When I settle back into the seat, he gives me this small, satisfied smile, like seeing me in his hoodie has just made his entire day.
“You look better in that than I do,” he says, eyes flicking from the road to me and back again.
I tug the sleeves over my hands, pretending not to notice how fast my heart’s beating.
When we pull up to my rental, he leaves the engine running, resting his arm on the wheel.
“So…” Mason says, clearing his throat. “I’ve got a court date on Monday.”
I tilt my head toward him. “Should I be concerned? Did you commit a crime I should know about?”
That gets a soft laugh out of him, but it fades quickly. “Not that kind of court. Family court. It’s an initial custody hearing.”
The humor drains from the air between us. “Oh.”
He shifts his gaze through the windshield, watching the clouds. “My mom’s… not doing great. Her doctor doesn’t think she’ll make it through the end of the year.”
I bite my lip, unsure what to say.
“She’s okay with it—wants me to be ready. I’m trying to get custody rights for Maddie and make it official before things get bad. Mom’s on board, but…” He exhales sharply through his nose. “The problem’s going to be getting Stephen to show up and sign the paperwork. That’s… not exactly his strong suit.”
I pause. “Stephen?”
“Our father.”
“Oh.”
The truck’s idle hum is the only sound filling the space. Mason’s still staring at the sky, and I can tell from the way his fingers curl and uncurl around the steering wheel that his mind is far away from here.
“I’m sorry,” I say finally. It feels too small for what he’s carrying, but it’s all I have to offer.
His lips twitch into something that’s almost a smile. “It’s fine. I just wanted you to know ahead of time. I’ll probably be busy—might not answer right away if you text me.”
I nod. “Well, thanks for telling me, Mase. If there’s anything I can do to help—”
“I’ll let you know,” hesays quietly.
For a moment, neither of us moves. Then he leans across the center console to kiss me, short and sweet. When we separate, he brushes my cheek with his thumb.
“You can keep the hoodie. For now.”
I don’t argue. I just hold onto the warmth of it as I climb out, the door shutting with a muted thud. The smell of him stays with me long after his taillights disappear down the road.
Chapter Twenty-Four
The sky is a canvas of gray overcast when I pull into the beach parking lot. Out on the lake, waves slam violently against the pier, breaking into white spray. The beach is almost empty, save for the few people standing in ankle-deep water with their pants rolled to their knees, letting the wind whip around them.
I grab my overstuffed backpack from the passenger seat and sling it over my shoulder, ready to settle in for another day of research.
Across the sand, my eyes dart toward the lifeguard tower, searching for a familiar head of curly golden brown hair. But Mason’s not there. In his place is a short woman with dark skin and thin braids that fall down to her waist.
I texted Mason last night to ask about the custody hearing. No reply. No read receipt. No typing dots. Nothing. I know he warned me he’d be busy, but the silence still eats at me. I need to know he’s okay.
Kicking up puffs of dry sand, I make my way to the tower. The girl spots me as I draw closer, propping her elbows on the railing.
“Hey, um, isn’t Mason supposed to be working today?” I call up.
“He called off sick.”
