As Mason mixed their drinks, he grinned because talking to Chase about the dairy reminded him of the days when they would work it together, waking up early to perform their daily responsibilities. Back when they were in high school, Pa had needed the help when they’d transitioned from a hundred cows to three hundred, and he’d lost two of his guys to some of the other neighboring farms. Chase and Mason worked their asses off that summer. He was taking on that same heavy load as back then, but without the man he loved by his side.
“Emery must be stressed as hell trying to keep on top of that and get ready for her wedding,” Chase said.
“Did you hear there’ll be about a hundred people between family and friends? Bigger than ours. Hope her maid of honor, Tessa, is up for the challenge. She’ll be coming to talk to Emery about the wedding in about a week. City girl. Lives in Atlanta.”
“Emery’s mentioned her. I know they went to school together, but we’ve never met,” Chase said as though he was annoyed Mason didn’t think that Emery would have told him about Tessa being her maid of honor.
“I figure she’ll debrief you as soon as she gets back. I’m surprised you were able to take off that much time from work. Usually you’re just here for a couple of days.”
“Emery didn’t give me much choice, but I wanted to see you guys again.”
His response confirmed Mason’s suspicion about Emery being the reason why he was staying longer.
“And I needed a break from work,” Chase added.
“How’s the firm?”
Chase worked in the legal department of a major accounting firm in Los Angeles. In some ways, Mason was proud as hell because it was the life Chase wanted—the life he deserved. But in other ways, he resented his success because it was what had pulled them away from one another.
“It’s been fine,” Chase replied, but Mason could tell by the way he said it that there was more to the story.
Chase shifted his gaze as Mason handed him his drink.
“It’s vodka Sprite,” Mason told him.
As Chase took the glass from him, their fingertips touched, and Mason felt the return of that same rush he always got whenever Chase’s skin was against his own. A primal passion tore through him as he locked his legs in place to keep from wrapping his arms around Chase and forcing him close for a kiss… and so much more. It was all that he wanted, all that he craved.
When Chase had his grip on the glass, Mason drew his hand back sharply to fight the impulses that their touch had stirred.
God, that was going to be hard for him. A week and a half with Chase was going to be painful for Mason, bringing back so many more memories that were best left undisturbed.
Mason sat at the kitchen table, and Chase settled in the chair adjacent to him.
“Whatever happened with that guy you were seeing last time you were here?” Mason knew the answer. They’d been apart for over a year, but he wanted to hear Chase say it.
“We’re not together anymore.”
Mason hated himself for how excited he was to hear the news, but even more, because Chase didn’t seem devastated by it. It was nearly effortless for him to say. Chase couldn’t hide his hurt, his pain, not from him. So Mason took great satisfaction in knowing the guy he’d broken up with a few months earlier hadn’t won Chase’s heart.
“That was a few years you were together, though,” Mason added.
“Three. Yeah,” Chase confirmed.
Three years?
He already knew that was how long they’d been together, but hearing it again made Mason’s jaw tense and his muscles stiffen.
He had to keep his cool though and not act like he was pissed, even though he’d always secretly had an urge to find the guy and kick his ass for fucking around with his husband.
His husband by law, but only by law.
“I was coming in through town and saw they shut down Mal Brenner’s yogurt shop,” Chase said, apparently redirecting the conversation.
Mason smiled at the mention of the place where they used to grab milkshakes together, where they’d had many of their early dates—before anyone even understood what they were, before they even understood the depth of their feelings for one another.
That was back in the beginning—the birth of their love, a time when they felt invincible.
Amazing how things had changed.
