Waking up beside him each morning, I’ve never felt closer to another person in my entire life. Never felt safer either.
But I could tell Mason was ready to come home. Not in a bad way, just…settled. He likes routine. Our house. His job. His family. And honestly, I get it. I felt it too, that tiny tug in my chest that said it was time to step back into real life.
Still, coming home feels like crossing some invisible line: Once the honeymoon’s over, summer’s basically over too. The new school year’s around the corner, and from here on out it’s meetings, classroom setup, laminating everything in sight, and labeling literally every object that isn’t nailed down.
Mason’s hand is woven through mine as he pushes open his parents’ front door, and everything hits at once—the sound, thesmell, the feeling of home. Laughter tumbles from the dining room. The warm smell of roast and biscuits drifts through the screen door like it’s been waiting for us to step inside.
Everyone’s here, just like every Sunday.
But it feels different walking in as husband and wife.
We haven’t seen any of them since the wedding, and something about that makes my chest flutter, both nervous and excited at the same time. It’s only been a week, but for some reason it feels like we’ve been away forever.
“This won’t be awkward at all,” he mutters, flashing me that teasing grin.
“Famous last words,” I whisper back, squeezing his hand as we round the corner.
“There they are!” Ella calls from the table, beaming.
Every head turns at once.
“Look who decided to show up!” Cody teases, lifting his fork. “You two forget what time church starts?”
“They’re still in honeymoon mode,” Jesse says, smirking, earning himself a nudge from Ella.
“Stop,” she hisses, laughing. “They just got back.”
Maureen’s already out of her seat, coming around the table to pull us both into hugs. “Well, look at you two. All tan and married.”
“The beach was beautiful. I didn’t want to leave,” I say.
“Was it the most relaxing week of your lives?” Addison asks from her seat.
Mason laughs. “Yeah, considering that’s the longest I’ve ever gone without hearing from one of you.”
“That was on purpose,” Leonard says, grinning.
Cody adds, “We figured you were busy.”
“Cody.” Karissa groans.
He shrugs, pretending innocence. “What? I meant busy relaxing.”
Laughter fills the room, and I feel my face warm, but Maureen is quick. “Well, sit down, I made plenty, so I hope you’re hungry.”
Mason pulls out my chair for me, his hand brushing mine under the table once we sit.
Conversations start again, and everyone starts passing food to Mason and me to fill our plates. The room feels comfortable, normal. It’s loud, it’s a little chaotic, but it’s exactly what I missed while we were gone.
And when Mason reaches over, quietly sliding his thumb along the back of my hand under the table, I know he feels the same way.
* * *
“There’s the famous uniform.” I smirk, leaning against the counter, my first cup of coffee in my hands as I watch Mason button his shirt and click his utility belt in place.
He grins, eying me. “I’m in the uniform and that’s all I get?”
“I didn’t brush my teeth yet, so yes.”
