Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 88218 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88218 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
I know what I need to do. I just don’t want to do it.
When I wake properly and after I get clean in Mason’s monstrosity of a shower, I make my way downstairs to the kitchen where a pot of coffee awaits me along with Mason’s mother sitting in her usual spot at the dining table.
Mrs. Nash smiles warmly at me like she always has. She comes by the house every day to check on us to make sure we’re doing okay with all the Cameron stuff, and if she’s noticed that only one bed in this house is being used, she hasn’t said anything.
I’m not sure if Mason has plans to come out to her or not, but it’s not my place, so I’ve said nothing.
“Mason’s still out there.” She glances out the glass-paneled doors toward the neatly planted rows of trees.
There’s something in her brown eyes that resembles how I feel—a quiet wariness about Mason’s mental well-being.
“We’re supposed to fly back tonight,” I say.
“Ah. That explains it. He’s probably saying goodbye to all his babies.”
For some reason, I picture him out there raising a whole bunch of Groot trees that give him attitude.
I lean against the kitchen counter with my coffee and eye Mrs. Nash. “I’m thinking of telling him to stay for a bit longer.”
“It would be good for him, but I’m not sure how much without you here with him.” Okay, now she’s staring at me with the same wariness in her gaze.
“I’m sure he’ll be fine.” I sip from my cup and avoid eye contact.
She stands and approaches me. “Mason took his father’s death hard, and with Cameron, he’s going through it all over again. He needs some time. What about you? How are you dealing?”
I shrug, but it’s stiff. “Is it possible to become desensitized to loss? I’ve never really had anyone in my life permanently. I’m sad and I miss him, definitely, but … life goes on. I have no family—”
She reaches for me, wrapping her thin fingers around my arm. “That’s where you’re wrong. Mason is your family, and so am I. You’re always welcome here, and who knows, maybe one day you’ll be comfortable enough to call me Mom.”
I suck in a sharp breath because I don’t understand. Is she saying she knows about Mason and me, or is she being the doting mother hen she has always been—to all of us in Eleven. She might not have been around much, but when she was, she fussed over us like we were her own.
“I see the way Mason looks at you. I saw how miserable he was when you two had your falling-out. I’m not blind.”
“Oh.”
“Not to mention I clean this house. You’re either less messy than you used to be or you’re sleeping in my son’s bed.”
Is it suddenly hot in here? I tug at the collar of my shirt.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to put you on the spot.” There she goes with that mothering tone again, and tears sting my eyes, but I try to hold them back. I don’t know what I want more, for her to accept me and Mason as a couple or to be considered part of her family no matter what.
“I’ve been in love with Mason for years,” I admit.
“And he’s been in love with you too. He just hasn’t known it. But he knows it now, doesn’t he?”
I nod, but it’s subtle.
She wraps her small arms around me just as the back door opens and Mason steps through. Shit. I wipe at my eyes when she pulls away.
Mason frowns. “What’s wrong?” He doesn’t hesitate to come to my side.
“Your mom knows. I didn’t tell her. She knew.”
He blinks.
His mom puts her hands on her narrow hips and cocks an eyebrow. “And when were you going to tell me that you found a person you can be truly serious about?”
“Now?” Mason squeaks.
“Were you worried I wouldn’t approve?”
“No, no, not that. I was scared you’d worry. We’re already ridiculed in the media, and you hate it. This—”
“Is nobody else’s business, just like all the other bullshit in your industry. Here should be your escape from all that, and I don’t want you to be uncomfortable in your own home or feel you need to keep secrets.”
“It’s not that.”
“Good. Now give me a hug, and then I’m going to leave you boys to it.”
Mason holds her. “We’ll come by tonight before leaving for the airport. Ria said she’d drop us off.”
His mom glances at me, and I don’t have to read her mind to know what she’s thinking. He needs more time here.
When she’s gone, Mason pulls me to him. “Well, that was an easy coming out.”
“If all of them would be like that, I’m sure Harley and Ryder would’ve done it years ago.”
“Probably,” he murmurs into my neck and then kisses me there.