Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Grindr was down!
It wasn’t actually down for maintenance and the app hadn’t disappeared, but it might as well have. Roseview was a dick desert and Sky’s life was in serious danger.
That might be a bit of an exaggeration as well but for Sky, sex was the ultimate therapy when his nervous system was pushed into “flight” mode and he was too anxious and stressed to focus.
Five AM was a wild time to cast a line on a hookup app but you could catch plenty of fish in the city at any hour.
Someone was always around and looking for a nibble.
No one else in Roseview was brave enough to wade into Grindr because you would definitely be recognized and if you were caught by the wrong person, the news would spread around town with the urgency of an Amber alert.
Resigned to a slow, dry death in the desert, Sky snuck out of the house the following morning for a long run on the beach, determined to stay away until his sister had left for work.
He stopped by Miller’s Coffee Shop for a plain, toasted bagel and a vanilla latte and met an eager young barista who raved about his first book and an interview he had recently given.
It took Sky way too long to realize she was flirting and he almost dropped his cup when he noticed she’d written her phone number on it.
“You’re new new, aren’t you?” Sky said.
Her nose wrinkled charmingly. “I’ve been here for about eighteen months. Why?”
Sky looked around and cleared his throat. “I’m the black sheep of…Roseview. And I’m gay. This is very flattering, though. Thank you.” He ducked his head apologetically before he fled.
There was a new bookstore a few doors down so Sky lingered there with his coffee before jogging back to Mason and Sarina’s.
He let himself in the front door and paused when he heard the sound of a nature documentary playing in the living room.
Sky peeked around the wall and mouthed a silent swear when he spotted Mason and Sam on the sectional.
Sam was sprawled on Mason’s chest and both were out cold.
The little boy’s hand rested against Mason’s cheek.
A smile curved Mason’s lips as he slept, drawing Sky closer.
Mason had never been more handsome and Sky was struck by how content he looked.
It was obvious that Mason was only lying about his sexuality from all that Sky had observed.
At least, that’s what Sky hoped as he watched his brother-in-law and nephew sleep. He prayed that everything else was just as it seemed and that there weren’t bigger lies lurking behind the perfect father and husband facade Mason had created. For Sam and Sarina’s sake.
His eyes drifted to Mason’s shoulders and arms and Sky appreciated the way the sleeves of his gray T-shirt stretched around his biceps.
Mason was wearing khaki shorts and his bare feet were crossed on the ottoman, making Sky warmer.
There was a good amount of thigh meat and it was generously dusted with soft brown hair that made Sky’s mouth water. And Mason had really, really nice feet.
He always had, bless him. They spent so much time playing on the beach or running through the grass barefoot as kids and Sky had always liked looking at Mason’s feet.
Every now and then, the three of them would pile into the hammock by the pool and Sky loved when Mason’s feet were close to his face and he could accidentally brush a cheek against them.
Sky was staring too hard at Mason’s feet and jumped when his phone buzzed, alerting him to a text message from his mother. Mason’s eyes opened and he smiled as he cradled Sam against his chest and smoothly rolled, then carefully disentangled himself.
“Hey!” he whispered as he stood and gave his shirt a tug. “Are you hungry? I took some chicken out for lunch. I can make you a salad or a sandwich or some pasta.”
Sky waved him off. “I ate while I was out. Gonna take a shower, then head over to Mom’s. I’ll kill her if she’s touched my video games or comic books.”
“I was hoping we could talk. I’d like to clear the air,” Mason urged gently as he followed Sky to the stairs.
“Of course you would.” Sky leaned and looked around Mason to where Sam was sleeping. “Maybe later, okay? I don’t want to get into anything while Sam’s around.”
“Tonight? After you get back from Adele’s and Sam’s gone to bed?” Mason asked hopefully.
“Maybe. I might be late so don’t wait up for me.” Sky gave him a noncommittal nod before running up the stairs and vowed that he wouldn’t be back until really, really late.
Much later, Sky thought his plan had worked when he returned to Mason and Sarina’s and found most of the lights off. He let himself in with the key Sarina had given him and tiptoed to the stairs.
“Hey!” Mason whispered as he peeked around the kitchen wall, causing Sky to jump. “How about a beer or a glass of juice before you turn in?”
Sky groaned and looked in the direction of the guest room as he shuffled down the hall and into the kitchen. “I… Do I have to?”
“Nope.” Mason shook his head. “It’s totally up to you but I’m here and ready whenever you are. I owe you so many apologies and I want to explain as much as I can.”
“What if I’m never ready or I don’t need this?” Sky gestured between them.
Mason’s gaze lowered and he pulled in a wavering breath. “I… Don’t you ever miss us?”
“Sure,” Sky said easily and nodded. “I miss the Sina I grew up with and I wish I knew what to do with you. You’re not the Mason I loved and trusted. He never would have cheated on my sister or used her to hide his big, ‘shameful’ secret.”
This time, Mason looked like a hit dog and sniffed hard as he nodded.
“I guess I deserve some of that. I’m so sorry about everything but I would never lie to Sina.
I’ve never cheated on her,” he said in a whispered rush and they turned when they heard a loud cough and found Sarina, glaring at them in her robe.
“Sorry! Did we wake you?” Mason said apologetically but she swore as she threw up her hands, sounding extremely disgusted.
“Just tell him the truth, already!” she said loudly.
“Shhh! You’ll wake Sam up!” Mason scolded as he rushed around the kitchen, shutting doors and securing heavy objects. “This isn’t a good time.”
She let out a shaky, high-pitched laugh. “Nope. This is the perfect time! I’m so sick of Sky treating you like the bad guy when this is all my fault.”
“It’s fine, Sina!”
“No, it’s not!” She went to him and grabbed the front of Mason’s hoodie, giving him a shake. “You don’t have to lie for me anymore. Not to Sky.”
“I don’t want to be part of your shitty soap opera. What does any of this have to do with me?” Sky complained, not liking the awful, confused queasiness that warned that the ground was about to crumble beneath his feet. “What else has he been lying about?”
“Oh! Fucking knock it off, Sky!” she groaned, ignoring Mason’s urgent shushing. “You want Mason to be the villain and the big liar so badly but he’s not! I am! I’m the liar.”
“Sina!” Mason objected.
She shot him a hard, warning look so he bowed his head and retreated. “Enough!” she stated firmly, taking a deep breath and raising her chin as she faced Sky. “Sam isn’t Mason’s son. I—”
“Biologically,” Mason interrupted, his eyes shimmering as he shook his head. “Please don’t say he isn’t mine just because I wasn’t there when he was conceived,” he said in a ragged whisper and she nodded quickly.
“I know! He is your son in all the ways that matter and nothing will change that.”
There went the ground. “Hold on!” Sky waved wildly, struggling to make sense of what they were saying. “You cheated on Mason?” he whispered to Sarina, as if Mason wasn’t standing next to her. “Who’s Sam’s real father?”
“She did not cheat on me.” Mason held up a finger. “It’s never been like that with us and we’ve never lied to each other,” he stated clearly but had only managed to confuse Sky more.
“What?” He shook his head and looked at Sarina, hoping she would explain.
She chewed on her lip, a blush spreading up her neck and tinting her cheeks. “Mason and I have never…” She coughed suggestively. “I made a big mistake, Sky. A big mistake. But I ran to my best friend and he saved me.”
“Holy shit,” Sky mouthed as he finally put the pieces together. “Why…?” It was a stupid question because who else would she run to? Other than Sky. She could have run to him—he had even offered to help—but he wasn’t going to be a shit about that right now. Maybe later.
Sarina pushed out a trembling breath. “We knew that everyone would assume that Mason was the father so he…told everyone he was and that we were secretly engaged,” Her smile was soft and misty as she looked at Mason. “They all believed it and Nana was so happy. Everyone was so happy.”
“It was what everyone wanted and everything just fell into place after that.” Mason held up his hands like it wasn’t a big deal.
“But…” Sky’s gaze ping-ponged between them. “You’ve been married for almost five years and you’ve never…”
Mason’s neck craned as he squinted and hissed. “We tried it once when we were seventeen and no.” He shuddered and shook his head. “Never felt anything more wrong in my life,” he said while Sarina made a gagging sound.
“It was so bad! He was so bad and it was gross, like kissing you, Sky.”
“Hey, now,” Mason complained. “I didn’t want to do it and I was doing my best but you were…a girl,” he added with a hard shudder. “Ryan Gosling couldn’t even save me.”
“Jesus! You’re gay?” Sky clapped a hand on his forehead in distress but Mason and Sarina blinked back at him.
“I…thought you had noticed,” Mason replied slowly and Sky laughed in disbelief.
“Some people are bi or pan, Mason! I just assumed you were and that you were a dirtbag.”
“Absolutely not!” Sarina said firmly. “He’s been an amazing husband and he’s the best dad ever.”
“I wouldn’t go that far,” Mason argued with a dismissive shrug. “I married the best girl in the world and Sam’s my everything. I couldn’t love him more if he really was mine.”