Chapter 8 #2
I fight against the urge to argue with him. I know what I’m signing up for with Mason. His anxiety and quirks don’t bother me at all. In fact, in a way I can’t explain, they intrigue me, making it feel like everything he shows me is earned out of explicit trust.
All the lights for the house are lit up when I park in the driveway.
Balloons hang from the brick ballasts out front.
Reid really went all out. The house is warm and inviting when we step inside.
Laughter rings out from the backyard, so I nod that direction in order for Mason to follow.
When I slide the glass door open, everyone turns toward us.
Mason waves shyly from behind me. Dante’s lips quirk into a knowing, wry twist of lips even as Reid sits in his lap.
Twinkling lights hang from the porch railing and from the two sparse winter-dead trees in the backyard.
A table of appetizers sits to the right, and there’s a steel bucket full of icy beer.
I dip down to grab one, then join the rest of them in one of the Adirondack chairs that get way more play in the summer.
Reid’s even gotten a gas fire pit going in the middle of the circle between us.
Mason stands awkwardly behind me for a few seconds before mumbling something that sounds a lot like oh hell whatever, then sits on the railing of the chair since all the other chairs are occupied.
I shift a little to the left to give him more room so that I don’t actually touch him.
Mason must notice because he looks down at me with this soft and fond sort of look that makes me wish so desperately I could touch him on purpose in front of everyone. So that they all know he’s mine.
“Happy birthday, big guy,” I say while tipping my beer at Dante.
Dante grins, but it’s a genuine smile, not that scary fake one that unsettles us all. “It’s actually tomorrow.”
Everyone stills. Reid turns slowly to look down at Dante. “You said it was the last day of February. That’s today… the twenty-eighth.”
Dante clears his throat awkwardly. “Not always.”
Huh? Silence fills the void for a few moments before Hayden cackles. “His real birthday is leap day, you idiots.”
Reid’s eyes go big, then a terrifying smirk works its way across his face.
“Oh no,” Mason mumbles in fear.
“So you’re technically only five years old.”
Dante narrows his eyes in warning. “No, Reid. I’m twenty-two.”
“But your birthday doesn’t actually exist,” Reid argues, voice tinged with glee.
“Reid.”
“Oh my god, were you on the news? Sometimes those cute little leap day babies are on the news because they’re so special.”
“I was not on the news as a newborn,” Dante deadpans.
Just as Reid clearly is about to press further and ask another question, Dante covers Reid’s mouth with his large palm. Reid’s nose wrinkles and his eyebrows furrow, but he goes still when Dante whispers something in his ear. A moment later, Dante removes his hand, and Reid clears his throat.
“I hope everyone brought presents,” Reid says softly.
I grimace and look toward Jacob, who only rolls his eyes and nods toward the table by the front door. Oh, thank god. The doorbell rings, which has all of us craning our heads to look toward the door in fear.
“Oh, calm down, it’s just pizza delivery.” Reid waves his hands in frustration while passing by us all to head inside. He stops by the sliding door to cast a look back at Mason. “Help me, please.”
Mason sends me an unsure smile but dutifully follows his little brother inside.
I watch him go, because it’s an amazing view, then turn back to the guys to take a sip of my beer.
The beer is cool and crisp, and I almost spit it out when Hayden fixes me with a stern look and asks, “Are you fucking him?”
“No,” I reply firmly.
Hayden has the gall to look disbelieving. “Hmm.”
“And if I was, would it matter?”
“No, but it might cause you to make bad decisions,” Hayden finally says.
“I disagree. I think what I feel for Mason will force me to make better decisions.”
Hayden tilts his head at me like an eagle watching prey. “How so?”
I lift my gaze to Jacob and see understanding there as his gaze flits over to Hayden. Oh. That’s when it all clicks. How could I not see it all this time? Jacob’s gaze goes distant as he tears his eyes away from Hayden to look inside over my shoulder.
“When you care about someone besides yourself, put their safety above your own, the decisions you make are for everyone instead of just yourself.”
Hayden snorts in disbelief. “Whatever. None of you would die for me out there, of that I’m sure.”
“I would,” I say loudly, pulling his attention back to me. “I’d die for you, boss.”
“Me too,” Dante chimes in.
Hayden rolls his eyes. “Sure.”
“Hayden,” Jacob says gruffly, but Hayden just ignores him. I watch as Hayden crosses his arms over his broad chest and tosses himself back in the chair as if attempting to make himself invisible.
Reid breaks the spell by sauntering in with plates full of pizza.
He and Mason take turns handing them out before Mason sits back down on the edge of my chair.
I set the half-empty beer bottle on the other side of the chair and grab my pizza.
We all chat quietly as we eat, most of us teasing or roasting one another, notably Dante, which he takes good-naturedly because that’s the kind of guy he is.
I sneak glances at Mason every time he laughs at something stupid one of us says.
He eats half of a slice of pizza before placing the plate on the ground and carefully wiping his fingers on a napkin.
When he catches me staring, he thinks it’s out of want of a napkin, so he hands me one, and I take it to avoid letting my eyes tell him the truth of my stare.
“Presents!” Reid announces, excitedly slapping his hands together.
I say a silent prayer that Jacob got Dante something good as Reid hands over gift bags and a single box. Hayden still looks sulky, but he perks up a little when Dante decides to open the glittery purple bag first. Must be from him.
Dante’s eyes go misty when he opens the bag, then he looks at Hayden with unrestrained joy. “Really?”
Hayden waves Dante’s emotional question away. “It’s just one time.”
“What is it?” I ask because I’m nosy.
“It’s a voucher to help with hacking on any mission of my choosing.”
We’re all silent because that is a huge deal.
Dante is never allowed to help with hacking.
Hayden must feel very giving today. Mason shifts uncomfortably on the edge of the chair.
It takes everything inside me not to wrap my arm around him, tug him onto my lap, and bury my face in the crook of his neck.
“There’s more presents.” Hayden points at the other gift bags. “Keep going.”
Dante opens up the present from me and Jacob, which contains gift cards for custom Chucks.
The final gift bag is from Reid, if evidenced by the way Dante’s eyes go large and he whispers something to Reid that is thankfully not for our ears.
Finally, he grabs the box from the ground with a curious sort of look.
“Who’s this from?” Dante asks with a frown.
Reid looks around at all of us in confusion. “I assumed one of you?”
All of us shake our heads and shrug. Dante doesn’t seem bothered by it as he digs into the wrapping paper.
He opens the box, and after a second of rustling the tissue paper inside, he pulls out a frame.
A terrifying growl escapes him as he shoves the framed picture at Reid.
The look on Reid’s face isn’t that dissimilar from Dante, except Reid’s lips are pursed in disgust.
“Well.” Reid looks at us all, then turns the picture around with a flourish. “That’s unexpected, huh?”
It’s a framed photo of The Carver, who Dante had briefly thought he killed after Reid’s kidnapping, until Robin bore news of his escape.
The picture is a selfie in front of the house, and the guy is wearing the biggest shit-eating grin I’ve ever seen in my life, all while sipping at a whipped cream–laden iced coffee.
“You gotta admit, he has flair,” Jacob notes with a hint of hero worship.
“He tried to kill Reid,” Dante reminds everyone with a deep growl.
“Well, that’s not entirely true,” Reid argues.
Dante shifts his confused gaze to Reid. “What?”
“Uh… he just tortured me. He wasn’t aiming to kill.”
“You needed a blood transfusion,” Mason points out, voice high pitched and a little hysterical.
“Yeah, but, like, I didn’t die.”
“Oh my god, he has Stockholm syndrome,” Jacob says on a theatrical gasp.
“Whatever.” Reid rolls his eyes and tosses the signed picture over his head so that it lands in the backyard. Amazing. “I’m sure it’s just… a little joke. Haha?”
Dante growls from deep in his chest and stares listlessly into the backyard.
Birthday ruined, I guess. I help Mason and Reid clean up outside as Jacob tries to talk Dante down from whatever ledge he’s on.
Once the party is all cleaned up and the beers have been put away, we move to the living room to hang out since the air is getting a little too chilly outside despite the new fire pit.
Hayden turns the television on so we can play some video games. It starts up on a news channel, and Jacob holds his hand out for Hayden to pause.
“Wait,” Jacob orders, voice firm enough to catch my attention.
Hayden moves to stand beside him, effectively blocking the television. “Holy shit.”
“You guys either need to share what’s happening or sit down so we can see for ourselves,” Reid shouts.
Hayden and Jacob both immediately sit to give us a view of the screen. The news broadcast says in block letters BOTH DEAD SENATORS GUILTY OF PARTICIPATING IN A SEX TRAFFICKING RING.
“Oh my god,” Mason exclaims on a pained-sounding gasp.
Hayden quickly whips his head around. “Did you know?”
Mason’s eyes widen with fear. “I had no idea! I mean, I killed him because he deserved it, but I didn’t know…
that he...” The words seem to get caught in his throat.
He looks to me in need, and the only thing I can think to do is smile warmly at him, hoping to settle whatever nerves are starting to roil in his gut.
“Let’s go home,” I say quietly, shocked that his house is starting to feel more like home to me.
Mason visibly slumps in relief. “Okay.”
“You’re leaving? Now?” Hayden asks accusingly.
“Yes. We’ll talk this over if it develops into anything.”
Hayden eyes me shrewdly but remains uncharacteristically quiet.
After shaking hands with Dante and wishing him happy birthday, Mason and I take our leave.
The night air is cooler and crisper, so I hurry him to the car with my hand hovering over the small of his back.
If I close my eyes, I can almost pretend he can feel my phantom touch.
Once we get back home, we go about our separate nighttime routines as usual.
But like the other night, I join him on the bed after my thorough shower.
Mason’s hair is slightly damp and there are dark smudges under his eyes.
Lifting my hand, I trace the air around his jaw, cheeks, and his lips.
Red blooms across his cheeks. I pretend the flush is from desire, from need for me.
It stirs the deep need inside me to have him, but also to protect him in a way I can’t explain. Even from myself if necessary.
“Soon,” Mason whispers so that I can feel the damp puff of air against the pads of my fingers.
“However long, including never,” I promise him.
Mason closes his eyes with a content sigh. Moments later, he’s sound asleep, and I watch him for a little while before sleep claims me for her own.