Evan pointed at us. “These two have been friends for almost a year, and none of us knew it.”
“I did,” Dane added. Everyone slowly turned to look at Lennox’s Navy fighter pilot boyfriend. “What’s the big deal?”
“And you didn’t tell me? Not even when I…” Dane slapped a hand over his mouth.
Much to my surprise, Mason wasn’t agitated. He seemed to find the whole thing hilarious.
“Oh no. You’re hiding something, and you need to spill,” Evan added. His expression changed when he remembered who he was talking to. “If you want to, that is. No pressure, Mase.”
Mason rolled his eyes, then sighed. “Fine. Let’s sit down, and I’ll tell you.”
“We have to sit down for you to tell us the two of you are fucking?” Lennox asked.
“NO! That’s not it, and if it were, it’s none of your beeswax. What we do or don’t do is no one’s business.” You tell them, buddy. But the thought of an intimate relationship with him made me warm all over.
Lennox’s eyes went wide, but Dane slapped a hand back over his mouth. “I apologize for his lack of manners. Please ignore him. I’ll straighten him out later.”
Oh Jesus.“We are not in a relationship,” I clarified. “We are in a friendship. If you don’t want to hear what he has to say, we’ll go. We have tacos to find.”
All their eyes widened as if I’d just admitted something. I rubbed a hand over my face as Hudson spoke. “Agent Kingsley is in protection mode. Now I see why you’ve been turning down our offers to set you up.”
“I just found out I might be adopted and have a brother in London. He’s a professional hockey player. That’s the secret,” Mason said, coming to my rescue. “That’s what Thomas is helping me with. Are you happy now?”
The room went silent as everyone stared at Mason.
“Holy shit,” Colin said.
“Damn,” Carson added. “Are you okay, Mase?”
As I glared at each of them, they fell like dominoes onto the sofas and chairs. Mason took a seat, then reached up and pulled me down beside him. I saw Hudson smirk, but ignored him, as Mason told them his story. When he was finished, they looked more surprised than when he started.
Carson was looking at something on his phone. I would bet my last paycheck he was searching for Axel. “That’s really cool that he’s a hockey player. A badass one if I’m reading his stats right.”
“What are you going to do, mate?” Colin asked. “I’d say let us help, but you’ve obviously got the best in Thomas.”
Mason glanced at me, then back to them. “He is the best. We’re going to figure out who I am. Right, Agent Kingsley?” He elbowed me.
I smirked at the agent business he loved to tease me with. “Right, Champ.”
Lennox snorted. “They even have nicknames. It’s adorable.”
“Doesn’t the Lieutenant have a nickname for you?”
“Yes,” Dane quipped. “It’s asshole.”
“Better than shithead,” Lennox added, making everyone laugh.
Chapter 6
Mason
Half an hour after spilling my guts to my teammates, we left the newlyweds to enjoy their wedding night. It was a beautifulspringnight,and the moon was high in the sky,castinga romantic glow overeverything it touched.My friends jumping to the conclusion that Thomas and I were together was wishful thinking on my part. I was crazy about him, and it was getting more difficult to hide my feelings with every passing day. Sometimes I would swear he felt the same way.
Leaning againstthecar, it was impossible not to notice how handsome Thomas was as he smiled at me. Butterflies fluttered in loops in my belly every time he came close to me. I was going to mess this up if I wasn’t careful.
“How do you feel, Champ?”
I ran my fingers over my beard, trying to calm my racing heart. “Believe it or not, better. It was time for them to know. I hate secrets.”
