“I’ll go open up the windows to air the place out. You stay here,” I order him, feeling the need to take care of this one thing for him.
Mason doesn’t reply, nor does he move when I curl my hand around the back of his chair in the imitation of a touch. Flexing my fingers as I walk toward the house, I look back in hopes that he’s watching me. But Mason is just looking forward, head held high.
I tug out my phone as I walk around the house and open the windows to air out the chemicals Mason almost killed us with.
I want to bring Mason on the next group mission. I want him to participate.
Hayden
Closed invites only.
I’m fucking serious.
Hayden
I decide who comes on missions and the team is closed.
Don’t make me pull rank, boss.
Hayden goes silent, which I know means he’s seething. I can picture his nostrils flaring and his fingers clenching his phone tight enough to smash it. I pause at Mason’s bedroom door. Is going into his bedroom an invasion of his privacy? Oh well. I decide to risk it and push into his room. It’s differentthan I expected. Bright light-blue walls, cream curtains, and a fluffy pale yellow bedspread. His bedroom feels like being in the sky. But it still smells like lemon chemical cleaner, so I open the window that overlooks the backyard.
Hayden
Tomorrow night. But you’re liable for his safety. Again.
Thanks
Hayden
Whatever
You’re the best!
Hayden
Go to hell
If he fucks up the mission, you’ll answer to Robin
Mason is still sitting outside when I come back downstairs. His head is tipped back against the chair, tilted toward the sky, eyes firmly shut. What is he thinking? Sometimes Mason is so easy to understand, yet often he’s still a firmly shut book. How long will it take me to learn his tells like he’s so easily starting to learn mine?
“You’re going to come with us two days from now,” I say.
Mason blinks slowly up at me like Scully does when she’s awoken from a very pleasant nap.
“Coming with you where?” Mason asks, curiosity coloring his voice.
I shrug because I don’t know where yet. “On the mission.”
“Parker…”
I hold a hand out to ask for him to listen. “Justtrustme, Mason. Okay?”
Mason finally just nods and leans his head back again with a sigh. “I trust you.”
Those three little words shouldn’t mean as much to me as they do.
CHAPTER 7
