Page 51 of I Choose You

Certainly not us.

The tartness from the sauce he tried eases onto my tongue, and I almost erupt. Tasting the unusual flavors in someone else’s mouth might be gross, but it awakens a kind of lust I can’t put a finger on. He could eat a pound of bacon, and I’d still open up for him. I’m near combustion as his hands skim up and down my sides before moving to my face. He pulls away, his teeth latching onto my bottom lip. Tugging gently, he drags my face clo—

“What the fuck are you two doing?”

I’m quick to draw my hands away from Mason, who pulls his hands from my face, releases me, and twists to look over his shoulder.

Luke stands in the threshold between the entryway and kitchen, jaw hanging past his chest and zeroing in on Mason and me touching in a way that would indicate we’re definitely not just friends.

23

Mackenzie

Luke’s eyes narrow on Mason before moving to me. They’re unblinking and morph into hands, clawing out to grasp my stomach to twist it in two.

So much for a nice dinner.

Luke takes a careful step closer, but Mason stands his ground and stays close to me. His shoulders aren’t as tense as mine. While I am mildly troubled over how Luke might react, he casually pushes his hands into his work slacks and slants his head.

“How long have I been in the dark about this? Do I even want to know?”

“You sound like Dad,” Mason points out. “It’s weird.”

“I’m the weird one?” Luke scoffs, making his way further into the kitchen. “Pretty sure what’s fucked up here is you two doing shit you shouldn’t be doing.”

I pull my lip into my mouth and nibble away the anxiety while I volley between the two. I never thought it would be possible to get between them. However, this moment is testing that theory. So much that my appetite diminishes, and all I’m left with is the tension that ricochets between them.

I can’t tell if Luke is angry or upset. Maybe both?

“We’re adults, Luke. We can do whatever the hell we like,” Mason deadpans. “Should I be up your ass about what you and Layla do?”

Luke’s face scrunches, his expression a mix of annoyance and offense. “Fuck no.”

“Right. It’s none of my business,” Mason explains. “The same proves true for you.”

“The hell it isn’t my business,” Luke argues. “We grew up together.” He regards me with an open hand. “She’s like my fucking sister. Our sister. At least that’s what the fuck I thought all these years.” He huffs out. “But here you are…feeling her up in the kitchen.”

“Luke,” I chide with an eye roll. “It’s not like that.”

“The fuck it isn’t. Eyes don’t lie, Kenzie. I know what I saw.”

Okay. Maybe he has a point, but still. Whatever picture he’s painting of Mason isn’t accurate. We haven’t been sneaking around behind his back, and he needs to know that.

“It’s as new for us as it is for you,” I tell him.

A ring comes from Mason’s work bag, and he exhales loudly. He turns to me with a sorry face. “If that’s Richard, I have to take it.”

I nod, letting him know I can handle Luke on my own. “It’s okay.”

Giving me a quick peck on the cheek, he reaches for his bag and then disappears from the kitchen. He answers his phone as he pulls the front door closed behind him.

Luke starts in at me without giving me a second to think. “Care to explain yourselves then? I mean, what the fuck.” He sweeps a hand through his hair. “I thought you met a guy when you went to that Halloween party? Mackenzie, what the hell is going on?”

“It’s not what you think,” I say, then double back. “Well, actually, it is, but not to the extent you’re assuming.”

He lets out a humorless laugh and sinks into a chair at the island. “Now I’m more confused.”

Giving him a sad smile, I try to explain myself, but it’s hard when I don’t even know exactly what’s happening. “It just sort of happened.”

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