17. Mason
MASON
It’s been a busy afternoon at the bar. We were slammed for lunch, and the crowd didn’t thin out until after three. The nights are usually busier, but luckily, I have the night off.
“Hey, man.” Nino takes a seat at the bar, placing his phone and wallet down in front of him.
“Hey, cousin. What’s up?”
“I wanted to check up on you.”
“Me?” I scratch my head, staring at him. “Did something happen to me, and I don’t know about it somehow?”
Nino chuckles and waves me off. “No, but I heard Lizzy’s moving in with you. You’re moving at lightning speed, and I want to make sure your head’s on straight.”
“It’s straight as it’s ever been.”
On the outside, Lizzy and I are new, but we’ve been close for months.
I know her better than I’ve ever known any woman I’ve ever dated, and that includes Corinne, whom I dated for almost a year.
The time I’ve spent with Lizzy has been quality time, talking nonstop, and not spent naked with nothing much more than moans and orgasms.
“You don’t think it’s a little soon?”
Nino’s coming to me from a good place. One of caring and support. I’d be worried about him too if I thought he was rushing into something he didn’t want.
“No, no. I want this. It was my idea. I’ve never been so sure about anything in my life.”
Nino raises a single eyebrow. “Seriously?”
“Completely,” I tell him, leaning over the bar in front of him. “Want a drink?”
“Just a soda. I have a date tonight.”
“Oh yeah?” I ask, pushing off the bar to grab him a soda. “Anyone I know?”
“Not unless you know Starlight from the Amber Room.”
“A stripper, man? For real?” I shake my head as I pull on the tap, filling a glass for him.
“You know cousin Thomas in Florida?”
I nod. “What about him?”
“Aunt Angel.”
“What?” I stare at him and blink. “What about her?”
“She was a stripper.”
“No shit,” I mutter, shocked as hell as I set the soda down in front of him.
My aunt is stunning, but never in a million years would I have thought she was anything other than a receptionist. That’s how I’ve always known her. She’s worked at ALFA my entire life and somehow keeps the guys in line, and that’s no easy feat.
He turns the cold glass in his hand, ignoring it while he starts to explain, “That’s how they met. He was working undercover in a motorcycle club, and she was a stripper. I think her dad or some shit was in the club at some point too. I can’t remember everything, but I know she danced.”
“And what does that have to do with you and Starlight?”
“It’s just a job, Mase. The woman’s making bank, and if she’s happy doing it, I’m not going to stop her. I’m secure in my masculinity. And her real name is Norah.”
“Wow. You’re more mature than most men.”
“Well, they have tiny dicks, and I don’t.”
I laugh, loving my cousin and his confidence. “I hope you have a good time with Norah.”
“I always do.” He smirks as he finally lifts his glass to his mouth. “So, you’re really good?”
“Couldn’t be better.”
He eyes me over the rim. “Okay.”
“Okay,” I repeat, hoping this line of questioning about my sanity when it comes to Lizzy is over.
“Fuck,” Zoey hisses as she walks out of the back with her phone on her shoulder, cheek holding it in place. “How is that possible?”
“Uh-oh,” Nino mutters.
My sentiments exactly. The closer we get to her wedding day, the more stressed she’s becoming.
Zoey tosses her phone down on the bar and groans.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, leaning my hip against the bar and hoping like hell this doesn’t turn into a full meltdown.
“My dress was shipped.”
“That’s good,” Nino says.
Zoey laughs, but it’s not a happy sound. “And they lost it.”
“Fuck,” I mutter.
“Exactly. They said it’ll show up in time, but we have a week, and I need a final fitting.” She buckles over, throwing her arms on the bar and plopping her body on top. “This is a mess.”
“They’ll find it,” I assure her, hoping I’m right.
“Don’t stores have hundreds of dresses?” Nino asks, stirring his drink for no good reason.
Zoey lifts her head, glaring at our cousin like he’s a moron. Which he is. “They’re samples and not for sale.”
“Well, if they lost it, I’m sure they’ll have to sell you the one off the rack.”
Her glare doesn’t lighten with his statement. “I don’t want to wear a dress that’s been on the body of hundreds of women.”
“You’re only going to wear it a few hours. I don’t get what the big deal is,” he replies.
Zoey straightens, and the stare she gives him turns icier, which I didn’t think was possible. “Someday, when you’re engaged, I want you to repeat that same dumbass sentence to your fiancée.”
“Maybe he’ll marry Starlight,” I throw in for shits and giggles.
“Who the fuck is Starlight?” she asks, crossing her arms as she scrunches her face, but at least the glare has softened.
“My date,” Nino tells her before he leans forward, taking an extra-long sip of his soda.
“A dancer down at the Amber Room,” I add.
“Shocking,” she mutters. “Of course you’re dating a stripper.”
He points a long finger at our cousin. “Hey, Norah’s a nice girl. She’s using the money to put herself through college.”
Zoey lifts her hands and dips her chin. “I don’t knock any woman for using what they’ve got to make a buck. If you’re going to date a stripper, you’d better treat her right and not like she’s for sale. Got me?”
“Yep,” he pops. “Loud and clear.”
“She takes enough bullshit from men every day at work. She doesn’t need another one doing it to her when she’s off,” Zoey explains. “She’s still just a girl with feelings and dreams.”
“Got it,” he says, ticking his chin at her. “I don’t treat any woman like shit. They’re all queens in my book.”
I’m fascinated by the conversation. I don’t know why, but I am. Not for nothing, but Zoey’s worries about her dress seemed to have vanished for a few minutes.
The door to the bar opens, and Hunter stalks in, immediately lifting his shades onto his head when he’s out of the sunlight.
Zoey squeals and runs his way. He doesn’t know it yet, but he’s about to get the tail end of this spiral about her wedding dress being lost with only a few days until the big day.
She crashes into him, wrapping her entire upper half around his body.
“What’s wrong?” he says into her hair, stroking her with a gentleness Zoey always seems to need.
Before Hunter, she was a wild child, which led to bullshit she never deserved. It set her on a path that was grim, but somehow, he turned it all around.
“They lost my dress,” she tells him, her voice pitchy and cracking.
“Baby, baby, baby,” he whispers, running his hand down her back. “It’ll all be okay.”
“The man is a saint,” Nino whispers, staring at their reflection in the wide mirror behind the bar.
“When you really love someone, you find the patience or they find the door,” I tell him before stalking to the back to get my shit.
Hunter and I are going out tonight. Zoey’s covering the bar, and Brax is even coming in for a few hours to help. It’s all hands on deck this week with the wedding coming up.
An hour later, Hunter has calmed Zoey, and we are sitting a few blocks away at the best burger spot within a ten-mile radius. Spring training is in full swing and fills every screen on the walls.
I’ve ordered my regular. A triple patty smashburger with bacon and all the regular fixings, plus extra cheese. They also make their French fries in-house, and that shit is fire.
“How are you holding up?” I ask him.
He turns his beer bottle in his hands and lets out a loud sigh. “Good. Good. I wish things were going more smoothly for Zoey, but it’ll all work out. No wedding is easy, and they all have their hiccups.”
“In a week, it’ll be over, and you guys will be on a beach.”
“It can’t come soon enough,” he says, glancing up at the television.
“I’ve been to Nassau a few times. There’s nothing like the water there.”
“I’ve never been. Florida’s the closest I’ve come,” he replies, bringing his attention back to me.
“No comparison.”
“So,” he says, and I know we’re about to get into the real reason he wanted to take me out tonight—Lizzy. “My sister’s going to stay with you. You sure about that?”
I nod. “She’s stayed with me before.”
“A weekend trip is nothing like having someone there forever, man.”
“I know.”
“She’s not easy to live with. The woman is a clean freak and likes everything a certain way.”
“I grew up in a house like that. My mother is very picky.”
He eyes me. “It’s different when it’s your mom and not your girlfriend.”
“Hunter, I love your sister. I don’t care if I have to vacuum the floors three times a day, I’ll do it. Whatever makes her happy.”
“She said she might eventually get her own place. How will that make you feel if she decides to go that route?”
This feels more like a therapy session than a talk with my soon-to-be family member.
“If that’s what she wants to do, I’ll support her decision.
But with the price of rent in the city and our relationship, I don’t think she’ll want to be anywhere else.
I fully expect her to make my place her home too.
And if I’m honest, I plan to put a ring on that finger as soon as possible. ”
“Marriage?” He raises an eyebrow.
“Do I have your blessing?”
He lifts his hands. “I’m not her father or her keeper.”
“I know, but do I?”
He smiles at me from across the table. “If you want to marry my sister, I can’t think of a better man for her than you, Mason. I never thought I’d say those words, but I see the way you treat her and the way she looks at you. I know my sister is in good hands with you.”
“Thanks, man.”
“But—” he raises a finger, pointing it at me “—if you break her heart, I’m going to break your legs.”
I sit back in the seat, staring at him. Is he serious? Would he really do that? Probably. I know I’d do that to someone if they hurt Tate in any way. I’ve given more than a few black eyes to some of her exes.
“I won’t,” I promise.
“Did you talk to Brax?” he asks.
I guess my response convinced him of my intentions when it comes to Lizzy since he’s switched the topic.
“He’s on board with selling his share to her if she wants it. She’s going to work at the bar for a few months first to see if she likes it. It’s a big change for her.”
“Big,” he says, blowing out a breath. “My sister’s always been in the corporate world. I don’t know what soured her to it all so badly, but she’s burned out. I think this will be a good change for her, at least for a while, but I worry she’ll miss the office life.”
I wrinkle my nose at the very thought. “I think she’s going to like the freedom of the bar. Your sister loves people, and there’s nothing better than the Hook & Hustle for that, especially the regulars. They’re extra chatty.”
“We’ll see,” he mumbles. “Besides a martini, I’m not sure she knows how to make any drinks.”
I place a hand on my chest. “I’ll make the drinks, and she can serve them. And she can learn the drinks over time. No one knows them all the first day on the job.”
He leans back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. “You have an answer for everything, huh?”
“No, but I’ve put a lot of thought into everything when it comes to your sister. I know you all think I’m being impulsive, but I’m not. And I sure as hell know Lizzy doesn’t have an impulsive bone in her body either. Does your sister do anything without a lot of thought?”
“No. Never,” he mutters.
“Then, there’s your answer. And if she hates the bar, there are a million companies in the city that would be damn lucky to have her as an employee.”
He nods. “True.”
“Now, let’s talk about something more interesting.” I rub my hands together. “You think we’re going to win the pennant this year?”
“Hell no,” Hunter says with certainty. “Cleveland’s going to win.”
“Hunter, brother, the last time they won, there wasn’t even color television.”
“It’s our year,” he insists with his chin raised.
“What do they always say? Maybe next year. It’s your team’s motto,” I tease him.
“Yours isn’t much better.”
“My team beat yours for the championship ten years ago.”
Hunter groans. “Before that, it had been over a hundred years since they won the big game. I hope it’s another hundred too. How the hell did you grow up on the Southside but love the Northside team?”
I shrug. “There’s something iconic about the stadium.”
“Here we are,” the waitress says, sliding two plates in front of us.
My mouth instantly waters at the sight of the perfect burger. “Thanks,” I tell her.
“Anything else?” she asks, glancing between us.
“Another round,” Hunter says, moving his index finger back and forth between our drinks.
“And a water,” I add.
“Make that two,” he says.
“Two beer and two waters. Coming right up,” she says before walking away at a clipped pace.
The restaurant is packed, but I’d expect nothing less because their food is top-notch.
“Your sister has some great ideas for the food at the bar.”
“Oh yeah?” he asks, his eyebrows raised.
“Yep.” I grab the burger, studying it. “We’re going to iron out some things once she’s here, but we’re going to focus on making the food better. Maybe we’ll bring in bigger tickets.”
“The food is already amazing,” he says between bites.
“The menu hasn’t changed since I was little. It needs a refresh.”
“Don’t get rid of the pizza,” he tells me as I bite into my burger.
“Never,” I mumble around a mouthful of food.
Some things are just as iconic as the city’s baseball stadium, and that includes the pizza at the Hook & Hustle. It’s our most-ordered item and a staple. It’ll be on the menu as long as I own the place.
But I am more than ready for a shake-up, and I know Lizzy will help me do just that.