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“You have a sofa bed in the cabin? I’m guessing Ryder didn’t know that.”
“Why would Ryder need to know that?”
“No reason. Back to you. So, you suggested he take your bed. He said no and wanted to take the sofa bed. You pushed back, so he said the only way he’ll sleep in the bed is if you share it.”
“I hate you!”
Max laughed down the phone line, and Mason couldn’t help but smile. They might not see each other as much as they once did, but nobody knew him better than his friends. Max was one of the best at reading people. It’s why he was such a brilliant lawyer.
“Just go with it. If you wake up humping him and he’s bothered by it, just apologize, but I guarantee he won’t have a problem with it.”
“I don’t want him to feel pressured, like he has with those other guys.”
“Mason, you are nothing like those abusive assholes.”
“But I feel all possessive around him.”
“And I don’t with Paolo? Sebastian with Charlie, Deacon with Hunter, or Ryder with Felix? That’s the type of guys we are, but we’d never take choices away from the men we love, and you know full well that they’re the ones really in charge. Look at Sebastian whenever Charlie wants something.”
Mason laughed. It was true. Sebastian Steele being all soft for his husband was something Mason never thought he’d see.
“Maybe I should take him out on a date first. I could ask him after new year’s.”
“Fuck waiting. You’ve already wanted him for two years. Besides, it’s Christmas. You can complete the trinity.”
“The what?”
“Ryder and Felix got together last Christmas. I found Paolo again the Christmas before. Now it’s your turn.”
“That’s come from Ryder, hasn’t it?”
“No comment, Your Honor.”
Mason snorted. Ryder had been the ultimate fuckboy before he’d met Felix. The man would stick it in anything. He’d never discriminated with bedmates, but since meeting Felix, he’d become a love guru. Even his social media had a soppy side to it, as well as pictures of him still working out in tight shorts. The man knew his audience. But most of his followers loved his relationship with Felix, who had his own successful photography business now. Of course, he was Ryder’s photographer as well. Felix had worked for all of them at some point, whether it was doing corporate headshots or something more personal. Felix had tried to offer discounted rates, but that was a rule they had as friends. All of them had unique talents, and although friends might get some privileges, they were still compensated for their skills.
“Why don’t you take him out for dinner tonight?” suggested Max. “That Italian place is really romantic.”
Max had stayed here with Paolo before. In fact, they’d all stayed, except for Sebastian. The man liked his five-star luxury too much, and besides, if he wanted a cabin, he’d rent one with ten times the footprint of this one. The man could afford to buy the entire town if he wanted to.
“It’s snowing heavily, so I’ll cook us something here. I have a few options.”
Max chuckled. “How much food did you take with you?”
“No comment.”
They both laughed.
“Just go with the flow. Make him dinner, watch a movie, cuddle up on the sofa, and see what happens.”
Mason liked the sound of that. “What if nothing happens? What if I’ve pushed him away too many times?”
“Then take him out tomorrow and show him the town. You can spend the day wooing him.”
“Not really my style.”
“Well, make it your style.”
“I don’t even . . .”
