The car was quiet as Mason drove away from the cemetery. Ellen sat in the passenger seat, staring out the window, her mind spinning with thoughts.
She noticed how tense Mason was, gripping the wheel hard and clenching his jaw while keeping his eyes on the road. Mason was still feeling all the stuff from the day, and Ellen could tell he needed a distraction—something to pull him out of the dark thoughts.
She glanced at him, then spoke softly. "Hey... can we go somewhere else? Just... spend the weekend together? Away from the house?"
Mason raised an eyebrow, his gaze still fixed on the road ahead. "Somewhere else?" he asked, sarcasm creeping into his voice. "Do you have another place you want to take me without my consent?"
Well... Ellen could totally see why Mason would be a bit annoyed with her for making him visit his family, something he clearly wasn’t into.
But that was the whole reason behind it. How could Mason never visit his family? Ellen couldn’t believe it when she found out, and that’s what got her thinking about dragging him with her.
Ellen laughed lightly in response. "You get to choose this time," she said, her eyes twinkling playfully. "I’m down to go wherever you want, I promise."
Mason sighed, shaking his head, but a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Fine," he muttered, relaxing a bit.
They soon pulled into the parking lot of a small, cozy sushi restaurant. Ellen glanced up at the sign. "You like sushi?" she asked curiously, surprised he had chosen such a spot.
"I used to come here," Mason said as he parked the car. "Haven’t been in a while."
Once inside, they were seated in the middle of the room. The conveyer belt snaked around the room, carrying colorful plates of sushi past their table. Ellen glanced around, taking in the simple yet charming atmosphere of the restaurant. It felt like a good place—somewhere that held memories for Mason, maybe happier ones.
As they settled into their seats, Ellen smiled at Mason. "This is nice," she said, looking at the plates moving slowly past them.
Before Mason could respond, a voice called out from across the room. "Mason? Is that you?"
Ellen’s stomach dropped as she turned and saw Gerald and Aubrey walking toward them. Her heart sank. Oh my god, them again.
Mason’s expression didn’t change, but his eyes flickered with something unreadable as Gerald grinned and approached the table. "Mind if we join you guys?" Gerald asked, already pulling out a chair as if the answer didn’t matter.
Mason shrugged. "Yeah, sure." He moved from his seat to sit next to Ellen, leaving the spot across the table for Gerald and Aubrey. Ellen frowned, the memory of the last time they all ate together bubbling up in her mind.
That wasn’t a pleasant memory—Gerald and Aubrey had ignored her completely, making her feel like an outsider. Not again. This time, things will be different.
Ellen’s lips curved into a mischievous smile as she hugged Mason’s arm, pulling him closer. "Oh, are you two on a date?" she asked with a playful smile. "What a coincidence, I’m also on a date with my husband."
Aubrey’s eyes narrowed slightly, the bitterness in her expression unmistakable as she glanced down at Ellen’s hand wrapped around Mason’s arm. "No," she said, sounding a bit tense. "Not a date."
Gerald scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "Just grabbing some food, that’s all." He laughed nervously, clearly unsure of how to handle the situation.
Ellen’s eyes flicked between them, and she couldn’t help but notice the way Aubrey’s gaze lingered on her hand touching Mason. Ellen felt a small thrill of satisfaction. She wasn’t going to let Aubrey or Gerald make her feel like she didn’t belong this time.
As the sushi plates rolled by on the conveyer belt, they all started to pick their choices. Ellen took a moment to glance at Mason, who seemed completely unbothered by the tension, casually picking up a piece of sushi with his chopsticks. He ate in silence, but Ellen couldn’t miss the way his body had relaxed next to hers, as if her presence kept him steady.
"Here," Ellen said softly, lifting a piece of sushi with her chopsticks and offering it to Mason. He turned to her, his expression softening slightly as he leaned in and accepted it without hesitation. Ellen smiled, and her heart warmed at the small, intimate moment.
Aubrey, across the table, watched the exchange, her lips pressing into a thin line. Her eyes flickered with something unreadable—jealousy, perhaps, or frustration. Ellen couldn’t be sure. Gerald noticed the tension too, glancing at Aubrey, then back at Mason and Ellen, his awkwardness increasing. He shifted in his seat, clearly uncomfortable but not sure what to do.
"Good, right?" Ellen asked Mason, grinning as she fed him another piece of sushi. He nodded while chewing, his expression remaining neutral, but Ellen could see the appreciation in his eyes.
Gerald cleared his throat, trying to break the tension. "So, how’s work, Mason? Things going well?"
Mason barely glanced at him, shrugging. "Same as usual."
Gerald nodded, not pushing the conversation further, and the table fell into a slightly awkward silence, broken only by the clinking of chopsticks and the soft hum of the conveyer belt.
After a few more moments, Ellen set down her chopsticks and stood up. "I’m going to the restroom," she said, looking at Mason. "I’ll be back in a minute."
Before she could take a step, Aubrey suddenly stood as well. "I’ll go with you," she said quickly.
Ellen paused, raising an eyebrow. She hadn’t expected that. Aubrey rarely wanted to engage with her at all, let alone come with her to the restroom.
Does she actually need to use the restroom, or is she just looking for an opportunity to mess with me?
Ellen looked at her for a moment, her curiosity piqued, before nodding. "Sure."