared the table and returned to her chair. He didn’t seem in a hurry to leave. They sat in awkward silence for a few minutes with him staring at her.
“Sooo…” she began with a nervous breath. “What do you do now that you’re retired?”
“Spend time with my kids when I can,
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