At least that was just as hard for him as it was for Mason.
Maybe that meant it really was over for them.
“Goodbye, Chase.”
Chase reached for him, but Mason pulled away and rushed into the stall. He wanted Chase to stay and fight for him. He hoped that he would, that it wasn’t over, that it was just another fight.
But as he listened to the pitter patter of Chase’s feet as he left the stable, he knew it really was the end.
He sobbed, curling up on the floor because he couldn’t take it anymore.
Because he couldn’t bear it knowing that he’d lost his man. Because it was crippling how painful it was to think of a life without his Chase.
The Chase he’d grown into. The Chase he loved.
The Chase he thought he could never be without.
With that realization came the cruel reminder, one Mason knew he couldn’t let go of:You said you’d never leave me.
MASON GRIPPED ON TO THE REINS ASMERCY PICKED UP HERpace.
The warm summer breeze rushed across his face.
The forecast predicted incredible weather for the weekend, perfect for Emery’s wedding—the weather she deserved. It was like the forces of nature were coming to her aid, backing her up the way it once had for his and Chase’s wedding.
Mason was feeling spiritual. It was a rare sensation for him, but considering how circumstances had brought Chase back into his life, he had to believe that some divine force behind it all had put them back into each other’s arms, loving each other once again.
The past few months had been magical. They brought back so many of the memories he cherished. They reminded him he wasn’t wrong about Chase. That he hadn’t imagined that their love had meant more than it had. They shared a deep, meaningful love that no one could ever take away from them, and despite how tied they each were to their lives, he believed they could find a way to make it work.
A spark of hope had been reignited within him, and he wouldn’t let it diminish, not again. He was older. Wiser. He handled problems on the dairy every day. It was just a new challenge that needed to be conquered.
He rode Mercy back to the stables, and as he entered, he saw Chase sitting beside Mercy’s stall, waiting for him.
Was he having the same sort of revelations about all that had happened? About how they’d come back together? About the past few days? About what they’d shared the night before?
Chase pushed to his feet. Mason saw the expression on his face wasn’t bright and filled with life, but a deep frown.
It was all too familiar and transported him right back to all those years earlier when Chase ended it with him that cold morning on Christmas break.
In an instant, a flame that had just reignited flickered and wavered—seemed so close to fading.
Mason dismounted Mercy. “Good girl,” he said, petting her as he guided her by the reins to the stable. He put Mercy away, and as he left her stall, he looked at Chase. As tears shifted in Chase’s eyes, Mason knew something had shifted within Chase as well.
“What’s wrong?” he asked. “What could have happened over the course of the hour I was gone? Come here.”
He moved in for a kiss. Surely whatever was worrying Chase would be made better just by their touch. He just needed to remind them of what they shared, and then everything would be better.
Chase pulled back.
“Talk to me, Chase. What’s going through your head?”
“Emery found out about us. Your pa and I were talking, and she overheard.”
“Is that all?”
“No. That’s not all. Talking to her just made me realize that… that we can’t—”
“Don’t do this, Chase.”
