Chapter 14
I wake up slowly.
Too slowly.
Like my brain is swimming up through fog it doesn't want to leave.
There's warmth under me.
Solid. Steady. Real.
Then awareness hits all at once.
I'm on Mason.
On his lap.
My entire body locks up so fast that I nearly jolt awake, but something stops me.
His arm is around me.
Not loose. Not accidental.
Held.
Like, at some point during the night, I became something he didn't think needed moving.
My face goes hot instantly.
"Oh my God," I whisper into the silence.
Mason doesn't wake.
He's still asleep.
Properly asleep.
Head tilted slightly back against the couch, one hand resting loosely at my side like it never left me. His breathing is slow and even, completely unbothered by the fact that a whole person is currently sitting on him.
Ava stirs faintly from her crib across the room, then settles again.
The apartment is quiet.
Too quiet.
Then—
Buzz.
My whole body jerks.
A phone is vibrating somewhere under me.
Again.
And again.
Mason's pocket.
I freeze, heart, kicking hard as I realise he's still asleep through it.
It keeps going.
Persistent.
Urgent enough that I know it's nothing.
I hesitate.
Look down at him.
He doesn't move.
Doesn't even flinch.
Just tightens his arm slightly around me in his sleep like a reflex before relaxing again.
Right.
So I'm trapped on a sleeping soldier who is apparently immune to phone calls.
Great.
The buzzing continues.
I carefully shift, trying not to disturb him, reaching into his pocket.
It's harder than it should be because... I'm still on him.
Every movement is very aware.
Too aware.
I finally get the phone out.
Screen lights up.
Of course it is.
I hesitate.
Then, I answered, immediately lowering my voice.
"Hello?"
There's a pause.
A long one.
Then—
"...Mate?"
A male voice. Confused. Instantly alert.
I swallow.
"Mason's asleep," I whisper.
Silence.
Then:
"Sorry—who is this?"
I glance down at Mason again, still asleep, still holding me like I'm part of the furniture.
"This is Chloe," I whisper.
Another pause.
Then, slowly:
"Chloe... as in the neighbour Chloe?"
"Yes," I whisper quickly. "Please don't be loud, he's really asleep."
There's a sound like the guy just sat up straight.
"He's asleep?"
"Yes."
"In the middle of my call?"
"It was ringing," I say helplessly.
A low laugh comes through the phone.
"Oh, this is unbelievable."
I close my eyes briefly.
"This is normal, I think," I whisper, immediately regretting it because I have no idea if it is normal.
"It is absolutely not normal," he replies instantly. "Where is he?"
"On the couch."
"Doing what?"
"...Holding me."
Silence.
A very long silence.
Then:
"Right."
I feel my face heat instantly.
"It's not— it's not what it sounds like," I rush out. "I fell asleep. He just— he didn't move."
"Uh-huh," he says, voice very much not convinced.
I glance down at Mason again.
Still asleep.
Completely unaware that his life is currently being discussed.
"He's really tired," I add quietly, like that explains everything.
"That tracks," the voice says. "So you're Chloe."
"Yes."
"And you're currently on his lap."
"...Yes."
Another pause.
Then I hear him laugh under his breath.
"I'm never letting him live this down."
My stomach drops slightly.
"Please don't," I whisper immediately. "He didn't do anything wrong."
That makes the tone on the other end shift a little.
Softer now.
Curious.
"You always defend him like that?"
I hesitate.
"I'm not defending him," I say quickly. "I'm just... clarifying."
"Sure," he says lightly. "So what's the situation over there? You two babysitting each other now?"
"I have a baby," I correct automatically. "Not him."
"That's not what I asked."
I don't answer that.
Because I don't know how.
Ava makes a tiny sound from her crib, and I instinctively tense.
Mason tightens his arm around me slightly in response, still asleep.
Like he feels it anyway.
The voice on the phone notices my silence.
"Is that the baby?" he asks.
"Yes," I whisper.
"Is she alright?"
"Sleeping."
"Good."
A pause.
Then, casually:
"So... what's Mason like over there? Proper version, not the 'sergeant grunts at people' version."
I blink.
"I don't think I know a 'version' of him," I admit.
That gets a low laugh.
"Yeah, you do," he says. "You're sitting on him."
My face burns.
"I'm not— I'm just—" I stop. "He's... calm."
"Calm?" he repeats, amused.
"Yes."
"That's new."
I glance down at Mason again without meaning to.
His face is relaxed in sleep in a way I haven't really seen before.
No tension in his jaw. No scanning. No alertness.
Just... still.
"He's been helping a lot," I add quietly.
"Mhm," the voice says, like he's filing that away.
"And Ava likes him," I say before I can stop myself.
"Oh yeah?"
"She calms down when he holds her."
"That's dangerous information," he says immediately.
"What?"
"Nothing," he replies, clearly entertained. "Just... noted."
I frown slightly.
This conversation is weirdly exposing.
"I should probably hang up," I whisper.
"Probably," he agrees, but doesn't sound like he's in any rush to end it. "But I've got one more question."
I hesitate.
"...What?"
There's a pause.
Then, lightly:
"Are you always this blushy around him, or is it just a special occasion?"
My face goes fully hot.
"I am not—" I start, immediately flustered.
A soft laugh comes through the phone.
"Oh, this is great."
"I am not blushy," I whisper fiercely.
"Sure," he says. "Tell him I said—"
"No," I interrupt quickly.
Too late.
A low voice suddenly cuts in behind me.
"Say what?"
My entire body freezes.
Mason.
His voice is rough with sleep.
Quiet.
Right behind me.
I slowly turn my head.
He's awake.
Still holding me.
Watching me.
Very much listening now.