“I wouldn’t have missed it.”
The tight end’s smile lit up the room. “You know, now that Hudson is no longer the governor, my husband here is intent on finding you a special someone.”
Smirking, I shook my head. “Like I told him, I can handle my love life. And I have friends.” I caught sight of Mason, whowas talking to Carson and Colin. When he looked up and found me looking his way, he grinned. I winked to let him know I’d seen him, which made him smile.Whatinthe hellwas I doing?
Evan followed my gaze. “Something is eating at him. He’s always been a man of few words, but he’s got it in him to talk.He’s been even more withdrawn over the lasttwo weeks. I don’t know what it is, but he keeps his distance more than usual. Even from Lennox. I hope he doesn’t feel out of place now that four of us have partners. Only he and Drew are single now in our friend group.”
I raised my brows. “I don’t think he’s worried about dating after the last one,” I chuckled. “But yes, he’s got some things going on. He’ll be okay. I’ll make sure of it.”
Evan and Hudson gaped at me. “You talk to Mason?” Evan asked.
“Yes, every day. Sometimes more. Why is that a surprise?”
“Wait,” Hudson said, holding up his hands. “You and Mason are friends? Like, talk on the phone every day, kind of friends? Like texting friends?”
I nodded. “Yes. Weird, I know. And sometimes, we even have dinner together. Most nights, actually. Like friends.” I couldn’t explain our relationship to them, because I didn’t know how to describe it. But the way they were smiling at me, they were reading more into it.
“Thomas, you have a life,” Hudson teased. “No wonder you didn’t want us to set you up.”
Lord love a duck, I could see where this was going. “Slow your roll,” I said to them. “Before you get carried away, we are friends. That’s it. We just enjoy each other’s company. That’s all.” I wasn’t ready to admit that every time I saw him, a surge of energy shot through me. Or that I felt a closeness to him that I’d never felt with anyone. Not even Nessa, and for that, I felt guilty as hell.
“How long?” Evan asked. “Since you moved here?”
Why was this so interesting to them? “We met at the Gala, the same night the two of you met. You were there, Evan. Don’t you remember?”
His eyes widened. “When he was in the hallway looking for me?”
I smiled. “Yes, after Hudson poured his bourbon on you.”
Before my friend could reply, Mason joined our little discovery session. His big goofy grin made me smile. “What are you talking about over here?” He elbowed me, then leaned in with more ammunition for them. “I picked up another bag of dog food and a collagen supplement. Avery was moving really slowly the other morning, and it won’t hurt Athena either. The hips are the first to go.”
“Oh, good. That saves me a stop. I’ll pay you in tacos.”
Mason grinned. “Deal.”
When we looked back at Hudson and Evan, I realized we’d given too much away. Evan laughed and looked at his friend. “What is happening here?”
Mason frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“You, and how under the radar you are,” Evan added. “You never fail to surprise me, Kennerly.”
Mason’s brow knitted as he covered his mouth and leaned back into me. “What’s he talking about?”
“The night you met,” Hudson added. “You two have been hiding your friendship.”
Mason burst out laughing. “What? No, we haven’t. People just don’t pay attention to us. There’s nothing to hide. Not really.”
I glanced at him, only to find him looking at me as if he were asking if he should share. Holding his gaze, I gave him an answer. “It’s up to you.”
Hudson and Evan grinned like we were the most exciting thing they’d seen in a long time. Evidently, they were so enthralled with us that they had forgotten their own wedding reception.
Mason, on the other hand, hadn’t. He was fidgeting again. “This is your reception, not the time to…”
“Spill it,” Evan said. “It’s the perfect time. You’re among friends.”
Glancing around, I noticed we’d caught the attention of the others, and it hadn’t taken long for them to join our circle.
“What’s going on?” Lennox asked, looking around at us. “What did I miss?”
