It’s been two years since we broke up.
Mase pulls an envelope out of his back pocket and passes it to me. “Don’t fight me on this. Please take this and use the credit card I gave you. I’ve already called the company to let them know there will be international use on it. There is no limit.”
I open the envelope, shake my head, and pass it back with force. “No way.”
He pushes it back to me. “Yes way.”
“Mason,” I warn.
He stands up with his hands in the air. “I’m not taking it back, Madeline. What the hell would I do with ten thousand euros?”
“Ten thousand? Have you lost your mind?” I jump out of bed, attempting to give him back the money, but he’s too swift on his feet and dodges every move I make. Then he pushes me onto my bed and runs out the door. “What are you, five years old?” I scream loud enough to get Mama’s attention.
“What’s all the dang racket up here?”
I point an accusatory finger at my brother, who now uses Mama as a shield. “He’s gone mad.”
“What good is it to make all this money if I can’t share it with the people I love?” he spits, annoyed that I won’t take it from him.
Mama connects the dots, and I know from experience she will be on my side. She was more than annoyed when he went behind her back to pay the mortgage off on the house when Daddy said he wouldn’t accept it.
The consequences of that move are something I never told Mase, knowing he would blame himself for the verbal beating Mama got from Daddy when he found out.
Except when the words come out of her mouth, they shock me. “Take the money with you, baby girl. I already don’t love the idea of you going there with the girls, but I can’t stop you.”
My eyes raise to my brows.Can’t stop me?
It still shocks me when she doesn’t push back on my life choices.
“Watch it, Maddie Grace.”
I laugh and step back. “I didn’t say a word.”
“Listen.” Mason stops being a chicken and steps around Mama. “I was on the phone with Leo, and he mentioned Camila was renting a boat and has grand plans while you and Addie are there. I know you hate it even more when she pays, so I wanted you to feel comfortable offering something, even if it’s paying for dinner one night. We both know that with that crew, dinner will be hundreds, if not thousands. Bottle service will be exorbitant there, and on your starting salary, you would be wasting your whole paycheck. Not that I think Camila will let you pay, but now you’ll feel secure if you want to offer.”
I hear nothing exceptboat. “I’m going to drown.”
“Thousands on dinner. That’s a disgrace.” And Mama only hears the spending.
Mase doesn’t comment because I’ve gone out with him and his friends and see the money they burn. Last time he played Atlanta, we went out with half his team, and one bottle of vodka cost eight hundred dollars.
They ordered at least ten bottles, including champagne.
“You’re not going to drown. It will be a yacht, you won’t even need a life vest.”
“I’ll be the judge of that.”
He rolls his eyes, ignoring my panic. “If you don’t spend the money by the end, buy yourself something nice. All the brands you borrow from Addie are cheaper in Europe, and you pay no tax. Think of it as a bonus for putting up with my shit, I mean, stuff.” He side-eyes Mama. “I’ve been asking too much of you lately.”
“Truth. I need to check the labor laws of the NFL,” I joke.
Mase has hired me part-time as his assistant, in addition to my day job at the architecture firm.
He has fired every single person he has hired so far because none of them were interested in the job; they only cared about Mason and his status.
The alarm rings, reminding me I need to get my butt in gear.
“I need to shower. I’ll be ready in two hours to leave,” I call as I run down the hall. “Because I’m going to Spain!”
