Page 108 of Ten Hammers

“When you and your brothers first pitched the idea of renovating Gram’s house,” she says, “it was you who said this reno would be an opportunity to do so much more than rebuild that wreck of a house. And you were right.”

She takes both of my hands in hers. “I really don’t think any of us could have fathomed just what kind of opportunity we would turn it into.” She giggles, rosy cheeks growing rosier.

“And it was because of you, Mason, because I mistook you for Max, that this opportunity for me to be with all of you opened up. This is a perfect date for you and me.”

“Yeah?” God, I’m so relieved.

She nods. “Because sometimes ghosts don’t need to be buried. They need to be fucking obliterated.”

When she kisses me again, there’s even more fervor behind it. Then I watch her, a smile spreading across my face, as she goes to the table with her grandmother’s china on it.

One piece at a time, she picks up the china and hurls it against the wall.

“Come help me, Mason!” she shouts.

“Always, Winnie,” I call, and race over.

With every cup, saucer, and plate that shatters, I can see on my girl’s face that the pieces of her heart have definitely healed throughout the process of the reno… and, miraculously, from dating us.

I’m overjoyed to see that there’s peace in her expression, not fear or anxiety or rage, even if they’re all justified.

Fuck. I desperately don’t want this to end between us.

I grab two sledgehammers, hoping that the sounds of us wrecking her terrible grandmother’s terrible clunker of a car will drown out Max’s voice in my head.

She isn’t going to choose us.

Chapter 38

Winnie

An hour later, there’s nothing left to break and as Mason and I leave behind the rubble we’ve created, I’m panting and sweaty and feeling fantastic.

We’re back in the hall, and are silent as we pull off our goggles and strip out of the jumpsuits and drop them into the waiting basket.

“How was that?” Mason touches my face, wiping away my tears. Cathartic tears. “Are you okay?”

I laugh. “Better than ever. I just… really needed that.” I let out a deep, satisfied sigh that shakes my whole body. “Would you think I was totally twisted if I said that that was some of the most fun I’ve ever had in my life?”

He grins, but I mean it. It really was.

“I just wish that,” I add wistfully, “that godawful recliner would’ve been here so I could take the pickaxe to it.”

“Actually,” Mason says, trailing his fingers down the side of my face. “That’s Part Two of your surprise. Devin has it set up out back. In the Burn Zone. I thought you might want to douse it with gasoline and throw a match on it. Watch that fucker burn.”

I grin. “Oh, Mason Hammer. You say the most romantic things.”

But I realize, then… I don’t give a shit about the recliner anymore. This has been so much fun, but… now I want another kind of fun for Part Two.

I shake my head. “I really, really appreciate it, Mace. I have had a freaking blast. But… tell Devin to let someone else take their trauma out on it, okay?”

Mason gives me a quizzical look. “You sure?”

“Yeah.” I stand on my tiptoes, stretching, stretching, to press my forehead against his. “I’m in the mood for another kind of smashing,” I add with a giggle.

Yep, we don’t need to light any matches. There’s pure fire in Mason’s eyes. He grabs my hand and practically drags me into the hall.

“Lindsey, we’re headed to our decompression lounge, now.”

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