While he felt uncomfortable revealing something so private, Jude valued Edith’s discretion and her opinion of people. “Remember I told you Mason worked on Warren Colchester’s superyacht?”
“Yes. As his assistant. Like what he does for you now. Minus the benefits.” She smiled, but he couldn’t return it.
“No. Including.” Breaking eye contact, Jude finished his drink. “Turns out he was sleeping with Colchester when they worked together.”
“And?”
His gaze shot to hers. “What do you mean, ‘and?’” Irritated, he waved a hand in front of him.
“You’re his boss. Isn’t he sleeping with you? Why is that any different?”
“It’s not, and that’s the problem. What if I’m wrong and none of it means anything to him? Maybe that’s what he does—sleeps with the boss to get ahead. You don’t know Mason.” Even as he spoke, his mind rebelled. Mason was many things, but a liar wasn’t one of them. The words they’d spoken to each other were the truth. He didn’t doubt Mason loved him. His only doubt was why. Why Jude, when Mason could be with anyone—including Colchester, who obviously still had feelings for him?
Her hand slammed on the tabletop, making him jump. “Looks like you don’t either, because if you’re stupid enough to think that man isn’t crazy about you, then you’re even more in the dark than I thought.”
“I’m not sure I know anything anymore.”
Surprising him with her strength, Edith grabbed his hand. “Then you need to be with the one person who can give you all the answers. Not me, or Ilana, or anyone else. Go to Mason and talk to him.”
But Jude wasn’t sure if there was anything they could say that would get the picture of Mason with Colchester out of his mind.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Mason had never ordered in from one of those liquor-delivery services, but at the moment it sounded like the best thing in the world. He could get into having several bottles of tequila handed to him at the door and going on a margarita binge without having to get dressed or even leave his bed.
Prior to today, his apartment had sat unoccupied for weeks, a barren space where he stopped by to pick up clothes before returning to Jude’s. The stale air lay heavy with sadness, as thick as his despair. He flung off his suit jacket and flopped onto the bed. The walls closed in on him, and he spoke his fears out loud.
“I should’ve told him. There’s so much more about that time he doesn’t know or understand.” He berated himself for choosing the coward’s way out by running away instead of facing the smug Hollister, who’d barely concealed his delight in revealing Mason’s past.
Unable to remain still, he jumped up and paced the floor, replaying the earlier debacle. Was there understanding or disgust in Jude’s eyes when Hollister made his “big reveal”? On occasion, Mason had run into people he didn’t get along with, but the outright malice from Hollister and Pryce was something new. Why did they hate him? Pryce’s betrayal hurt most—they’d worked well together, and Mason had hoped they might become friends.
His annoyance mounted with each passing minute. What he’d done when he was younger might’ve been poor judgment on his part, but he’d made the choice on his own. It didn’t hurt anyone. No one forced him to accept the job with Warren or the terms of employment. Maybe Warren used him, but Mason used Warren as well, to gain insight into a world he’d never have been privy to otherwise. Lucky for him, in the end he’d gained a mentor, and more importantly, a friendship.
Hollister, Pryce, and even Jude had no right to judge him for decisions he’d made years earlier. They hadn’t lived his life or walked in his shoes. Would he do it again? Probably not. Mason had learned the hard way, but “regret” wasn’t a word in his vocabulary, and he was prepared to own up to his past.
Dammit, he needed his brother. Doug would know what to say to Jude. Looking at the time on his phone screen, he realized he hadn’t talked to Ilana today. He pressed Speed Dial.
“Mase?”
“Hey, baby. How’re you feeling?”
“I’m okay. A little sad, but I spoke with the doctor today and she said I shouldn’t have any problem getting pregnant again. Of course, providing Doug recovers.” Her voice hitched, and Mason’s heart jumped.
“Any news?”
“Nothing really. I had to take a break for a minute, so I’m sitting outside at a café across from the hospital, having a coffee. I’m trying to stay positive, but I’m so scared.”
“I know, but you guys didn’t wait this long to get married for anything to stop you.”
“I thought after my mom died, nothing could hurt as bad, but seeing Doug lying there…I keep talking to her, asking her to give Doug strength. She was such a fighter, so I know she’s helping him.”
“We’re all praying.” Mason swiped at his wet eyes. “It’s gonna be okay. It has to be.”
“How’s Jude doing? I have to admit I thought he’d be calling me every five minutes.” Her amusement brought a smile to his face.
“He wanted to, believe me. But he knows with my parents there, you’ve got your hands full as it is.”
Laughter burst from her, and if nothing else, he considered the call a success just to have made her happy for a few stolen moments. “Oh, my God. I love them, but sometimes I have to escape to the bathroom just to be alone. But, Mase? Your mother told me you were over at Jude’s in the middle of the night, and the excuse you gave was you couldn’t sleep.”
