“You’d think it would be easy to ignore her calls after what you told me.” I mutter, reclining back into the safe confinement of Mason’s chest.
He wraps me up in his arms, breathing me in. “You should do what you think is right. Either way, I’m here for you.”
“I don’t want to speak to her, but I feel bad if I ignore her. And then when I do answer her calls, I’m always left feeling shitty. You probably think I’m stupid for even entertaining her.”
“She’s your mother, maybe not morally, but genetically she will always be a part of you, and I accept that if it means there is a you in the world.”
I dip my head back, looking at him upside down. “Smooth, Bossman.”
He chuckles, leaning forward to kiss me. “Can I kick them out yet?” He flicks his eyes towards our friends.
I follow his gaze, catching Elliot and Lucy deep in conversation. Lucy has had a skinful this evening and I should get her to bed, but I know Elliot is harmless. She seems to be herself around him, compared to the perfected Lucy she fronts to the rest of the world—not many people get that side of her.
“No, let them stay. This place is too big for the two of us, and I like them being here.”
He rests his chin on my shoulder. “Me too,” he admits.
I sigh and relax deeper into him, allowing my eyes to close and my mind to rest as I soak in the contentment that comes in that moment.
* * *
Strong hands lift me,pulling me from sleep. “Bedtime, angel.”
I open my eyes and I see that everyone has gone inside. A blanket is draped around me, and I am cradled in the warmth of strong arms.
“What time is it?” I ask into his neck.
“Late. I didn’t want to wake you,” he says, looking adoringly down at me.
I reach up, moving his hair from his forehead, his skin cool against my warm palm. “Mase, your freezing,” I scold, pulling the blanket from around me and draping it over his shoulders.
“I’m fine.” He shrugs off the material.
He walks us into the penthouse and drops me to my feet. Lance, Charlie, Megan and Scarlet, all sit around the sectional sofa watching a movie. Scarlet gets up when she sees us, rounding the sofa to hug me.
“Night, guys,” she says with a lopsided grin on her face.
“I hope you’ve had a good day, Scar, I know I have.” I yawn long and hard, lifting my hand to stifle it. I have no idea how long I’ve been asleep, but I feel exhausted.
“Thanks to you I have.” She pulls Mason in for a hug. “Big brother, you fuck this up, and I will seriously never forgive you,” she tells him, throwing me a wink over his shoulder. “Is Vinny still with Dad? He’s happy to stay?”
“Yeah, have a night off, Scar,” Mason tells her.
“Thank you,” she says, reaching out to squeeze my hand.
* * *
“You seemto make everyone you meet fall in love with you.”
We stand at the sinks in Mason’s en suite brushing our teeth, and I pause momentarily as his comment registers.
I side-eye him in the mirror, noting the panic that’s written across his face. Biting down on my toothbrush, I try to contain my amusement.
I step forward and rinse, then wipe my chin. “I do?”
“Yeah. Like my sister, Vinny and the boys,” he says, slightly muffled.
“Ah, your sister, Vinny and the boys.” I wait a beat before asking. “Have you ever been in love, Mase?”
