I don’t answer, I send him a picture of Addie and me that we took in the penthouse before I left.
Mason: Knew it. Y’all look amazing.
I tap Nate on the shoulder, hold out my phone, take a selfie, and send that.
The bubbles appear, then disappear.
Mason: Does this mean you’ve forgiven me? You know how sorry I am, right?
I guess I have no choice if I’ve forgiven Nate.
Mason: I only ever wanted to protect you.
I know.
Honestly, I don’t want to talk about it anymore. I want to move forward from here.
But if you decide something for me ever again, I’ll cut off your balls.
Mason: You’re crazy…but I love you.
With a butter knife.
Mason: That means you’ll see your brother’s junk.
Ew.
Addie is a good accomplice.
Mason: Okay, okay. I don’t want the visuals.
Mason: Does this mean I can stop sending you apology gifts?
Definitely not. Love you too.
Good luck against Tampa this weekend.
Nate’s reading our interaction, grinning as I put my phone away. He leans down, kisses my cheek, then continues his conversation with Harrison.
An hour or more later, and far too many glasses of champagne, I’m warm with laughter, leaning into the familiarity of old stories.
The guys take turns embarrassing Leo with tales of his former flings, and my cheeks ache from smiling.
Now and then, I catch Nate watching me instead of listening, his gaze heavy, causing heat to coil low in my stomach until I’m forced to look away before everyone else notices.
Leo passes me another flute of champagne and a mocktail to Juliette.
“Don’t fire me if I’m dancing naked on the tables later.”
Nate’s arm tightens around my waist, and his voice drops to a low growl. “I’d be arrested for breaking someone’s jaw if they so much as looked at your naked body. So yeah, let’s not test me tonight.”
“Ooooh.” Juliette’s big brown eyes light up, and her dark hair that sits above her shoulders sways as she bounces in excitement. “I love possessive Nate.”
Harrison appears behind her, wrapping his arms firmly around her shoulders. He leans in, murmuring something in her ear. Whatever it is makes her eyes blaze with desire, while his satisfied chuckle rumbles low in his chest.
“I want to know a secret too!” Claudina singsongs as she skips over, tugging along a raven-haired beauty in a dress that mirrors Claud’s.
I can only assume this is Becks—Juliette’s best friend.
