12. Mason
TWELVE
MASON
This is the stupidest thing I’ve ever done.
Don called me again this morning, and for the first time in ten years, I declined his call. I know he’ll talk some sense into me, but I don’t feel like listening to all the ways I’m being dumb as fuck.
I shouldn’t still be in this town.
I shouldn’t have talked to Lily in the first place.
And I definitely shouldn’t be sitting in her cramped living room, acting like a stand-in boyfriend, wanting to take care of her when she hits a rough patch.
But here we are.
Annabelle spewed Lily’s personal problems without a second thought, apologizing for having to leave before she could ride my dick but saying she couldn’t turn down the shift.
And even though I tried to talk myself out of it a thousand times—even though I’m sure Don calling was a sign from the universe, begging me to be smart—I ignored it. Apparently, the need to help Lily and her kid overwhelms logic and common sense in my brain.
Like I’ve said before, I’ve never been good at staying away from my vices.
The most surprising part of my morning is how hard Lily has been fighting against the idea of my help. Honestly, I thought she’d be thankful, since she doesn’t have anyone else to call. But it’s obvious she doesn’t trust me. Not that she should.
I shouldn’t fucking be here.
The words filter through my brain for the thousandth time, and I know her resistance is the perfect out, a way to stop my descent before I’ve gone down the whole slide, but I don’t listen.
“Chase,” she says.
My heart stutters. Is she talking about her brother? “What about him?”
Lily’s eyebrows scrunch, and I realize two seconds too late that she isn’t talking about him. She’s talking about her kid .
“What do you mean, what about him? He’s gonna wake up any minute, and there’s never been anyone in the house when he does…” Her fingers scratch her wrist and my eyes follow the movement. “Maybe you should just leave.”
“He’s never had anyone else here?” I don’t know why that makes my stomach clench tight, but it does. Thoughts of a three-year-old not having anyone besides his elderly babysitter and his mom is a sad reality. One I won’t make better by coming into their lives when I’m only going to leave again.
But if I don’t, then she’ll go back to having absolutely no one. And I think that’s worse.
“No, not really… We don’t—” she starts.
I shake my head. “I get it.”
Her eyes scan my body. “I highly doubt that.”
Smirking, I lean against the wall. “Chill out, little bird. We’re just gonna hang today. Let me help you.”
A noise comes from down the hall, and I glance in that direction. “Which room is his?”
“The only room there is. The door on the left.”
I lock my eyes back on hers. “What do you mean the only room? Where do you sleep?”
Her cheeks tinge pink as she nods toward the couch.
“You sleep on the couch ?”
“It’s not so bad.” She shrugs.
I’m not sure why I’m surprised, I know her financial situation, and I’ve seen people live in much worse conditions. But the act of her giving up the room just feels so…selfless. I hope one day her kid looks back and realizes he chose a good mom when he came into this world.
“Don’t look at me like that,” she snaps.
“Like what?” My brows raise.
Her hands go to her hips and I bite back a smile. She’s so feisty. All five foot two of her.
“Like you don’t approve of our living situation.”
“You have no idea what I’m thinking.” My grin widens.
“Let me tell you something. This. ” She waves her arms around the room. “I know this doesn’t seem like much. But this is incredible for me.” She takes a step closer with each word, until she’s standing so close I can feel the heat sparking off her body. Her neck cranes so she can see my face. “I’ve slept on frozen street corners, and I’ve lived on filthy floors. So you don’t get to come in here and judge us. Judge me .”
My heart dives into my stomach, sinking like a rock. Is that what she thinks?
Reaching out my hand, I tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear, grazing her jaw with my fingers. “Believe me, little bird, the last thing I’ll ever do is judge you.” My eyes track down her body, her chest heaving under her oversized Nirvana shirt. “I think you’re fucking incredible.”
She sucks in a breath.
“So.” I clear my throat. “What’s on the agenda for today?”
Her body shifts, and she backs up a couple steps. “Absolutely nothing.”
I nod my head. “I can dig that.”
She smirks. “You can dig it?”
Something light flows through my chest. “Are you making fun of the way I talk?”
“Mommy.” The voice startles me, and I jerk around, coming face-to-face with Chase.
His eyes bounce between us, confusion swimming in his gaze, and Lily rushes over, picking him up and setting him on her hip. “Hey, baby. You remember Alex?”
My chest twists, the way it does every time she says that name. Alex.
Chase rests his head on her shoulder, his little legs dangling down her body as he nods.
“Is it okay if he hangs with us today?” she asks him, her hand swiping over his dark locks.
He stares at me in silence for a few long, stretched seconds and finally nods, his chubby arms squeezing her tight. “Otay,” he whispers. “Can we have pancakes?”
She nods and he continues, “The good kind though, not the ones fwom the box.”
Her eyes dim, the muscles in her face pulling tight. My stomach sinks because I know before she even says it—pancakes aren’t an option.
And that breaks my fucking heart in half.
“We can go to IHOP if you want. My treat,” I say.
Lily’s mouth snaps closed, her gaze swinging to mine.
“What’s IHOP?” Chase asks.
I smile. “A magical place full of whipped cream and never-ending pancakes.”
His eyes widen. “That sounds awesome. ”
Lily laughs. “How are we gonna get there, Einstein? You gonna load us up on the back of your bike?”
Shrugging, I pull out my phone. “I’ll call a cab. You just say the word.”
She gazes at me until Chase’s little fists pull on the front of her shirt. “Mommy, pwease. I want pancakes.”
“Yeah, Mommy,” I say. “And I want whipped cream.”
Her eyes narrow at me, but she pats Chase’s back, setting him down. “Go start getting ready, and I’ll be in to help brush your teeth.”
“YES!” he squeals, racing down the hall.
The grin cracks my face as I watch him run away. He’s a cool kid.
“You don’t have to do this, you know.” Her voice is low.
My brow quirks. “Do what?”
“Buy his affection…or mine.”
My stomach tightens at her words, and I step into her, forcing her back until she’s flat against the wall. The second our bodies touch, heat spirals through my veins.
“Is that what you think I’m doing, little bird?”
Her breath falters, her palms coming up to rest against the cotton of my shirt. “Isn’t it?”
“If I wanted your affection…” My hand slides up the side of her body, skimming against the tight curves hidden beneath her oversized shirt. “I’d take it.”
She scoffs. “You can’t force affection.”
My palm continues upward until my fingers wrap around her neck, my thumb resting under her chin. I squeeze firmly, tipping her head back. “Who says I’d have to force it?”
Her eyes flare, her body arching into mine. My stomach flips, my cock straining against my jeans. Christ, she’s sexy. I’m three seconds away from wrapping her legs around my waist so I can slip between her thighs, but her fists press against me, and I allow her to push me away.
“I need to go check on Chase.”
And with that, she scurries down the hall.
Fuck. I’m in trouble.