“I don’t come out much anymore. But when I get the chance, it’s refreshing. Kind of lets me chill out about all the crap that piles up on me.”
“It seemed so hard being a kid. I don’t think I realized it’d get even worse as an adult.”
Chase shifted his weight and kicked his feet down to touch the bottom of the pond. “Is it terrible that all I’m thinking about right now is that I should be wearing sunscreen?”
Mason laughed as he stood back up too, his damp hair falling flat as water streamed through the chiseled features on his face. “I think about it too these days. Trying to minimize the lines, you know?” He rested his hand against his own face.
Chase rolled his eyes. “I don’t think you have to worry about anything. Age doesn’t seem to be affecting you much.”
“It’s taking its toll.”
But Chase couldn’t see it, and as Mason looked at him, he made him feel as beautiful as he always made him feel.
Chase glanced around. “Funny being in this pond again. Feels wrong.”
“Why? Because we’re all grown up now?”
“Yes. We’re supposed to act like adults.”
“Adults don’t get to go four-wheeling and swim in ponds? What are we supposed to be doing then?”
“Budgeting finances and racing to meet deadlines,” Chase teased.
“We can do both. Gotta have some fun every once in a while.”
“Different kinds of fun these days.”
“What? Going out to parties? Getting trashed?”
“Yeah. Isn’t that what you guys do here?”
Mason smiled. “Sometimes. Not such a bad thing.”
Chase splashed Mason lightly. “Whatever.”
“Oh, are we starting this?”
“No, no, no!” Chase exclaimed, but he knew it was too late.
A playful expression twisted across Mason’s face before he splashed in front of him. Chase attempted to fight back with his own waves, but Mason intensified his slap against the water’s surface, working up waves that pounded against Chase.
“Uncle, uncle!” Chase called, accepting his defeat.
Mason moved at him quickly.
“That’s fucking right,” he said before tackling Chase. Wrapping his arms around him, he lifted him up and spun him around over his head, doing a victory dance.
Chase laughed at Mason’s ridiculous display. “You’re fucking out of your mind!”
“I’m a winner, that’s what I fucking am!”
Chase was getting dizzy, and fortunately for him, Mason set him down, but with Chase’s vision shifting, he stumbled and nearly fell back into the water.
Mason grabbed him quickly, his face turning serious like he thought Chase might have gotten hurt.
“There’s my overprotective Mason,” he said, “saving me from the evils of water.”
He gazed up into Mason’s steel-blue eyes as the water continued racing from his bangs down his face. He felt bad about teasing him, considering how serious Mason looked right then.
