EPILOGUE
Mason
VALENTINE’S DAY
Jenna brushes a stray hair behind her ear and I study her features, my heart lodged in my throat, as her smiling eyes pass over the letter Jack sent.
I knew it was coming; he texted me to ask if it was okay. But this is the first Jenna’s hearing about it, and while it’s nice to see that the letter makes her happy, it’s going to take some getting used to.
She laughs at something she reads then folds the paper and tucks it back into the envelope, her not-so-innocent gaze lifting to mine.
“Whatcha doin’?” she asks, struggling to suppress a mischievous grin.
“Waiting.”
“For what?”
I stare at her deadpan, and her shoulder lifts in a half shrug before she tries to squeeze past me, miscalculating the distance she needs to stay out of my reach. I lean forward, easily catching her wrist. “Are you going to tell me what the letter says?”
“Which one?” She spins to face me, a coy smile in place as she straddles my legs. “I’ve been inundated. So many admirers.” She bites her lip, and I can’t stop my playful groan.
“Very funny. You know the one.”
“This one?” She shakes out of my grasp and leaps onto the couch, holding the letter above her head.
“That’d be it.” I stay where I am, despite the fact that it wouldn’t take much to reach it.
Jenna’s smile widens and I preemptively chuckle. “Oh, you know… Jack’s professing his undying love for me. No big deal.”
“Jenna,” I warn and her expression softens. I trust her completely, and she knows that, but Jack’s still a sore subject for me. Mainly out of guilt.
Things have been great between Jenna and me.
We spent Christmas and New Year’s together, getting to know each other.
Now she’s back at work, playing a spy in her first feature film, while I’ve spent the time she’s on set exploring LA, taking in the sights of the city I plan to call home.
I miss Australia and my friends. Hell, I even miss Jack being a constant pain in my ass, but it didn’t take long for me to discover I belong here.
Everything feels right. I don’t have a job, a purpose, or friends—other than those Jenna has introduced me to—and yet I’ve never been happier. And free.
All those things will come. I truly feel like I’m finding myself again.
“What would you do if he had written that or something similar?” Jenna questions, bringing me back to the present, and the instant I picture that, I growl. I may miss him but…
“I’d be on the next flight to Sydney, ready to show him what’s what.”
Fire ignites in her previously playful gaze, and it almost distracts me. “God, I love a possessive man.” She sighs blissfully and I stifle my reaction.
“I may have read that in a letter once.” I shrug and Jenna snorts with laughter.
“I’m kidding. Of course, you can read Jack’s letter, but Mason…” Her expression turns serious, seeing through my words. “He’s okay, I promise. Kai’s been keeping him in check.” She raises an eyebrow and I can’t stop the chuckle that bubbles out of me.
Kai offered to move in temporarily while I was gone. Actually, that’s a lie. He offered to permanently move in on the proviso that he got approval to tell Jack what to do and turn the house into a bachelor pad.
I figured since he was doing me a favour, I’d agree to both.
It can’t hurt Jack to have someone else pushing back on his childlike ways, and deep down, Kai’s a caring soul. I’m confident he’ll do the right thing, whether that means telling Jack to grow the fuck up or helping him out when he undoubtedly needs it.
“Did Jack mention Kai?” I ask, curiously. He hasn’t mentioned him to me and it’s making me wonder how they’re really doing.
Yes, Jenna said I could read the letter, but I don’t need to do that. I just want to know he’s okay. Jack, I mean. Kai can look after himself.
Jenna smiles knowingly. “Jack will always be Jack. He doesn’t usually discuss others unless he’s pissed off at them. So, if there’s nothing in here about Kai, that’s a positive. He was chatting away like old times. You’d think Christmas never happened.”
“What? Is he dense?”
“He’s your brother.”
“I know, but…why?” He basically told me he thought he was in love with her and now he’s moved on?
“It’s our holiday exchange. We started it as friends.
And other than the times his annoying older brother responded on his behalf, it was never anything more than friendship.
” I stare at her unmoving and she laughs.
“Him acting normal is a good thing. Yes, it may be slightly inappropriate to send a Valentine’s poem to your brother’s girlfriend, but—”
“There’s a goddamn poem?”
“You’re cute.” Her eyes sparkle with mischief. “It’s harmless. Nothing compared to the last letter I received. But as I was saying… I have a feeling Jack wrote to me because he’s lonely. He’s alone for the first time in his life, and you’re halfway across the world. That can’t be easy on him.”
Shit. My stomach sinks as dread fills me. “Did he say that? He always called me selfish and now—”
“No, Mase. You are the least selfish person on the planet. You gave him eight years. If he didn’t use that time to sort his shit out and learn to take care of himself, that’s on him.
I love him like a brother, but it’s time he did it on his own.
You have to make peace with it, even if it takes some getting used to. ”
“You’re right. Thank you.”
“If you’re that worried, you could write to him every once in a while.” She bites back a smile and I groan. No more letter writing for me.
“How about you tell him I said hi.” I wink and a smile lights up her face. I’m not going to take away their letters. He can have that. I’m not heartless. I just don’t need to be involved.
“Jack and I have a different way of communicating. It’s this small device here.” I wave my phone in front of her face. “It’s called a cell phone.”
“A what?” She fakes a gasp. “That would make life much easier. Can I have his number?”
“Not a chance,” I growl, pocketing my phone, wrapping an arm around her waist, and pulling her roughly against me. “You want possessive. I’ll give you possessive.” I capture her lip between my teeth, gently tugging the luscious flesh as she melts against me.
“Jesus, Mase.” She pulls back to stare up at me, her breathless voice making my cock twitch. “Jealousy looks good on you. Is this my Valentine’s present?”
“What?” My jaw drops and I’m not ashamed to admit a panic runs through me. “I thought you said you weren’t a Valentine’s girl? They were your exact words. Are you trying to make me fail?”
“Fail what?”
“My ninety-day probation period. I’ve only got a month and a half left.”
Jenna throws her head back as her rich laughter ripples through the air. “I think you’re doing okay. I’d even consider upgrading you to permanent status. On one condition.”
“Oh, yeah?” My heart jolts as I fight not to throw her over my shoulder, prematurely celebrating my win. “What’s the condition?”
“You write me a song.” Dammit. It was only a matter of time before she mentioned my music again. Two can play at that game.
“Deal, but… you’ll have to face your feelings if I do, because the opening line is going to be ‘Jenna Marie Brooks, I love you. With all my heart. And I’m never going to let you go.’”
Her breath hitches as I reach for her hand, holding it against my chest. She’s silent for the longest beat, and for a minute, I think I broke her, until her lips curl into a smile. “I love you too, Mason. But I have to say that’s a pretty shitty opening lyric. You can do better than that.”
I chuckle quietly as my heart fills with warmth. She loves me. It’s official.
She’s right though. I can do much better.
After all, I got the girl.
We may not know what the future brings, but whatever comes our way, we’ll face it together because from here on out, we’re living for us. And I’ve got to admit, it’s my favourite way to be.
Thank you for reading Mason and Jenna's story. I had so much fun writing my first holiday romance. Here's to many more.
Curious about Hayley and Blair's stories? You can find their books as part of my San Francisco End Game series. Available now on .