“You don’t need to go over everything since you’re going to have to repeat yourself when everyone gets here. Just give me the relevant bits for work—like is whatever’s going on with you two going to affect work? Is this something serious, or are you friends with benefits? What are you thinking here?”
“I think it could be serious. But you know me, I always think things could be serious.” I roll my eyes.
Jackson tries unsuccessfully to stifle a giggle, and Mason snorts a laugh, not even trying to hide it. “True story, cousin. But I’m sensing you’re feeling something different with Tyler?”
I sometimes think Mason missed his true calling. He would have made a great shrink. Or, even better, a psychic. It’s like the man can read minds.
I think about his question. “Yeah, I do feel different this time. I feel calmer. Less worried about whether things will work out. I mean, I’m really into him, and I think he’s into me. But I’m not losing my mind over it.” I shake my head. “The reason I’m here is because he said he needed to deal with things together with his brother. He needed some space. Normally, I’d be freaking the fuck out. But I’ve been pretty calm. I'm just kind of trusting he’ll call me when he’s ready.” I shrug, taking a swig from my beer.
“Ohhh, how sweet. Our little Sammy is growing up and adulting now!” Mason teases, and I shoot him a dirty look.
“But whether it’s going to affect work… well, I need to talk to you and Dyl about that.”
“Wait, what does that mean?” There’s a note of concern in Mason’s voice. I take a deep breath and square my shoulders.Just rip the Band-Aid off. “Okay, look. I should have probably told you guys about this a while ago, and I should probably wait until Dylan gets here to tell you… but I was offered a job somewhere else. In Southern California, to be exact.”
“Wait—what?” Mason’s shocked expression matches Jackson’s as both of their mouths hang open. “And you’re thinking about taking it?” he asks, wide-eyed.
I bite my lip and nod, hating the hurt look on Mason’s face. But I have to do this, for me. “Yeah. I kind of am.” I pick nervously at the label of my beer bottle, desperate for something to do with my hands. “Do you remember Shane? From my landscape architecture classes?”
“Yeah, of course. You guys hung out a lot,” Mason says, his brows knitted in confusion.
“He called me a few weeks ago. He started a landscape and pool design business in Southern California. He’s already got more clients than he can manage, and he asked me to move down and partner with him.”
There’s a stunned silence as Mason looks at me, his mouth hanging open.
“I would never have thought I’d be interested, you know, Mase, but I don’t know, I think when you bought in and you and Dyl became full partners in HDH, I started feeling like maybe I was falling behind. And, I mean, things have gotten a little weird between you and me, and I don’t know if it’s because now I technically work for you or what, but it’s weird, and I don’t want whatever is going on to change us. You’re more than a cousin; you’re my brother, and, fuck, things just haven’t been feeling right…?” I can hear myself babbling, but I’m not sure how to stop. I hate this. I don’t want to hurt my cousins. By the time I stop running my mouth, my eyes are burning with unshed tears. I don’t feel much better when Mason finally closes his mouth, his lips narrowing into a thin line.
“I’m sorry, Mase. I really am. I just—”
He holds up a hand to stop me before I start rambling again. “It’s fine. Let’s just table this discussion until Dylan gets here because he needs to be part of this. I just need to know if you’ve accepted this job in California yet? Are we going to have to plan around you leaving?”
I shake my head furiously. “No, of course not. I’ve asked Shane to give me a few more weeks. I was planning on giving him an answer earlier, but with everything going on with this new project, I know I can’t just walk away at the drop of a hat.” I pause, taking a long swig from my beer. “He gets it, but he needs an answer from me soon since he needs to find someone else to partner with if I say no. But now, to make all this shit even more complicated, there’s this… this… whatever this thing is between me and Tyler. I’m so fucking confused. And I’m sorry if this hurts your feelings, Mase. I don’t want to—”
“Sammy, it’s okay.” Mason gives me a reassuring smile and reaches out to give my arm a squeeze. “I’m just surprised. I guess I didn’t know you were feeling that way… but you’re right, we haven’t been as connected lately—between the growing business and… stuff… with me and Jax… I guess I missed it. I’m sorry, man. But we’ll get it sorted out tonight.”
Just as he finishes, the front door opens, ushering in the noise and commotion that comes along with the rest of our family. Sure enough, a minute later, a small pack of dogs comes racing around the corner, Mason and Jackson’s dogs, Harry and Sally, in the lead, followed closely by David, Alexis, and Kramer, Dylan and Reed’s three dogs. It appears Grace and Derek didn’t include their dogs in the mix today, probably because their hands are full enough with their toddler, Kellan.
The cacophony of this loud clan of Campbells is like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich—simple, familiar, and so comforting to me. I can’t imagine living my life without this ridiculous crew of crazies in it.
The next hour or so is taken up with all the shouty, yelly, funny laughter and teasing we always go through when we haven’t seen each other for a while. This group is undoubtedly insane, but they’re my insane crew, and being with them is like snuggling into a cozy blanket.
After the madness has run its course, and the dogs have been fed, and toddler Kellan is ensconced in his high chair, happily shoving Cheerios in his mouth, Jax and Mason bring out the food, and we all gather around the table.
CHAPTER 30
SAM
The madness continues for a while, and I soak it all in.Could I really leave these people I love so much?As we’re finishing, Mason clears his throat.
“Okay, crazies. Sammy here asked for a get-together with all of us, and based on the conversation we had right before you all walked in, there’s a lot we need to talk about. I know we’re all curious about whatever the fuck is going on with you and Tyler”—Mason glances at me—“but you mentioned some stuff right before dinner that we need to deal with before getting to the good stuff.” He grins, while Grace takes the opportunity to get up and wipe off Kellan’s grubby little hands and face before pulling him out of his high chair and setting him on the floor to play with his toys.
“Okay, Sammy, why don’t you share with the class?” Mason says.
“Okay.” I take a deep breath. “Well, as I told Mason before dinner, nothing has actually happened with this yet, it’s just… A few weeks ago, I got a call from an old friend. He’s got his own landscape architecture business down in Orange County, in California, and he wants me to move down there and partner with him.”
There’s a stunned silence around the table while everyone takes this in. I assume Mason was able to pull Dylan aside and let him know what was happening, but it looks like everyone else is stunned.
“Wait,” Gracie says. “You’re not actually considering this, are you? You’re not seriously thinking about moving to California?”
