Jacob’s chest ached with the weight of what he didn’t say. His palm lingered against Liam’s back, memorizing warmth, the rhythm of his breath, and the delicate illusion that this belonged to them. Once the door shut again, quiet would be all he had, and he was starting to hate that feeling.
***
It was already dark when the gate buzzed and the intercom crackled. “It’s me, Mason.”
Jacob pressed the button. A few minutes later, Mason stepped inside with a brown paper bag in hand. “I brought food,” he said, already heading for the kitchen. “Real food. Not the protein-bar crap I’m sure you’ve been surviving on.”
He set the bag on the kitchen island and unpacked quietly, containers and beer bottles lined up with a soldier’s neatness. He didn’t ask if Jacob wanted to eat, just handed him a knife and fork. For a while they ate in silence, both of them devouring the Thai dishes. He hadn’t realized how hungry he was until the food was in front of him.
“So.” Mason broke the silence without ceremony. “You’re not at the house anymore.”
Jacob didn’t look up. “No.”
“You’re not holed up in some hotel either, which means this isn’t temporary. It’s over.”
“Yes.”
Mason nodded once, chewing. “What about the kids? Are they doing okay?”
“They know I’m not living there anymore. They’re confused, of course they are, but they’re… adjusting.” He didn’t add that he missed them. Saying it out loud wouldn’t make it better.
Mason leaned back, beer in hand. “Caroline’s handling the press like a fucking pro. Every damn headline is about the devoted mother abandoned by the emotionally distant husband.”
“She hasn’t said a word to them,” Jacob said quietly. “The press doesn’t need help writing their story.”
Mason’s gaze sharpened. “So you’re just going to let them paint you the villain?”
“Iamthe villain.”
“That’s the easy line,” Mason said. “Not the complete story.”
Jacob dropped his fork and rubbed a hand over his face. “What do you want me to say?”
“That you’re bleeding too. I want you to stop pretending none of this costs you anything.”
Jacob’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t argue.
Mason studied him for a beat. “Are you going to tell me what’s really going on?” His tone wasn’t accusatory. “Is this about that line you crossed? The one you never explained?”
Jacob hesitated, then forced out the name. “It’s Liam.”
Mason didn’t react, just folded his arms, gaze steady as he waited for Jacob to go on.
“It started months ago,” Jacob said, eyes fixed on the far wall. “I don’t even know how. There was something there from the start. I tried to ignore it. That didn’t last.” He let out a ragged breath. “Fuck. I wasn’t looking for this. It’s not just sex.”
“I figured,” Mason said.
Jacob’s eyes lifted. “Yeah?”
“You don’t burn down your whole life for a meaningless fling, and you don’t look like this if it’s just lust.”
Jacob let out a slow breath. “He’s still with his wife. Their baby’s coming any moment.”
Mason nodded. “You love him?”
Jacob didn’t answer.
“You don’t have to say it,” Mason added gently. “It’s already written all over you.”
