“Nah. I’ll pass. I need to study since that’s all I have.” Cheap shot, Mason. I’m forcing myself to stay in my room.
“All you have?” That damn catch in her voice . . . she’s gonna cry and he’s gonna bleed.
“Yep.” He growls at her and her sobs shred me. I rush from my room and he’s standing there, staring as she sobs. I grip her hand and tug her into my arms while shooting my best fucking friend a murderous glare.
“Hey, calm down.” I soothe her as best as I can. It isn’t my arms she wants . . . it’s his. “It’ll work itself out.” I’m promising something I have no control over.
“No. It won’t. He’s tossing me aside.” Her body shakes against mine and I’m helpless. I let her cry in silence until she leaves.
“You’re a dick.” I seethe and he doesn’t flinch. His door slams in my face and my fist goes through the drywall next to it.
Chapter Fifteen
Dinner is a disaster . . . hell, this past week has been a clusterfuck. Mason fucking Adler is gonna get his ass handed to him— by me if he doesn’t quit making Brecklynn cry. Life is filled with disappointments and devastation . . . show me one person who hasn’t experienced life-altering changes and I’ll sell oil to a Texan.
Caden went home with Deacon so they could discuss upcoming games . . . and I’m alone— with dishes and a messy house. A small burden knowing I’ll have some alone time with my man. With Breck traveling we won’t have to hide and our time will be minimal because of his travel schedule . . . but it will be uninterrupted.
I’m in the middle of a Netflix marathon of Sons of Anarchy when the screaming cries pierce my ears. I hurry to the front door as Chris struggles with Brecklynn in his arms.
“What?” I prop the door open and help him inside.
“He was there with another girl.” Brecklynn is snotty, sobbing, and pissed. “Oh God, I’m gonna be sick.” She loses all her alcohol in the foyer— I’m sure this isn’t going to go down as her proudest moment.
“Who?” Chris is trying to direct her to the left so she doesn’t step in her mess and after a few tries, gets her settled in the living room.
She looks at me and I can feel her pain. Her eyes are glassy, and it isn’t from alcohol, lines mar her forehead and she looks lost. “Ma-Mas-Mason. My Ace.” Tears flow and I sit next to her, holding her. “He texted me and I looked across the bar . . . h-he he w-was dancing with her. He kissed her.” I choke with her admission, forcing myself to swallow the lump clogging my throat. “He was supposed to love me. He lied to me. My fucking heart hurts.”
I hug her tighter, sob along with her, and when she finally succumbs to sleep— I cry alone. Then I call Caden and Deacon to handle Mason. Curling into a ball, I sob until I sleep. Breck is gone when I wake and I get an SOS to meet Caden and Deacon next door.
They’re sitting in silence, tense shoulders and a clear as day fuck you attitude. I repeat the events Brecklynn shared with me and they tell me what they found when they found him at the bar. I’m shocked . . . confused . . . heartbroken. For all involved. Including myself. Mason stumbles into the room like he doesn’t have a care in the world.
“Hey. Did I forget a family meeting?” He looks at all of us sitting in the room. “Where are Saylor and my Princess? Lee Lee and Brody?”
“My wife is nine months pregnant and doesn’t need to deal with your bullshit. As for Julie . . . she’s off-limits until you tell me what the fuck you did last night. I don’t think you want Brody here so Emberlee doesn’t know.” Deacon is fuming . . . part in anger and part in fear for his friend.
“Doesn’t know what? Calm down. Where’s Brecklynn?” He looks to me and dread settles in my stomach.
“Is he shitting me?” I ask to the air . . . and anyone who can give me a logical explanation to his behavior.
Mason scrubs his face as Caden takes the conversation lead. “Do you mean to tell me you don’t remember last night?” My irate man stands, fists at his side and I’m pretty sure his blood pressure is at an unhealthy level.
“Yeah. Breck and I went to the bar for a bit. I think. It’s fuzzy but we came back here and watched a movie.” Oh, I wished it was that simple.
“You’re fucking delusional.” Deacon seethes. I glare at him wondering how he can be so blasé.
“Sit down.” Caden demands. Thank fuck he follows directions but stands back up.
“I’ll be back.” He rushes to his room and the brick settles deeper in my stomach. “What’s wrong with y’all?” He seems too jovial when he returns.
“You’re either gonna win an Academy Award or you’re telling the truth.” I mutter as I wipe a tear that escaped. I know something is wrong.
“You didn’t go anywhere with Brecklynn last night,” Deacon leans closer to him, resting his elbows against his knees. “We had to come get you from D&D.”
“You didn’t leave her there?” He pushes from the chair like he’s gonna rescue her— when he’s the one who slayed her.
“No.” Deacon huffs. Mason sits down and seems relaxed.
“You blew Brecklynn off a few days ago. She’s gone.” Caden answers his confusion and I can’t leave it at that.
“You didn’t just blow her off, Mace. You hooked up with someone last night — in front of her.” I lean to Deacon for support.
“That’s bullshit. Did y’all eat candy from a stranger?” He’s angry with us. “I don’t have time for your games. She leaves in a few days.” As he stands Deacon bursts his bubble.
“Mace . . . she’s gone. She was supposed to leave this morning but she came home distraught, grabbed her luggage and said she and Chris were gonna wait at the airport for her flight.” Mason staggers from the weight of that confession.
“What time is it?” I’m losing my best friend and I can’t stop the self-destructive path he’s careening down.
“Close to one in the afternoon.” Deacon states.
“Tell me everything.” He pleads as his head hangs and he’s bracing for what comes next.
“What’s the last thing you remember?” I whisper.
“Darby.” Holy shit . . . that was a week ago.
“What the fuck have you been doing?” Caden bellows. Mason responds with silence and I know it’s bad.
“Stop guys.” I move to Mace’s side. “You shut us out. We know this was a big thing to happen and we tried to give you space. I don’t know what happened with you and Brecklynn but you were pretty nasty. Last night when you didn’t show up for her dinner, I suspected it was worse than she would divulge.” A tear slides down his cheek and my heart clenches. “She and Chris had plans and you bailed. She came home and had been drinking but was a mess. I suspect she threw up every bit of alcohol she consumed. I couldn’t understand her at first but the story isn’t pretty.”
“Tell me.” His eyes meet mine and the pain Brecklynn was in last night is reflected in his today.
“She said she got a text from you and you were there. She went to confront you because some girl was next to you. The next thing she saw you dancing with some girl . . . kissing her. Mace, she scared me. I’ve never seen anything like it. Nothing.”
I’m sobbing repeating the tragic events of last night.
“She must be mistaken.” His denial is staggering.
“She isn’t.” Deacon stands in front of us. Mason looks up with him, searching for a flaw in the truth. “Caden and I went to look for you after Avery called us. You were shit faced, half passed out across the bar with some girl pressed all over you. I believe you still have remnants staining your face.” Deacon delivers his verbal assault and leaves. Slamming the door— something this crew does all too often.
Mason’s hands are in fists, scrubbing his face, rubbing the skin raw. “Stop,” I wail. “We’ll fix this.”
“Stop taking the fucking pills.” Caden drops the elephant in the room. “You aren’t fooling me. Since the first injury you haven’t stopped taking them. You’re good at covering up but it makes sens
e.” Caden swears and pulls his lip. “I leave in an hour. I don’t want you here by yourself.”
“You can stay at my house. I’m staying with Saylor but Brody isn’t traveling this game.” I try for this solution.
“No.” Caden barks. “Deacon doesn’t want him with the girls and I don’t know if I trust him.” Turning to Mason he decides his fate. “Go to your parents. Spend a week sobering up.”
“Sure. Sorry guys.” I know he’s lying as he walks to his room.
“He can stay with me. I’ll toss the liquor and check with Saylor every hour.” I plead with Caden.
“No, Aves. I won’t be here and I can’t trust him.” The pain that statement caused him is tangible. “He’s my best friend and I can’t trust him with the love of my life. That’s fucked.” I wrap my arms around him and hold him close . . . like he’s my buoy . . . we’re all sinking in this storm.
“I’m scared.” I babble into his chest.
“Yeah. Me, too.” He pulls me closer and holds tighter.
Mason needs his friends and I want to fight for him to stay with me this week . . . prove to him we haven’t tossed him aside, but one little ripple in this pond will cause the dam to break.
Caden pulls me into his bedroom and kisses me breathless. “I’ll miss you. Promise me you’ll be okay.”
“I will. I’ll keep Saylor occupied. I’ve got this.” I caress his cheek and slip under his arm. “I love you.”
Deacon intercepts me at the front door. “I’m waiting to tell Saylor. Please, Aves, don’t let her find out.” He’s worried leaving her so close to her due date and I don’t want to add anything else, so I nod. Knowing it’s wrong . . . it’s deceitful . . . and adds another layer to my lies.
“Thank you.” He stares towards Mace’s room and sighs.
“We’ll get through this. With him. For him.” I remind him.
“Until he’s past this, he stays away from my family.” I open my mouth to argue but he continues. “He’s doing drugs, Aves. Popping pills and chasing with liquor. I don’t know if he’s stable. Saylor is due . . . Julie is little. If anything happened to them because of him, I couldn’t forgive him.”
“But keeping them apart is hurting all involved.” I remind him.
“Maybe, but this we can come back from. Anything else, I don’t think so.” I’ll respect his wishes. Hell, I understand them— I don’t like them. Damn it, Mason, what are you doing to us?
“I wah Unc.” Julie pouts, staring at the door.
“Sweet pea, he isn’t there. Wanna watch princesses with me?” I bug eye at Saylor and nod to her daughter.
“Yeah. She loves her Unc.” She lowers her voice, “Where is he?”
Shit. “I think he was doing something with his parents this week since he can’t travel. Keeping his mind off things.”
“Cars have come and gone all week.” And I noticed that, too. Sometimes the cars stayed there overnight. I refused to check because I need deniability if anyone asks. I didn’t see it, I can’t comment and nark.
I shrug and move her focus to something else. “Is little miss active today?”
Her smile is serene as her hands caress her belly. “Yes.”
“Call Unc.” Bossyrella demands. Saylor dials Mason and it goes to voicemail. Blessing and curse because Julie’s cries rip my heart to shreds. “Unca Mace come phim wif me.”
“If he doesn’t call back, we’ll go over there.” Saylor promises Julie and I have to intervene.
“Why don’t we go stay at Gramma and Grampa’s? We can swim and watch movies.”
I’m lucky she agrees but even with the distraction of Deacon’s parents . . . Julie is still determined to reach Mason. Here, she can’t see the house and it’s an answer to my prayers.
Her messages continue to go unanswered.
“Unca. Miss you. See me.”
“Unca Mace. I’z you.”
She wants a pop, Saylor leaves him messages . . . and he’s MIA.
“This isn’t like him.” Saylor worries her lip.
“I’ll go check the house— I need to pick up some stuff at home. Go shower and rest. I’ll be back.” I rush to our house and I’m shocked there aren’t cars lingering at his. I hurry inside mine to grab some clothes and a blood-curdling scream carries through the wind and I don’t think. I run to Mason, I’d know that voice in my sleep.
He’s sprawled in a heap, the floor his pillow, cradling his head. “You okay?”
“No.” His voice hoarse.
“Are you hurt?” I’m hesitant to touch him.
“I fucked up. A lot.” I wonder if he’s having an epiphany.
“It stinks in here. Have you been here all week?” I take in the room and it’s a disaster zone.
“Yeah. You didn’t hear the parties?”
“We stayed at Deacon’s parents. I pampered Saylor, they took care of Julie and that way Saylor still felt she was being responsible.” I sigh. “I’ll call the cleaning service. You go get in the shower.” I’m lucky we stayed at Deacon’s parents . . . no way Saylor would have overlooked this.
I text Saylor and let her know I need to finish a painting for art class and she assures me she’s fine. I lie and tell her Mason was napping and seems fine. He comes and studies the area after the cleaning service did a stellar job. “Mace — what are you doing?”
“Trying to forget.” He’s honest, this time.
“This isn’t the way. Promise me you’ll stop. Don’t destroy yourself.” He nods but I don’t believe him. Yet, I make him a promise I’m sure to regret. “I’ll keep this between us . . . don’t make me regret it.”
“When does she get home?” He’s referring to Breck.
“Ten. I’m picking her up at the airport. Don’t bombard her tonight.” I need him to keep his distance.
“I need to talk to her.” He isn’t gonna hear me.
“Not tonight.”
“Aves, I can’t promise. I’m dying here. I need her.” I need him to heed this advice.
“You need to get your shit together. What can you offer her when you’re like this?”
“My heart.” Oh, please. His head is so far up his ass he can’t locate his heart.
“But that didn’t come with your loyalty and fidelity . . . and that’s the most important part. And it isn’t the Mason I know. You’re the most loyal, honest person I know and if you can’t give her that — don’t offer her anything. Let it go for a bit.” My voice cracks while I’m inflicting pain.
“I can’t.”
“Please.” My eyes water. “You didn’t see her, Mace. It isn’t something I can describe.” My phone rings, stopping our conversation. “I’ll be there. Okay. Love you.” I wipe my face and smile. “Shortstop is in labor. Deacon and Caden are going to the hospital.”
“Can I ride with you?” He stands and brushes his legs.
I swallow and shuffle my feet. There’s no easy way to answer. “No, Mason. Deacon doesn’t want you there.”
His eyes cloud with tears and I grip the wall to remain standing. “But . . . it’s Shortstop. And Deacon. That’s my family.” His voice breaking and his breath in pants.
“We’re all your family but give me a break. Your pupils are dilated. You reek. You’ve been on some sorta bender for a week and you want Julie to see you like this? By the way, check your fucking phone.” I surprise myself with how reckless I’m being with my emotions. Sympathy to seething in the blink of an eye. I walk to the door and he stops me.
“Tell Shortstop I love her and Deacon congrats. Please give Julie a kiss from her Unca Mace.”
“Will do.” But he needs to hear the truth. “And, Mason — we do love you.”
Arriving at the hospital, I rush to Caden and try to play it cool. “Where were you?”
“Painting.” My first lie to him.
He narrows his eyes and studies me. “Hmmm.” I pull my phone outta my purse and call Brody to make sure he can pick up Breck at the airport.
“Any
updates?” I want to kiss him. Hold him. Feel secure in his arms . . . but here isn’t the place. All the parents know but half the team is here and Deacon can appear any second.
“Yeah. Two centimeters. Going slow.” He sits down, exhausted and disheveled.
I turn my back to him and text Mason. I’m an enabler.
ME: She’s two centimeters. It’s gonna be a long night. She says hi and she misses you.
We sit in silence for hours and Deacon comes to inform us of her progression. “She isn’t progressing but everything is fine. Aves, she wants girl company. I’m pissing her off.” I giggle and follow him to her room.
“Hey.” Her smile is fake.
“Go.” I shoo Deacon. “What is it?”
“I’m scared. I’m a sophomore in college, married, have a toddler and soon a baby. I’m a statistic.” She cries.
“No babe. You’re the part they can’t count. You’re the success. You’ll be fine. You have us.” I push her sweaty hair off her forehead.
“Mason didn’t call me back.” Fuckity fuck fuck. I’m gonna lose the sainthood with all my lying. After all I endured to get it . . .
“He lost his phone. I can’t tell him where we are.” I’m becoming way too apt at bending the truth.
“He owes me. Asshole.” If she had half a clue.
Deacon pops back in and I disappear. I text Mason before getting to the waiting room.
ME: They gave her meds to speed it along. Up to five centimeters. She says you owe her for bailing. DD hasn’t told her.
He needs to get it together. Pronto. Because I’m losing it.
Kinsley Shey Douglas is born in the wee hours and is a striking baby. A pure blend of both Saylor and Deacon. “C’mon, I’ll drive us home.” I hand Caden my keys and wilt into my seat from exhaustion. “Want to tell me where you were when Saylor went into labor?”
His tone grates my last nerve. “I’m sorry. I seem to have forgotten I answer to you for my every move. I’ll be sure to send you my itinerary each morning. I’ll have to leave some spots blank— I haven’t been trained to go to the bathroom on command so it won’t be accurate.”
Fighting Fate (Endgame #4) Page 17
