“If they’re independent, they may. If it’s a government liquor store, no chance.”
“What?! That’s a travesty! They don’t support you?”
“It’s not a support issue. It’s a supply issue. We can’t possibly supply enough product to get into those stores. But that’s fine. We’re a craft brand and will always be a craft brand. Small batches, high quality, no compromise.”
“Aw. It’s sweet the way you turn into anime when you talk about your products.”
He laughs again. “What?”
“You get these cartoony little stars in your eyes.”
“Oh, yeah? Kind of how you look when you talk about music. And smoothies, actually.”
I snicker. “Yeah. My two great loves.”
He smiles softly and I glance away.
Then I take a breath and plunge.
“Doja Cat’s coming in October,” I say casually. “I’ve already got my tickets. I always get two.” I try to keep the smile on my face. But my heart is pounding and those good old persistent self-doubts rear their heads, making me almost chicken out. “Maybe you’ll come back?”
My bones feel like they’re vibrating with the force of my pulse, and I squeeze the handrail to steady myself as Mason takes a long, long time to respond. I focus on the way the lowering sun, behind us, reflects off the glass of the other towers, molten-pink and crimson and gold.
It’s beautiful, though not Orchard Cove beautiful, and I wonder what he thinks of it.
“Sierra.” His voice is low, hesitant. “I think you misunderstand.”
I swallow the jagged lump that’s suddenly lodged in my throat.
“Look at me, please.”
I take another deep breath, then meet his eyes.
“I’ll go to any concert you want,” he says softly. “But I really don’t want to go back to Orchard Cove for any length of time without you.”
“What?” I whisper.
He hesitates, seems to be choosing his words with care. “I know how it feels to be abandoned by someone you love. To be discarded. And I know you don’t deserve that any more than I did.” He edges closer to me. “I should never have made you worry that I wasn’t going to choose you. I know that’s what your father did to you. And I know it’s what Kyle did. And I’m so pissed at myself for not just telling you how I feel,allthe things that I feel when I’m with you. It all just poured down on me like an avalanche when you left. When Iletyou leave.”
I’m breathing so fast now and my heart is pounding so hard I can barely get the words out. “Well, to be fair, you were asleep. I didn’t really give you a chance to—”
“No. I should’ve made it clear to you. I should’ve told you I wanted you to stay, and given you a chance to choose. To choose me, if that’s what you wanted. The only reason I didn’t say it was because I was scared that if I did, if I gave you that choice, youwouldn’tchoose me.”
I laugh abruptly, I’m so shocked. “I think I chose you as soon as we met, Mason Grant. When you locked onto me that day in your bar, pouring me cider ... the rest of the world didn’t even stand a chance.”
He studies my face for a moment, then takes hold of my hand. For some reason, he doesn’t look elated to hear it. He looks worried.
Which just makes me worry. I’m practically vibrating, and I wonder if he can feel it.
“If you need time or space to think about things,” he says gently, “to think about what you want, I understand. I don’t want to pressure you into anything you don’t want. I just really want you to know, no matter what happens between us, that I know I was wrong. The way I picked a fight with you as soon as I found out you’d leased Pier Seven ... I made you feel unwelcome. I pressured you to leave town. I accused you of conspiring with June, trying to manipulate me, and so many shitty things.”
He rubs his forehead, peers up at me.
I lift an eyebrow, like,Go on.
“I’m sorry,” he says seriously. “You deserve an apology. Because you didn’t deserve any of that. Not only were you not guilty of anything I accused you of, you’re kind. And hard-working. And sweet and lovely and amazing, and you deserved the building and the lease, and all the support you got from June and the community. You should’ve had mine, too.”
I take a deep breath, my heart lifting with a rush of pure joy as this new sensation fills me with warmth.Acceptance.
