We pulled into a parking lot outside a small restaurant tucked between a tattoo shop and a closed-down movie theater with a busted marquee. The restaurant was called Marino’s, according to the neon sign in the window. It was missing the A so it just read M RINO’S in flickering red letters.
We were halfway across the parking lot, heading toward the entrance, when the door to the restaurant swung open. The smile on my lips died at the sight of Mason. And he wasn’t alone. Maddox followed a beat later.
6
MALLORY
This was the first time I’d seen them side by side. The resemblance was uncanny, but despite their similarities, I could still tell them apart.
Just my fucking luck.
Of course, I would run into them when I wasn’t prepared, when I didn’t expect it, when I hadn’t bothered to do anything but the bare minimum of makeup.
Mason spotted us immediately, and his lopsided grin locked into place. “We’ve got to stop meeting like this, Freckles?”
I sighed, heavy and put-upon. “Trust me, if I’d known you were here, I would have insisted we go somewhere else. And don’t call me Freckles.”
“I absolutely will,” he replied, delighted by my annoyance. “It’s endearing. Gives you character. And you do have the most adorable freckles.” He flicked the end of my nose, and I had the urge to snap my teeth at his finger.
“I have plenty of character without a nickname.” I scowled at him.
Mason’s dimples appeared as he smirked. “You never texted or called.”
“I would take that as a sign.”
“That you lost my number.”
I snorted. “Try deleted.”
Maddox’s gaze found mine over his brother’s shoulder, and my pulse reacted before my brain caught up, kicking into overdrive, and I hated how predictable my body was being about this. Or the fact I couldn’t bring myself to look away from him.
“Are you stalking me,Freckles?” Mason purred, his eyes bright with amusement. “Because if so, points for commitment.”
“You would like that, but sadly, I haven’t thought about you at all.” It was his brother who I couldn’t get out of my head. “We’re getting dinner,” I stated flatly. “It’s called a coincidence. You know what that is, don’t you? Or do I need to use smaller words?”
Maddox’s lips twitched.
“Don’t you have some girl’s life to destroy?” Paisley snapped, eyeing Mason with annoyance. “It’s what you do best.”
“I have a better idea. How about a party instead?” Mason’s grin widened. “At the abandoned church out by the old cemetery. You know the one,” he said to Paisley as if she’d been there before and winked.
“Are you serious right now, Mas?” Maddox grumbled under his breath, his light-green eyes capturing mine. “We don’t know her.”
Mason held Paisley’s death stare, unaffected. “No, but we know Pais.”
“And she never comes,” Maddox pointed out, frowning.
Mason eyed Paisley, and I didn’t like the gleam in them. This one was too much fucking trouble. “What do you say, Pais? You want to have a little fun like old times? Because I’m starting to think the universe wants us to be friends.”
“The universe has terrible judgment,” Atlas muttered, shifting so he was slightly in front of Paisley, protectively.
Mason’s attention darted to Atlas, sizing him up with the same casual assessment he’d given me the first time we met.
Paisley’s posture shifted, her spine going rod straight. “I’d rather bathe in a tub of snakes than be caught dead at one of your parties.”
Mason picked up a curl of Paisley’s pink-tipped hair, twirling it between his fingers. “Colorful words just like your hair.”
“Fuck off, Mason,” Paisley spat, smacking his hand away from her.
