Mason propped himself up on his palms.
“You okay?” Mason asked, his expression filled with concern and worry, that protective nature revealing itself as he inspected Chase’s body quickly.
“I’m fine, Mase,” Chase groaned. He was sore, yes, but not injured, and while he appreciated Mason’s concern, he sure as fuck didn’t want him to worry.
“Are you sure?” Mason’s expression was so reassuring because he’d never gotten that look from anyone else.
So selfless, so totally absorbed in his wellbeing.
He appreciated it.
In another time, he would have kissed Mason to let him know just how appreciative he was, but the moment was a reminder that, despite everything they’d shared the past few months, there was still a distance. They were in strange, undefined territory. And what they did, they did in secret.
Chase didn’t want Mason to be a secret. He wasn’t ashamed of him and never had been. But how could they tell the Finleys what they were doing when they’d been down that path before and it hadn’t worked out?
All he knew was that he was in deep all over again, and didn’t mind being in deep as long as it was with Mason.
“I'm fine, Mason, everything is fine. I was just getting you back for that soccer game.”
Mason chuckled.
“That was fucking epic!” Timmy exclaimed, hurrying up to Chase and giving him a high five.
Chase could tell by the way Mason took a deep breath that he was trying to calm himself down.
“We going to go again?” Timmy asked.
“No,” Mason stated severely.
“Of course we're going to go again,” Chase said. “After all, they don't call me Feisty for no reason, and I’m ready for someone to take me home so I can get some pitches in.”
“I thought you preferred to catch,” Mason joked.
Timmy chuckled at the reference.
“Pretty sure Chase is a good pitcher as well,” Emery added.
Once again, it was clear by the wicked expression on her face that she knew exactly what everyone was talking about, and by the concerned expression on Mason's face, that he wished she didn't.
* * *
After the baseball game, everyone headed back to their usual responsibilities.
Tessa and Emery were heading over to a friend’s house for a baby shower, one that Tessa kept saying was “inconveniently” timed, but Mason thought it was just perfect. He’d wanted to spend some extra time with Chase while he had the chance, so they planned a date night. They’d go into town and spend it at one of the places where they went on dates when they were in high school.
After the workday, Mason showered off and dressed to head out. He stood before the floor-length mirror in his room as he buttoned his shirt up, leaving the top two buttons undone. The short sleeves of the shirt sculpted around his biceps in a way that he knew Chase would appreciate, which was the effect he was going for. He tucked his shirt into his slacks and checked his shoes, new ones he’d bought since he’d gotten back from LA.
New as his clothes were, he didn’t know shit about fashion—and they certainly weren’t from any fancy brand that Chase might have recognized.
Chase didn’t think like that, but still, all he wanted was to impress him. That’s the way he’d always been, especially when they were teens, which was odd because Chase wasn’t the kind of guy to judge him or give him a hard time about his clothes—or anything, really. He just always wanted to be someone Chase could be proud of.
He tried to shake off his insecurities. It was going to be a good night. An actual date—like the ones they used to go on—sounded nice.
Mason enjoyed the feelings that raced through him. He liked being excited about being with Chase and knowing that they were moving in a direction together once again. No, they didn’t know how the fuck they were going to figure any of it out, but they were trying, and being able to talk to him again—and fuck him again—made it all worth it.
When he headed downstairs, he found Chase sitting in the den wearing his own button-up and a black skinny tie.
Adorable as ever.
