“Did you come out here to change my mind?” Mason asked.
“Just came out here to chat. You know, when Chase came here this time, I was happy to see you guys talking again. And after a couple of days, I had my suspicions that there might be more of a spark there than either of you were letting on. I kept telling myself it wasn’t my business. I even fell into the trap of thinking there was maybe something romantic about it all. I always had a soft spot for the two of you together. As far as I can tell, Emery didn’t draw the same conclusions as I did, but if I’m right about any of this… just be careful.”
“Careful? It’s Chase.”
“Yes, that’s what scares me. I know how you felt when he left. And you have to remember that he has a life now, a life he loves and has worked hard for. I’m very proud of him, and I’m happy that he’s doing so well. But just keep that in mind when you’re diving back into this.”
Mason couldn’t deny that there was still the kid in him who wanted things to work out, who would have loved it if he and Chase could be together, but there was also the man who had lived so many years without him and knew that couldn’t happen.
“Thank you, Pa. I know you care, but this is just something I have to do.”
“Where have I heard those words before? And I was right back then.”
He knew he was talking about when Pa fought him about marrying Chase. Mason’s gaze sank. Was Pa right again?
“Mason, I’m not trying to brag about it, but I knew you kids were too young to make that kind of a decision… and you both were planning on going off to school. That was a lot for anyone to deal with. And I figured you both were doing it… because of Ma.”
“We just learned how precious things are, and that you have to hold on to them while you can. And I still don’t regret what we did.”
Mason couldn’t answer for Chase, but he could tell while he was there that, at least on some level, the decision didn’t sit right with him, which annoyed Mason, but he understood why Chase felt that way.
“Just don’t get your hopes up,” Pa added. “That’s all I mean by any of this.”
“Trust me, if life’s taught me anything, it’s that I should never get my hopes up.”
Pa frowned, but he didn’t argue with him—surely because life had shown him the same thing. “I’ve said my piece. But that aside, I think it’ll be good for you to get away. I really meant that when I said you needed a vacation. Maybe some time by the ocean will do you good. Go on. Get out of here. We’ve got this.”
“Thanks, Pa.” He had a hard time sounding enthusiastic after Pa had just slapped him in the face with realities he preferred to ignore in exchange for believing in the fantasy of how things could have been if he and Chase could find some path that brought them together.
“I love you to death, even if you don’t believe me. I just don’t want to see you get your heart broken anymore.”
“I don’t know how much more it can be broken,” Mason admitted bitterly, but honestly.
“Come here. Give your old man a hug.”
Mason did, but his thoughts had returned back to when Pa was so insistent and to their argument in the kitchen after he and Chase had shared the news. Pa wasn’t acting as stubborn as he was back then, but Mason could feel his apprehension, and it hurt him just the same as it hurt in the past. Having Chase back, even for a brief period of time, had been so sweet, and he needed to see him again. He craved the physical sensation of his body pressed against Chase’s—of seeing the expression on Chase’s face as he laughed at one of Mason’s jokes.
He didn’t care if it was temporary or if it stung when he had to let go again. Marrying Chase wasn’t wrong. It was just more time he’d gotten to be close to Chase. That’s all he wanted, which is exactly why he knew he had to go to LA.
“WHERE ARE YOU?”CHASE ASKED, HIS PHONE PRESSEDagainst his ear as he searched the curbside for Mason. “Can you wave or something?”
A hand went up, and Chase saw Mason standing outside of his terminal beside a black spinner suitcase.
“I see you,” Chase said as goose bumps pricked across his flesh.
Chase parked behind a van a couple of yards farther than where Mason stood and hopped out.
Mason checked out Chase’s Audi Q5. “Damn, this is nice.” Chase hugged him before taking his suitcase and putting it in the trunk of the car. “Oh, such a gentleman,” Mason said with a wink.
“Then I guess I should get the door for you too.” Chase did just that, and Mason laughed as he got in before Chase walked around and slid into the driver’s seat.
“Thanks for picking me up.” Mason closed his door and glanced around at the inside of the car. “She’s just as pretty on the inside as she is on the outside.”
Mason’s tone reminded Chase of the way he was about his clothes. “It’s nothing,” Chase muttered, brushing it off.
“This isn’t nothing. It even still smells like a new car. I couldn’t tell you when the last time I was in a new car was. When did you get this?”
“Last year. It’s one of the new Audis.” As much as he didn’t want Mason to notice those kinds of things, he figured maybe he needed that to remind him that he wasn’t the kid who ran around in rags and never got to have anything nice or new, the trash that everyone at school always thought he was.
