My brother yanks off his shirt and heads out to the backyard. The drive to the closest cafe is only five minutes, and I lean on the car after I order. The sunlight feels amazing on my skin, and the air is warm.
Mason is back by the time I get home, and I get an excited swooping sensation in my stomach at the sight of him.
‘Morning, Captain,’ I smile, my eyes catching Mason’s as he’s mid-strip. He pauses, flashing his handsome smirk at me. ‘Please, don’t stop on my account.’
Grinning, he removes his shirt, and my eyes rake over his torso. I might have felt it – and run my tongue over it – an umpteenth number of times recently, but it still makes me stop and stare. Those defined muscles, the dark tattoos, his smooth, tanned skin. He really is beautiful. Inside and out.
‘Hi, Blush.’ Strolling towards me, he captures my mouth with his. I hand him his breakfast and coffee. ‘Thank you, my love.’ My heart skips a beat at those words, and I feel a little giddy as I place the rest of the items down on the kitchen bench.
Zayden enters, his towel looped around his shoulders, his hair wet. He makes grabby hands at the coffee, and I pass it to him.
‘Thank you, dear sister. I apologise for all the times I talked shit about you.’
Mason snickers, and I roll my eyes. ‘Yeah, yeah.’
‘You want a ride to class today?’ Mason asks, taking a sip of his coffee.
I shake my head. ‘I’m just going to watch it online. I’m going to go see Mum.’
Zayden stiffens and lowers his cup. He stares at me for a moment before nodding. ‘That’s good. You should check on her. Make sure she’s okay.’
My heart melts at his words. Despite everything that’s happened between them, he still cares. ‘I feel very conflicted about seeing her, but I know it’s the right thing to do. Thank you for understanding.’
‘Of course,’ he says.
‘Are you okay?’ I ask.
‘Yeah.’
‘Promise?’
‘I promise.’
‘You okay driving back there on your own?’ Mason asks.
Our hometown isn’t very far, but I appreciate his concern. ‘Yeah, all good.’
‘Okay,’ he says, turning to Zayden. ‘I thought we could go check out the new golf simulator in town. At the driving range.’
‘Oh!’ Zayden’s face lights up, and I feel relief trickle down my spine at seeing how relaxed and carefree my brother seems to be after everything that’s happened. I’m so glad Mason and Zayden’s relationship is back to normal. ‘Yeah, for sure. Let’s do it.’
‘Sweet.’
Mason walks over to me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. He kisses me on the temple.
‘Have a good day, Blush. Call if you need me.’
‘I will. You too.’
We look over to Zayden, who is practising his golf swing. I roll my eyes before turning to head up the stairs to get everything I need, trying not to think about the day ahead of me.
I walk up the porch steps to the house I spent years of my life in, my stomach churning uncomfortably. The front door opens just as my foot reaches the top step. Mum looks tired. She’s dressed in her track pants and a t-shirt with ‘Only Judy Can Judge Me’ plastered across the front. Seeing her hurts my heart, but when she opens her arms, I fall into her chest. She hugs me tightly before we step inside.
I debated whether to come see her for weeks, but as much as it hurts me to be here, she is my mother. Her husband died, and her son isn’t speaking to her. I might not forgive her for what she did, but I would never forgive myself if anything were to happen to her because I wasn’t there for her.
‘You’ve been busy,’ I comment, taking in the new furniture.
‘This place needed a major makeover,’ Mum replies, sitting down and heaving an exhale. ‘Rearranging the place and cleaning helps keep my mind off things.’
