46. Mason
46
MASON
“ T he craziest thing happened today,” Lana says as I help her into my truck.
“Yeah, what’s that?” I can’t wait to take her away for the weekend. She’s earned it . We’ve earned it.
The last several months have been a potent mix of exhausting and healing and fucking nerve-racking. Every morning, I wake up wondering if Bodhi will be gone. He promised he wouldn’t—that he wouldn’t leave me without saying goodbye—but that felt like a promise he wouldn’t be able to keep, not because he didn’t want to, but because he couldn’t.
He’d thrown himself into work, doing extra hours with Sorren at Vetted Paws at night and dragging himself to Twinscapes in the morning. I’d seen Hank there a lot too, and I was thankful for their unwavering support. Bodhi declined coming with me to therapy, saying he wasn’t ready to unleash the past—not yet. And how could he? There was still so much unknown with the case going back to trial.
I’d never been a violent man, but I’d sure as hell make an exception where Daryl Jeffers was concerned.
My brother had also told me I’d be a fucking idiot to move back in with him instead of staying with Lana. But I just needed something. Some reassurance that he’d stay.
Falling asleep with my girl wasn’t a hardship, but I still couldn’t make the ache in my chest go away. One incredibly bright spot in all of this had been when Holland presented Bodhi with a friendship bracelet to match the one on her own wrist. She’d been downright giddy watching him put it on, and as far as I knew, he hadn’t taken it off since.
Apparently, I’m gonna owe her a car on her sixteenth birthday for that one.
So worth it.
And once I chilled my ass out, I was able to let some of the other good fill my cup. Lana had gotten her real estate license, Beck had been in an art show at school, and Holland’s write your own story was chosen to be published and featured in the library with a handful of others from her class.
“I got an email requesting my resume from Sundown Realty,” Lana says, her voice bringing me back to the present. “Isn’t that crazy? I haven’t even applied anywhere yet.”
“I know that Bea works there, and that Montana and Archer do some maintenance. Bodhi and I have done some work for them when they’ve had big contracts. Maybe they put in a good word?” I lean in and press my lips to hers. “No matter how they found you, they’d be lucky to have you.”
She grins, cupping my face and deepening the kiss in a way that makes me want to cancel on my friends and start that getaway vacation now.
“Dream Girl,” I warn and she snickers, pulling away but letting her palm slide down my body like she’s not ready to let me go. Hell, I’m not either, but when she gently squeezes my dick through my jeans, I grunt and have to bat her hand away. “You need to behave.”
“I really don’t want to,” she purrs and I slam her door closed before we’re late. Cursing under my breath, I round the front of the truck and get in the driver’s seat. She’s laughing but there’s nothing funny about the way my cock is trying to punch its way out of my jeans.
“Half hour tops and then I’m finding some deserted back road and you can show me just how uninterested you are in behaving.”
She gives me a wicked grin, her cherry red-painted lips curving up on one side. She’s a fucking wet dream, and if she keeps this up, I won’t even make it to the bar.
“You’ve got yourself a deal.”
She turns up the radio, granting me reprieve from being so hard I won’t be able to walk from the parking lot to the table.
“Look What God Gave Her” by Thomas Rhett plays and she hums along, and there’s no way tonight could get any better than this. We drive in silence, her fingers tangled with mine in her lap, and I could do this for the rest of my life.
The ride is short, and all too soon, I’m pulling into the parking lot and stealing a kiss before prying myself away from her.
It’s a special kind of torture, and I have half a mind to throw her over my shoulder and put her back in the truck so we can get the hell out of here.
“Stop making that face,” she says, pressing a kiss to my cheek and giggling when she has to wipe the lipstick away.
“No.” I pout for her benefit as she pushes me through the door. Her hand squeezes my ass and when I gape at her, she just shrugs unapologetically. The woman is asking for trouble.
And I fucking love it.
“Over here!” Montana yells. He and Archer already have beers in front of them, and I can’t put my finger on it but something seems…off.
“Hey guys,” Lana says, taking the seat I pull out for her and smiling. “The girls aren’t here tonight?”
“Let’s get you guys a drink,” Archer says, and now my blood is pumping a little faster in my veins because this is definitely weird.
Lana squeezes my hand under the table as Jude places a beer and a wine down in front of us.
“Congratulations on getting your license. That’s incredible, Lana,” Montana says, and my girl blushes, her smile wide and relieved.
“Thank you. It’s exciting getting back out there to do something I love. I actually got an inquiry from Sundown Realty today asking if I’d send my resume over. Mason said you do some work for them?”
Archer grins behind his beer and Montana leans forward in his chair with the biggest shit-eating grin on his face.
“We’d like to formally offer you that job. The resume is a formality—we know you’re perfect for the job.”
She blinks at them and I do too, my mind whirring as I try and put the pieces together.
It happens slowly as Montana’s focus shifts to me, his eyes sparkling, and it’s all the confirmation I need. I laugh, throwing my head back until tears blur my vision, the revelation like a cherry on a sundae.
Absolutely perfect.
“I think I’m missing something,” Lana says slowly, her gaze bouncing between the three of us.
“They own it,” I say and watch as Montana nods. There’s a strange sort of pride that seeps into my veins that my friends have managed to build an empire under the radar. “That’s fantastic,” I say, shaking Archer’s hand and then Montana’s. “Congratulations.”
“So,” Archer says, leaning forward, “we’d like to formally offer you a job. We’re both expanding and keeping things more in-house if that makes sense. We’ve been outsourcing on the real estate side for acquiring properties, but we’d love to bring it back to Blackstone Falls if we can.”
“And you’re offering me the job even though I haven’t worked in years and just got my license?”
“We have options for getting you up to speed. We’re not gonna just duck and run and let you figure it out. You have resources and support and whatever you need.”
I squeeze her hand under the table as she nods. “Yes, that is incredible, thank you. Wow. This is so unexpected.”
“Not as much as this next part,” Archer murmurs and Montana laughs.
“Come to the office Monday evening. Bea will be there to go over some stuff with you. Then we’ll set up a time to go over what we’re looking for and to give you the layout of what we’re working with, in and outside the county. We’ll work with your schedule at the college until you’re ready to fully transition.”
“I think I might be speechless.”
“Just wait,” Archer says as he nods to Montana.
“Archer and I started Sundown Realty because we wanted to make sure we’d never lose our land. We needed financial stability, and this has turned into something we never dreamed could be real.”
“It’s incredible.” I nod, swallowing down the emotion because I get it. These guys are protecting a legacy—their families—for generations to come.
I hope I can give Holland and Beck the things Bodhi and I never had, and even though I’m starting small, every little piece that falls into place feels like a victory.
“It works out that you’re both here tonight.” Montana winks. “Takes away a little of the cloak and dagger…at least for you.”
“It was never our intention for the business to take off like it did,” Archer says slowly. “But when it did, because it did, we’re able to do something for the people who mean the most to us.”
I blink, and this time, Lana is the one to squeeze my hand, my brain all out of revelations for this conversation.
“We’re giving you an equal share in the company,” Montana says, his expression serious as his brown eyes lock on mine.
We’re giving you an equal share in the company.
Just like that.
“What?” I ask, and they both chuckle.
“We realize that it’s a unique situation and that you don’t keep secrets from Bodhi, but this is one we’re asking you to keep. His share is set aside and when he’s ready, he’ll be brought into the fold.” Montana’s words are earnest, but it’s so unbelievable, I can’t even fathom it as truth.
“I-I can’t accept that… it’s… man, I can’t even put it into words.”
“I told you that you needed to work on your delivery,” Archer jokes and Montana rolls his eyes.
“Fine,” he laments. “Next time.”
“What he should have said is that Jensen, Montana, and I all have stakes in Sundown Realty. We all have some responsibilities that go along with it, and when you’re ready, you can figure out what yours will be. You’re family and we’re proud to have you be a part of this with us.”
“I don’t know what to say,” I manage as I fight back the torrent of emotions. “I,”—I swallow hard—“I didn’t earn any of it.”
“Mason,” Montana says firmly, “you and your brother are the most selfless people I know. You’ve herded runaway goats, fixed fences, checked in on the dogs when Grandad went into the hospital, and a million other things y’all think no one sees you doing. You’ve never had anyone take care of you, so we’re asking you to let us have that privilege.”
“This isn’t a handout,” Archer says. “This is us making a calculated decision about who we want to share in our success—the people who have helped us, picked us up when we’re down, and made our lives so much better. We’re asking you to share that with us and leave this town a little better than we found it.”
I don’t realize that the tears are falling freely until I feel Lana wrap her arms around me.
I could do so much good.
The words are on repeat as she holds me, as I try and reconcile what this could mean. For me. For her. For the kids.
I could pay for their college.
Their weddings.
The tears fall faster as a strong hand grips my forearm across the table. Montana’s smile is soft as he asks, “Is that a yes, brother?”
“Fuck, man,” I choke out as I wipe my face with the sleeve of my shirt. “Yes.”
“Good.” Archer chuckles. “You might find that you want to do some maintenance and also head what we’re loosely calling charitable donations. We want to do something substantial, like fund scholarships and work with vetted organizations that need help and are using the resources the way they’re intended.”
“It’s like a dream,” I say, awe seeping into my words because the possibilities are truly endless.
“It was a dream,” Archer agrees.
“But it’s a reality,” Montana says, holding up his glass, “and we’re so damn happy you’re a part of it.” His gaze turns to Lana. “That you’re both a part of it.”
Our glasses clink as my heart rate slows, no longer a risk for hyperventilating at the table. It makes me want to laugh again because in my entire life, I’ve never felt like I belonged.
Until Bodhi and I landed in Blackstone Falls.
And I found a home.
Love.
A family of my own making.
And now sitting here, I know without a doubt that this is where I’m meant to be.
I’ve lived a lifetime in just over two decades on this earth, but now, it’s time to start living.
For me.