“No, he was good to me,” Chase assured him. “He didn’t hurt me. That’s not what I meant. We just… grew apart. I was just sort of meaning that in general.”
Mason could tell Chase was being evasive, but Chase’s words were enough for him to relax his grip on the horseshoe as he quieted the rage that swelled within him. He almost felt like an idiot for how defensive he’d gotten over something so stupid—something that really had nothing to do with him anymore.
* * *
It was difficult to be near Mason.
When he’d thanked Chase in the kitchen for helping out on the dairy, his words had been so kind, so sincere—so unlike his defensive attitude when he’d first arrived. It caught him off-guard and reminded him of the way they’d once been around each other. That’s why he’d dropped the plate.
His knee-jerk response kicked in, and he felt like a kid all over again with his mom and stepdad shouting at him and slapping him around.
But Mason had been right there for him as he would have been in the past.
In a moment, all the resentment he’d felt from Mason dissolved. As they were on the kitchen floor, Mason’s arm around him, Chase felt as though they’d slipped into the past—to a moment he didn’t want to leave, because he wanted to keep the secure sensations that Mason had reawakened within him.
That sensation lingered as they stood in the barn, Mason being defensive as ever about Tristan.
He knew he shouldn’t have enjoyed Mason’s rage, but it was comforting knowing how much he still cared. That time and distance hadn’t left Mason so changed that he could erase the memories they’d created together.
“Grew apart?” Mason asked.
“Yes, there wasn’t a spark there.”
Not like there was with us.
“Oh, I get that,” Mason said. “Just… you know you deserve someone amazing.”
“I know,” Chase said.
“No, you don’t. I can tell when you’re lying to me, Chase. It’s me, Mason, remember?”
Chase blushed.
“It’s fine if you want to kid yourself, but don’t try to pull one over on me.” His lips curled into a smile, assuring Chase that he was being playful. “All I ever wanted was for you to be happy. I hope you know that.”
“I’ve never doubted it, Mase. I’ve always felt the same way about you, and it looks like everything’s going great here. In your life. With you. Emery never really tells me about the guys you see, but I assume—”
“I don’t really see anyone. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not sitting around waiting for anything, but I haven’t had a boyfriend or anything serious.”
Chase tensed up that time because Mason’s words implied he’d been with other men. He knew that had to be the case, but the thought of Mason being with another man hurt him. It physically pained him like a knife driving into his gut.
“Why did that bother you?” Mason asked.
“It’s nothing. It’s not your fault. Anything you do with another guy is your right. I can’t control you any more than you can control me.”
“I clearly haven’t been able to do that,” Mason said, his words cutting into Chase as he realized he was talking about Tristan and the other boyfriends Chase had been with. But as soon as Mason said it, he added, “I’m sorry. That wasn’t fair.”
“No, it was. Too fair, almost.” Chase glanced around uneasily. “Things haven’t changed much in this barn. But I noticed the equipment and the new coat of paint on the house. Pa seems happier since back then. Since…”
“Since she passed away.”
Chase nodded. “And you?”
“I’m doing about as well as you, I assume.”
Chase’s eyes watered again. “I mean, I don’t really have a right to say that much, considering you’re her son.”
“You have as much a right to say that as anyone in this family, and I don’t want you acting like you don’t. You know she loved you as much as any of us.” His words came out harsh, like he was fighting with him, but Chase understood why Mason was so worked up. He wanted to make him feel better, and he appreciated the sentiment.
