The Valentine's Dare (The Sycamore Serial Book 1) by Nicolette Owens

lips. “Some business trip, I think. The details are a little foggy. I should’ve wrote it down, but I thought you’d wake up, like, right away.”
    “You just said you thought I’d never wake up,” Mason groused, already irritated by her presence.
    Anna cocked her head, confused. “What was that?”
    “Nothing.” There was something about her complicated manicures that changed every day, her over processed blonde hair, and her sugary sweet voice that drove Mason crazy. He didn’t understand how he’d ever dated her in the first place.
    Then again, he’d never had someone like Kierra to compare her to before.
    For a moment he considered asking Anna where she was, but then he reconsidered. No reason to start trouble. Wherever Kierra was, she’d be back soon. He could almost feel her in the room, as if she’d just been there and had stepped out to get something from the vending machine, but would be right back.
    “How long have I been out?”
    “Two days.” Mason frowned, shocked by how long it’d been, but Anna just looked around the room in disappointment. “Really, you’d think everyone would’ve left you more gifts. They’ve had plenty of time to go shopping.”
    Mason thought there were plenty of flowers, cards, stuffed animals, and chocolates in the room; then again, he had a feeling nothing could ever satisfy Anna. Certainly I couldn’t.
    “What’s that?” Mason stared at the folded up note on his bedside table, drawing Anna’s attention to it. “Did my dad leave that?”
    “He hasn’t been here,” Anna said, not even noticing the look that flashed across Mason’s face. “I think that’s just trash.”
    Anna snatched the note up before Mason could grab it, then stood and strode across the room. He watched as she unfolded it, a frown passing over her face.
    “What is it?” he asked, but in response she tore the paper in half, folding them over and tearing the halves into tinier pieces until she’d made confetti that she dropped into the trash can.
    “Like I said, it’s trash.” Anna spun on her heel and flashed him a smile. “Now that you’re awake, I’m gonna go get us some real food, okay babe?”
    “Sure, whatever.” Mason didn’t even correct her pet names for him; he just didn’t have the energy.
    A few minutes after Anna had left, he grew bored and reached for the TV remote, feeling around on the bedside table until his fingers hit hard plastic. Instead of the remote, he pulled back his phone, which was lit up with missed calls and messages. Scrolling through them, Mason was overwhelmed by the support he’d gotten from his friends, his family, and even his distant acquaintances.
    None of the messages were from Kierra.
    That’s just because she was here, he thought, pushing away his panic. She didn’t have to message me because she was right here the whole time. Until now.
    A niggling feeling wouldn’t leave him. Something was wrong, and he had to know what is was. After all, for all Mason knew she’d gotten hurt just like him. So he scrolled through his contacts until he found her name, saddened to realize how little he’d used her phone number after he got it at Sycamore orientation.
    First he messaged. Then, realizing she might not have seen it, he called her; and when his call went straight to voicemail, he called again, certain something was wrong.
    After a few calls and messages, he realized she might not have her phone because she was too busy spending time at his bedside.
    When enough time had passed that Anna returned, ate with him, and left again, he realized Kierra hadn’t been by in a while.
    It wasn’t until the next day that Mason began to realize she hadn’t picked him after all.

CHAPTER TWELVE
    Goodbye

    There were a lot of things water could do. Chief amongst those was its ability to create life; plants and animals depended on it.
    As Kierra tossed her phone into the Pacific Ocean, she found herself thinking that it could start life over again,