Chapter Twenty-Five
I stare at the lineup of red, white, and blue shirts spread across my bed, tapping my finger against my mouth. I want to lean into the whole Americana vibe for the holiday, but not so much that it looks like I tried too hard. It needs to look casual—just like this thing between Mason and I.
Eventually, I settle on a fitted red crop top and a pair of frayed denim shorts. In the mirror, I fuss with my hair, trying to work some texture into the straight black strands.
When the rumble of Mason’s truck pulls up outside, my stomach drops. I grab the tote bag I packed with a beach blanket and water bottle, then head out before I can second-guess everything.
Mason leans out the driver’s side window, his hair catching in the warm glow of the setting sun. “Ready?”
“Yup,” I mutter, climbing in beside him.
The cab smells faintly of his cologne, sharp and woodsy, and it makes my pulse spike.
As we get closer to the beach, the traffic thickens. People swarm the sidewalks carrying folding chairs, coolers, and sparklers. The hum of voices and distant music blends with the occasional crack of firecrackers going off early.
When we finally find a parking spot and walk the rest of the way, the beach is already packed. Blankets and towels crowd the sand, kids darting in and out of the lake while parents yell after them.
Aliyah waves us over from a secluded spot near the dunes, her braids tied back in a paisley blue bandana.
Her girlfriend, Cam, sits beside her, a cooler propped between their muscled legs.
Her light brown skin glows in the streaks of fading daylight, her buzzed haircut revealing a small rose tattoo at her temple.
A slick of eyeliner makes her brown eyes stand out.
“About time,” Aliyah teases as we approach.
Mason rolls his eyes. “Traffic.”
We spread the red checkered blanket and plop down. The air smells like grilled hot dogs and lake water, sunscreen and smoke. Mason drops beside me, his knee brushing mine.
“It’s good to see you again, Hunter,” Aliyah says, offering a dimpled grin. “This is my girlfriend, Cam.”
I give Cam a polite nod. “Nice to meet you.”
“You too.”
Overhead, the sky deepens into a dusky violet. The crowd’s chatter swells as the first firework hisses into the air, exploding into a blossom of gold. The bursts reflect on the rippling lake, fragments of color shattering across the surface.
We drift into silence, the kind that feels heavy on my shoulders. I’ve never been good at socializing in groups like this, and it’s probably obvious. My fingers pick at the frayed threads of my shorts, tugging one loose.
“Wow, Hunter! I love your nails!” Aliyah exclaims suddenly, grabbing my hand.
Heat rushes into my face. I painted them with wobbly red and white stripes earlier—my attempt at being festive. Normally I stick to solid colors since my hands fidget too much for patterns, but I’d forced myself to try.
“Thanks,” I reply, embarrassed but flattered.
A firework booms overhead, louder this time, vibrating in my chest. I flinch before I can stop myself. Mason’s palm settles firmly on my thigh, fingers squeezing softly. I give him a shy smile, my heart tripping at how steady his touch feels.
To fill the quiet, I blurt, “So, uh—how long have you two been together?” My voice comes out higher than intended.
Aliyah grins, throwing Cam a mischievous look. “A little over a month. We met at a gay bar.”
My eyebrows lift. “Oh?”
“Yeah,” Aliyah continues, clearly entertained by my reaction. “Funny thing is, we were actually there to find a guy for Mason. He needed to get laid.”
Mason groans beside me. “Aliyah…”
Cam laughs, nudging Aliyah’s shoulder. “And instead she found me.”
I freeze, tensing at the knowledge that Mason was at a gay bar trying to pick up guys not that long ago. Is he still getting laid elsewhere?
Aliyah winks. “Best detour of my life. Mason, though? He tried to hook up with one of Cam’s coworkers. He ended up being a total jerk. It didn’t go anywhere.”
“He supported Franklin Sawyer,” Mason explains.
Aliyah sighs, shaking her head. “It’s hard to find decent gay guys around here. The dating pool’s… shallow.”
I force out a laugh, but it comes out thin. My throat tightens as her words echo in my head. Hard to find decent guys. My gaze drops to the sand, my knees pulled close to my chest.
Did Mason really just… settle for me? Because he didn’t have any other options?
Mason squeezes my hand, breaking me out of my spiraling thoughts. “You okay?” he asks, dropping his voice to a low whisper.
I force out a tight smile. “I’m great.”
The fireworks boom above, painting the world in fleeting streaks of red and green, but all I can hear is the pounding of my pulse in my ears.
***
The fireworks finale fades into smoke and applause, the crowd already breaking apart into clusters of people shuffling back toward their cars. Mason and I trail behind Aliyah and Cam until they veer off in the opposite direction, waving goodbye.
The walk back to Mason’s truck feels longer than the trip in. The nighttime air has a chilly bite to it. My throat is dry, my chest tight. I kick at loose pebbles on the sidewalk, keeping my eyes on the ground.
“You’re quiet,” Mason notes beside me, his voice easy but edged with concern.
“I’m fine,” I mutter, shoving my hands into my shorts pockets.
We reach his truck parked at the curb, but before I can grab the handle, Mason catches my wrist. The crowd filters past us, but he pulls me aside, stopping right in the middle of the sidewalk under a streetlamp.
“Hunter.” His tone is firm, the kind that makes my blood simmer. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” I say quickly. Too quickly.
He doesn’t let go of my wrist. His eyes search mine, steady and unrelenting. “Don’t do that. Don’t shut me out.”
I groan softly. “It’s stupid.”
He scoffs. “Try me.”
I inhale a sharp breath, eyes pinched shut.
“I just—” I shake my head, my voice cracking.
“I worry that you… that you only settled for me. Like I was convenient or something. That you’re not even really attracted to me.
And I wouldn’t even blame you if you’re, you know, hooking up with other people, because I’m not—”
“Hunter.”
“—I’m not exactly the kind of guy people pick first. I mean, Aliyah basically said it—how hard it is to find decent guys around here. So maybe I’m just—”
My rambling chokes off as his mouth crashes against mine. His kiss is rough, certain, demolishing every anxious word I haven’t said yet. His hand slides to the back of my neck, holding me there like he’s afraid I’ll slip away.
My heart thuds heavily against my ribs. There’s still people surrounding us, giving us ugly glances as we block the pathway, but he doesn’t let go of me.
“Mason,” I croak, my eyes bouncing nervously between his. “We’re… in public.”
“I don’t care,” he insists, holding my face steady. “I didn’t settle for you, Hunter. And just for the record, I’m not sleeping with other people. You’re all I want for the summer. I promise.”
I swallow hard. “Okay.”
Mason finally releases me, though his fingers linger against mine before he lets go completely. My heart tumbles in my chest as we climb into the truck.
The drive starts in silence, headlights sweeping across the crowded streets as we crawl past families dragging kids in wagons and teenagers lighting sparklers in the dark. My fingers twist nervously in my lap, the echo of our kiss still burning on my lips.
“So…” I clear my throat. “Are you going to come out? Because people definitely saw us back there.”
Mason glances at me, hands tightening on the wheel. “I’m not about to make some big announcement, if that’s what you mean. But I’ve been thinking about it for a while, and I’m tired of pretending to be someone I’m not.”
My stomach twists. “So you’re not… scared?”
He laughs humorlessly. “I know my family won’t care—it’s everyone else in this goddamn town I’m worried about. But I only have a couple months left with you, and I don’t want to waste time hiding.”
I press my nails into my palms, ignoring the block of ice freezing in my throat.
The downtown area slips by in a blur of streetlights and darkened storefronts. Every once in a while, another firework cracks in the distance, the flash of color bleeding across the horizon before fading back into black. A smoky haze lingers in the sky.
When we pull up to my place, Mason shifts the truck into park. He leans back in his seat, watching me with a firm gaze that cuts deep under my skin.
“Have a good night, Hunter,” he says softly.
He leans across the center console and pecks my lips with a short, sweet kiss. His thumb gently smooths over my cheek before he pulls back.
My throat tightens. I manage a small smile, hand hovering on the door handle. “Night, Mase.”
The air feels colder as I step out and shut the door behind me. His headlights glow brightly on my backside until I disappear inside.
In my bedroom, I strip down to my underwear and climb into bed. Somewhere outside, fireworks are still exploding with muffled thuds that rattle through the summer air. I let the sound wash over me, steady and rhythmic, and fall asleep with the sweet memory of Mason’s mouth on mine.