30. Chapter 30
Mason
“That fucking stubborn, self-sacrificial… Jesus, what the hell am I going to do with you, Jinx?” I mumble to myself as I read his text for the third time.
Does he truly believe I’d just let him walk away, and we’d be done with each other without so much as a backward glance?
He clearly texted me because he doesn’t want me to talk him out of it.
I have no doubt he’s doing this because he loves me.
His stupidity is coming from a good place.
I responded to him, but he left it unread.
In my irritation, I start hammering out a message in the community group about Jinx and me being together, that he wasn’t truthful to protect me, but I stop myself. It would essentially be calling him a liar, which could also affect their horse ranch business. What a fucking mess.
I re-read his post on Facebook two more times.
He turned off the comments, but there were several posts about it.
There’s blame for making accusations without facts, and there are stubborn holdouts who refuse to see Jinx’s side, saying he’s just covering his ass and mine.
But mostly, people believe him. Even better, Mr. Bush has deleted his Facebook account as far as I can tell.
Jinx did an amazing job making the man look bad.
I hate to admit that his message worked, and using bigotry and his own experiences definitely pulled out denials and guilt from the community.
I log out of social media and open my email, specifically one message that was sent to me a couple of weeks ago.
I ignored it, but now I’m reconsidering.
It could be the answer to all my problems. The more I think about it, the more I like it.
Then a real plan starts to take shape, and soon I’m seeing a clear way out.
My original plan had been just to close the restaurants, but this is better. The only thing holding me back is Jinx.
I respond to the email, then I reach out to my former manager and chef to invite them back and explain why. I also mentioned that Jinx has fixed their problem and linked the post to the message, so they shouldn’t be harassed anymore. Then I offered my deepest apologies.
Max was quick to respond. He said he was grateful it was resolved, and he appreciated us taking care of the situation. He’s glad to return to work immediately, and he’ll make sure Lorenzo returns, too. Thank god.
With that out of the way, I quickly shower and get dressed. It’s time to get Jinx back. I’m not waiting for him to cool down and get used to a life without me. He’s mine, and he’s going to stay that way for as long as he’ll have me. Now, to get his head out of his ass.
I pull up the long driveway at Sugar-Sweet Ranch and park. Instead of going to the main house, I head toward the stables and up the stairs. I knock on the door, but there’s no answer.
“Dammit.”
I put my ear to the door, but the sense of emptiness on the other side is heavy.
After checking the horse stalls, I see his horse is gone. That can only mean one thing.
Feeling a bit deflated and frustrated, I head to the house and knock on the front door. The house erupts with barking. Aleks is quick to answer and greets me with a warm smile.
“Hey, Mason.”
“How are you, Aleks?”
“I’m good, thanks. Come on in.”
I walk inside as the dogs greet me, full of wagging tails and tongues. It’s chaos. I’ve never had a dog before, so I don’t pet them.
Aleks leads me to the kitchen, filled with the smell of melted cheese. Julien is bent over the oven, pulling out a casserole.
He takes the dogs out of the kitchen and locks the gate to keep them out, while Julien sets the casserole dish on the stove and smiles back at me. “What’s up, Mason?”
“Hello. So, how’s married life?” I ask them.
They both smile and wrap their arms around each other. “I feel complete, you know?” Julien says as Aleks nods in agreement.
“Yeah, I mean our relationship doesn’t feel different, but as my husband says, we feel complete.”
Julien kisses his husband’s cheek. “It’s been a long road for us both.” He waves a hand at the stool, so I sit. “You’re here for Jinx?”
“Yes, I’m assuming he’s out riding?”
Aleks pulls down some plates and grabs several forks. “He’s… frustrated. He likes to ride Waffle all the time, but especially when he’s not feeling right.”
“I figured.”
“Would you like some late lunch? I made homemade mac and cheese, Aleks’ favorite.”
“Thank you, but I’ve eaten already.”
They plate their food and sit across from me at the kitchen island.
It’s one of the few spots in the house that feels loved and lived in.
You can tell they spend a lot of time in here.
Kitchens have always been the heart of the home.
That’s what my mother taught me, and something I tend to agree with.
Before he takes a bite, Julien stares pointedly at me. “I’m assuming you’re here because Jinx is… well, being Jinx.”
Aleks smiles fondly and nods. “Yep, he’s a stubborn one.”
“Indeed. Yes, it’s why I’m here. He sent me a text and told me not to reach out, but I can be as stubborn as he is.”
Julien blows on his bite and puts it in his mouth. He chews and swallows before replying. “He’s worried about you and the ranch. What he’s doing is coming from a good place.”
“I know it is. He’s trying to protect me.”
“Mason,” Aleks says with careful consideration. “He needs you. I think he knows that, but he’s dead set on protecting you and your restaurants. I think what he said on the community group is enough, and you should be fine, but I hate that he’s risking his relationship with you. He loves you.”
I run my hand over the cold stone surface of the counter.
“I love him, too. And our relationship isn’t at risk unless that’s what he wants.
I need to see him in person first to be sure.
Besides, I have a plan for us. I refuse to hide our relationship.
While I haven’t disputed what he said in the group, I have an idea of how to make us work and not hide one other.
But… it’s huge. He’s not going to like it, judging by his reaction today. It will also affect you all.”
Julien wipes his mouth and takes a sip of water. “Don’t worry about us. Jinx deserves happiness, and if you can give it to him, you have our blessing.”
Unlike Julien, Aleks frowns, processing my words. “Can you tell us what you mean?”
“Not yet. I’d like to talk to Jinx about it first.”
The sound of the front door slamming and boots dropping to the floor makes me turn. My heart leaps at seeing Jinx, flushed from the cold, his hair wrecked by the hat he just removed.
A kaleidoscope of emotions crosses his face, from want and sadness to anger. Typical Jinx. He feels so much, sometimes at the same time, and he fights it all so hard.
His eyes water, and he drops his hat on the counter, staring at his feet with folded arms. “I told you not to reach out to me. I’m not fucking changing my mind.”
“Did you really believe for a second I’d listen after everything we’ve been through? Do you really think I can just stop loving you without a fight?”
“Yes.”
I sigh and stand. “Let’s talk privately.”
“No. Go home, Mason. I’m sorry, but it’s over. It’s the only way.”
“Stubborn!” I lift him and toss him over my shoulder before turning to Aleks and Julien. “Excuse us. We need to have a chat.”
They wave at me, smiling as Jinx fights out of my hold.
“Put me down, dammit!”
“Not on your life.”
“Fucking let go… I hate being so fucking short! You can’t just manhandle me whenever you want, Mason!”
I carry a bitching and squirming Jinx, finding a place in the house that’s private with a door. The dogs are barking and following us, but I ignore them as long as they leave me alone.
I stumble into an office, block the dogs, and shut the door. Then I set Jinx on his feet. He comes at me and slaps my chest.
“Careful, Precious, I’m going to have to punish you for that.”
“You’re so stupid! You’re ruining everything that I sacrificed!”
“No, that was all you, sweetheart.”
As soon as I cup his face, the tears spill down his cheeks. He’s clawing at my wrists, but he’s not fighting me either. Baby steps.
“Dammit, Jinx. I didn’t ask you to save me.”
“You didn’t have to. I refuse to be a part of your fucking crossroads or whatever. I’m not your parents, and I’m not your Jude.”
I scoff at him. While I’m angry, I love him even more, if that were possible. “My crossroads are mine to bear.”
“Not when they involve me, they’re not.”
“It’s my turn to give you a bit of hard truth, Jinx Tyler Grigore.
” His bottom lip trembles, and he tries to look away, but I won’t let him.
“After all our long talks and being honest with each other, I thought we’d never be here right now.
But I can clearly see you still need to work on your communication skills.
Instead of coming to me and talking it out so we can fix things together, you ran and made decisions for me without asking first. Wrong! ”
“But—”
“I’m not fucking done.” I sigh and breathe to calm my heart and to think clearly.
The longer I’m here, facing my stubborn pet, the angrier I’m getting.
“Precious… I know you did this out of love. I’m very mindful of that.
But your love is misplaced. You shouldn’t have to sacrifice your happiness for someone else, even me.
Besides, I’ve already chosen you over my business. ”
He growls and fights me again, so I let him go to pace and rant. “That’s exactly what I was afraid of! I don’t deserve it! Fuck! Don’t you get it? Why would I let you give up everything just for me?”
“There’s a difference between losing everything and coming up with a plan.”
He stops his pacing and wipes his face. “What do you mean?”
“When I talk about sacrifices, I’m talking about making them together, as a couple.
This plan will involve both of us giving up something that we love to start something new.
” He waves his hand impatiently at me—damn brat.
I can’t wait to get him in bed and punish him. “Sit down, and I’ll tell you my idea.”
Jinx sits as far away from me on the leather sofa as he can. He’s really fighting me. I knew he was stubborn, but this is my first glimpse into how much.
“I’ve had a corporation reach out to me. They wanted to make an offer to buy my restaurants and franchise them across the country.”
“Eew…”
I chuckle because I said the same thing when they first called. But their email had a doc and their offer. I just can’t ignore it any longer. “At first, I agreed with that sentiment. There’s no way I’d turn my restaurants into a franchise, but now I’m rethinking that. Their offer is very generous.”
“God, but why? They’re going to ruin it.”
“Not necessarily. I can offer stipulations, especially with protecting staff, which is important to me.”
“No way. Forget it. Won’t let you.”
“It’s my business and my decision. Not yours. But I’d appreciate it if you’d stop huffing and puffing at me for five minutes so I can finish telling you my plan.”
“Fine, but I’m not changing my mind.”
I think he will, but if I tell him that, it will only add fuel to the current inferno named Jinx.
“You told everyone online that we’re not together.
While I appreciate what you’ve done, and your message has allowed my chef and manager to return to work, we now have to live in secret.
I won’t stand for that. I want a long life with you, Precious, not hiding and sneaking around.
” He starts to interrupt, but I raise my hand.
I know he’s about to tell me he’ll accept that, but I won’t.
“It will destroy our relationship down the road. Trust me on this. It’s not sustainable to live like that.
So, I’m going to sell my restaurants, and with the money, I’d like us to buy that property we visited in Siena and live there. ”
His eyes explode, and he gapes at me. “What?”
“That’s what I mean about sacrifice. If you want to be with me, I’m asking you to give up your home and family.
It’s a huge ask. I know. I’ll be giving up my home as well.
That doesn’t mean we’ll never see them. We’ll fly them out as often as we can, and we’ll visit all the time.
I’ll transport Waffle and Black Beauty to Italy, so you’ll always have your girl to ride. Hell, you can bring Orange Crush, too.”
I scoot next to him and take his hand, playing with his fingers.
“It’s a massive change for us. And living in Italy would mean we couldn’t get married there, as you know, at least on paper.
But I can easily become a citizen there because my parents were born in Naples.
Then we can get you citizenship through residency.
And you might have to rethink your career once you graduate, but I also have some thoughts on that, which we can talk about later. ”
Jinx’s hand is clammy, and he doesn’t look at me, processing. “It’s huge, for sure,” he says quietly. Too quietly. I’m bracing for his rejection.
I lift his hand and kiss the top of it. “Think about it. Take your time, and—”
“I can really bring Waffle?”
“Yes.”
“What about the filly coming to you?”
“She can stay on Sugar-Sweet Ranch. I can pay them to train her and send her our way when she’s done.
I’ll have to sell the other horses. It’s just too much to bring that many with us.
” I tug him onto my lap, and he rests his head on my shoulder.
Progress. He’s listening and thinking about it.
“I won’t make you uproot your life for me.
We’d both be giving up a lot, but only if you want to.
If you choose to stay, then I’ll stay as well.
But I can’t live in secret, Precious. I’m not giving you an ultimatum, but I don’t ever want that for us.
Hell, we don’t even have to live in Italy.
It can be anywhere. It’s just that you loved that estate so much… ”
“You’d… really do that? Give it all up?”
“Yes. We can start over together. We don’t have to do this alone. But if you agree, I have one rule that I won’t deviate from.”
“What’s that?”
“We do everything together. We talk about everything. No more running off and making decisions for each other. You and I are going to talk through the things that are bothering us. Period. Even if it’s uncomfortable.”
He nods and rests his hand on my chest. “I can do that.”
“Anyway, think about it. It’s a big decision.”
“They’d better pay you a lot.”
I chuckle and kiss his head. “It’s a generous offer.”
That sounds like he’s willing to do this. Or taking my offer seriously.
“Now, we’re going to go over to my house, and we're going to make love.”
“No punishment?”
“Later. Right now, I just need you.” I cup his jaw tightly and kiss him. “I love you, Jinx Tyler Grigore.”
“And I regret telling you my name,” he says, but he has a small smile on his lips. “I love you, too. So fucking much.”