I am completely and utterly speechless.

The last thing I had expected to find when I opened the door to my apartment on Friday afternoon, after a long week of work, was a stark naked man leaning against the kitchen counter.

I honestly don't know who is more surprised; me or him.

We both stand gawking at each other, my mouth popped open. I'm making sure to keep my eyes trained on his face, while I can feel my own heat up with embarrassment.

"Who the hell are you?" I yell, prepared to throw my handbag at him.

It seems like he has finally realised that he's not wearing any clothes and quickly places his hands to cover his bits. "Chad."

The name slightly rings a bell. But, to be honest, all rational thought had gone out the window the moment I saw his bare ass rubbing against my kitchen counter. The place where I prepare my food. "LEX!" I screech, and he jumps slightly, clearly startled by my volume.

Well I was startled by seeing his junk, so fair's fair.

Alexa comes wandering through from her bedroom, dressed in a tight fitting black dress that shows off her curves, her dark hair in a perfect chignon. "Hey D," she smiles at me calmly, as if it's an everyday occurrence that there's a naked man prancing around our apartment. "Chad, bedroom, now," she commands, waving her hand dismissively. He slinks off with his metaphorical tail between his legs, doing his best to cover up his nakedness with two hands.

She turns back to me, an exasperated sigh leaving her lips. "Sorry. That was that underwear model I told you about. Sexy as hell, but about as smart as casual Friday."

My roommate's sleeping with a model and I am going on a date with my ex-boyfriend.

Oh to be Alexa.

"Why was he in the kitchen?"

"Getting a glass of water," she says as if it's the most obvious thing in the world.

Just then, underwear model Chad makes another appearance, this time fully clothed. He skulks out of Alexa's bedroom and walks to the front door. As he opens it he turns back to her. "Call me later?" he asks hopefully.

She shrugs, "maybe."

He exits, face still flaming and I turn back to her with my eyebrows raised, unimpressed that this is what I came home to.

"Oh don't look at me like that," she chides. "You know I'm not looking for anything serious. Chad's fun, but maybe it's time to start thinking about moving on?"

I almost feel like she's hinting at me as she says this.

♡

Alexa comes into my bedroom as I am curling my hair in preparation for meeting Mason tonight. Her make-up has been done and she looks ready to go out as well. "I've been instructed to come and check on you."

"Tell Hailee that I'm okay, I promise." I finally finish with my hair and start on my mascara.

"I would if I actually believed it was true." She sits down on the edge of my bed as I continue coating my lashes, hoping to make my brown eyes stand out more. "Look, I know I wasn't there, but from what you and Hailee have told me, it doesn't seem like a good idea to see someone who caused you that much pain."

"I really am okay, I swear." I finish with my eyes and slip on a pair of turquoise heels that add a splash of colour to my black knee length dress.

"You look lovely by the way."

"Thanks Lex." I have chosen this dress purposefully, because I feel like out of all my clothes, it is the most flattering on me. Even though I have lost weight now, I still feel self-conscious about my figure.

Thanks for that Mason.

I look in the mirror and hope that I do look okay. I've curled my dirty blonde hair so that at least it has some volume in it, instead of just hanging limply past my shoulders. My eyes are rimmed with black and my dress fits me perfectly, strapless and flaring out from under the bust.

"What have you got on tonight?" I ask her, doing a slight twirl as I examine myself critically from all angles.

"Rehearsal dinner for the wedding tomorrow," she mutters, seeming less than impressed about it. "In fact I have to go now." She checks her watch and starts walking towards the door.

"Yeah I'm off too," I say, checking my phone to see that my taxi has arrived. "See you later Lex." I blow her a kiss and she mutters something that sounds suspiciously like, 'I had better see you later, young lady.'

Once I reach the taxi I give the driver the address that Mason had texted me earlier, then lean back in my seat and look at the window as the city lights flash past.

About fifteen minutes later, the driver announces that we have reached our destination. I pay him and exit the vehicle, looking at the sign above the bar; Tall-oaks.

It seems nice enough. There's tables outside littered with people all having a good time, their faces illuminated by fairy lights hanging on the walls. Feeling butterflies fill up my stomach, I step inside the double glass door and make my way over to the bar, searching for any sign of Mason. But I can't see him anywhere so I'm guessing that he's late.

How surprising. Not.

The bartender smiles at me as I pull up a stool and take a seat. In any other circumstances I would have paid more attention to the fact that he is incredibly gorgeous. His blonde hair hangs to his shoulders, his dark blue eyes seem to be filled with merriment, or maybe tequila.

But I am too nervous and so I cannot appreciate the eye candy behind the bar as I order a glass of wine.

"Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc?" he asks me.

"Oh," to be honest I hadn't expected to be offered a choice. "Chardonnay please."

"What's a gorgeous woman like yourself doing, sitting alone?" he asks as he pours my glass.

If I hadn't been so anxious I might have wondered if he was actually flirting with me or if he was being nice in the hopes of receiving a bigger tip.

"Oh, I am meeting someone. They are just running a little bit late."

"Someone like you should never be kept waiting." He hands me my glass, the ice clinking softly against the sides. "I hope he realises what he has." And with that he shuffles off to help another customer, not even telling me how much I owe him for the drink.

As I sip my wine I take in my surroundings. The actual bar counter seems to be made of a heavy wood. Oak I think it is.

Ah, Tall-oaks, makes sense.

It's not as busy inside as it is outside. It seems like their little garden area is the place to come on a Friday night after a long week of work as it is packed. There are only a few other people inside, milling around. A couple sits in the corner sharing a private moment, a group of men in suits is toasting with their beers and then there's me, sitting at the bar like some loner who has no friends.

I finish my glass of wine in record time and I'm just about to turn around and order another when one is placed in front of me by the ever-helpful bartender.

"It's Chase by the way," he smirks at me.

"Pardon?"

"The question you were about to ask me. What's my name? It's Chase. And yes, I am single."

Okay so I guess he was flirting with me.

"Diana." I smile cautiously, still slightly wary. And then I remember something, "how much do I owe you for the two glasses of wine?"

"They're on me."

I'm just opening my mouth to thank him, when I feel a hand on my arm and turn to see Mason standing there, thirty-five minutes late.

But who's counting?

"I will have a whiskey, on the rocks," he informs Chase, throwing a twenty-dollar bill on the counter before turning to me. "I am so sorry I'm late Di, it's been one of those days."

It might be the fact that I have one and a half glasses of Chardonnay currently warming up my belly, but I don't feel as nervous around him as I did before.

"That's okay." I smile apologetically at Chase as he pours a whiskey for Mason, and slides it onto the bar along with some change.

"Shall we sit?" Mason gestures towards outside where the crowds of people are still in full force, the poor waiters, taking drink orders and clearing up glasses, look run off their feet.

"Actually I would rather sit inside if that's okay?" I suggest. "It's easier to hear each other."

He nods and pulls up the stool next to me, looking slightly put out by my choice to stay indoors.

"You look nice by the way," he adds almost as though it's an after-thought.

"Thanks. So do you," I take in his dark blue button up shirt and blazer.

"I can't believe we're here Di, it feels like fate doesn't it?"

I look across the bar to where Chase appears to be watching our conversation with interest. He sees me looking at him and hurries over, "another glass of wine?"

"Yes pl-,"

"How many have you had?" Mason interrupts before I can complete my sentence.

"Only two," I mutter, feeling ashamed at myself for some reason.

"Well, I think that's enough."

My mouth pops open in disbelief. After all this time, it appears Mason hasn't changed as much as I had hoped. Chase completely ignores him and pours me another drink, placing it on the bar in front of me and throwing Mason a look of defiance before walking off.

Chanel your inner Alexa.

But I don't know who I'm kidding. My confidence went out the window long before my heart ever did.

"I am not a child Mason, please don't treat me like one." I give it a shot anyway, proud when my voice doesn't shake.

There is a moment of very tense awkwardness, before Mason bursts into laughter. "I'm sorry Di, old habits die hard, I guess."

I wave him off as if it hadn't bothered me. But for some reason, there is a niggling worry at the back of my mind that I can't quite get rid of.

We spend an hour chatting. Me nursing my third glass of wine, too scared to order anymore despite Chase's offers.

Eventually Mason looks at his watch. "Shit, is that the time? I'm sorry Di, but we better call it a night." I nod and watch as Mason pulls a couple of bills out of his wallet and smiles at Chase. "Keep the change."

Chase mutters his thanks but watches as we walk out, Mason's hand firmly on the small of my back.

"This was lovely, Mason, thank you." I say as we exit onto the street and start looking up and down for Taxis. And I really do mean it. It had been nice to actually have a conversation with him as opposed to hovering around the edges while he talked.

"I would love to do it again sometime." He pulls me to face him and tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear.

Once again, I am lost in those damn eyes and feeling like a teenager again. "Okay."

He smiles and leans down, his lips brushing softly against my mine, his right hand placed gently on my waist. It's a quick kiss; very chaste. But when he steps back he's grinning like the Cheshire cat. He lifts up his arm to hail a taxi for me, and one screeches to a halt in front of us as if by magic.

After all, Mason Hayworth always gets what he wants.