“All done?”she asked, her gaze immediately going to David, checking him over.Despite her smile, there was worry on her face.
David grunted.
“He’ll be fine,” Mason said, moving over to drop a kiss on the top of Audrey’s head and then sliding into the chair next to her.
“Hot cocoa?”she asked, pushing her mug toward him.
“Yes, please.”He smiled at her over the mug, their gazes connecting, and he enjoyed watching a pink blush spread across her cheeks.
“So, Mason, Audrey tells me she’s meeting your parents next weekend?”
“Yes.”Mason put the cocoa back down, the chocolate lingering on his tongue.It was damn good cocoa.“They’re looking forward to it.”
Warily on his dad’s part, hopeful on his mom’s.She was still disappointed about his and Yasmine’s breakup, but thrilled to hear that he wanted to bring home someone new.His dad had apparently been on his best behavior since Yasmine’s comment to him, and he was a bit more reserved, but still supportive.Especially because his mom was so excited.
“Obviously, I won’t be introducing him to mine,” Audrey quipped, making everyone choke, then laugh.She was giggling, too.
“Sorry,” Cassidy said, shaking her head.“I shouldn’t be laughing, but…”
“No, no, I meant you to.Gotta laugh so you don’t cry, right?”Audrey smiled, taking a sip of her cocoa, placing her lips on the mug in exactly the spot where Mason had put his.“I swear, it’s okay.”
It did seem to be.She’d started seeing a therapist Mason had recommended, and the fact that she was surrounded by an entire group of people who loved her definitely helped.Especially since two of them were family members who were in the same position.
Charges had not been pressed against her parents, but their deal had fallen apart.He doubted Cash was going to get more than a slap on the wrist, but at least it was having some long-term effects on his life.That was about the best they could hope for.
“Well, I, for one, am very happy you two found each other.”Brenda beamed at them.“Mason has almost as much fat dick spirit as Mick.I just hope he knows how to use it, for your sake.”
David groaned, falling forward and banging his head on the table.
“Grandma, why?”
“Because you still need to work on removing your butt stick,” she answered with ruthless matter-of-factness.
Mason chuckled and leaned over to wrap his arm around Audrey.
“She doesn’t have any complaints that I know of,” he said.
“Mason!”Audrey hissed, elbowing him in the side.
Worth it, just to watch David try not to completely melt down as steam practically came out of his ears.Mason grinned.
She had no complaints, and he had no regrets.
ChapterForty-Five
Mason
The Outlands was hopping for a Thursday evening.Audrey had closed down Cupcakes and Crumbs a little earlier than usual—she said the evenings weren’t her busiest time, anyway—so she could come with them.The gang was all here, except Yasmine, and standing around one of the tables in the bar.Even Zeus was here, though he wasn’t very engaged in conversation.Neither was Jensen, and the usually cheerful Baby was very scowly tonight because Jennifer was out on a date with Dr.Grande this evening.Eventually, that girl was going to have to make a choice… but for now, she was still dating both of them.
Mason tried not to feel a twinge of guilt over Yasmine’s absence.That was her choice, and he knew he wasn’t the only factor in making it.The club really was littered with her exes.
But it was hard not to feel a little guilty when she was absent and hurting, and he was here and incredibly happy with Audrey tucked under his arm.He knew Yasmine was happy for them, though.She’d been her usual self whenever he ran into her, and she’d come into the bakery several times with Claudia.Audrey said that she’d been cheerful at book club.Though, of course, she’d also made several jokes about her curse and giving up on happily ever after.
Eventually, he was going to have a talk with her about that, but… it was too soon.
Right now, he wanted to focus on being here with Audrey.
The woman he’d fallen in love with.
