Page 173 of Promise Me Not

A chuckle leaves me, and I nod. “Even with that, you had her back.” Gratitude overwhelms me, a knot forming in mythroat, and I look away. “That right there, that’s why you’re my brother.”

His hand lands on my shoulder, squeezing, and I blow out a long exhale.

“I can’t believe I almost fucked up my eligibility and put my scholarship a risk. I’d never forgive myself if I let you guys down like that.” I swallow. “Or her. Them.”

Chase nods, not making excuses but saying, “Yeah, well, at least you got your head out of your ass before it was too late.”

I chuckle, and this time when his hand reaches out, he gives a little shove, and my ass flops over. Spinning, I come at him, and we wrestle around the way we have for years, but I’ve got one up on him now.

“Someone’s got some new moves,” he notices with a laugh, flipping me and coming down, but I hook him under his knee and around the neck.

“This is a cradle, my boy. Big D’s signature move.”

He laughs, tapping out, and as we flop onto our backs, a blond sheet of curls falls over my face, and a perfect little man throws himself down on my chest.

I grunt, laughing as I lift him into the air. Bringing him down, I kiss his cheek and look up at my girl. “Time to go home?”

She smiles softly at the two of us, and I don’t miss the little blush crawling past the neckline of her sweater. “Yeah, time to go home.”

We say goodbye to my aunt and uncle, climb in the vehicle, and then we’re off.

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

Payton

As we takethe exit toward campus, Mason lifts my hand for what must be the fiftieth time in the last few hours, pressing his lips to my knuckles. I roll my head along the seat, staring at him as I’ve done most of the trip, and he chuckles, meeting my eyes a moment before facing forward again.

We drove all day, and I’m exhausted, but I don’t dare fall asleep. I don’t want to waste a minute of my time with him. It’s clear he feels the same, and while he couldn’t sleep if he wanted as the driver, he makes sure to touch me every few minutes with both his eyes and his hands.

Thankfully, when I had my moment a few days ago, I didn’t call my job, so my room is still mine to come back to at the staff building at Avix U.

My lips tip up as I run my fingers over the small lotus flower Mason gave me, remembering what he said but also what I read when looked it up for myself the night he left. Mason and I, we are resilient and strong, and we did grow from a place of darkness, finding our own light. I like to think maybe Deaton had a part in this, that maybe his death wasn’t in vain but a blessing, offering the promise of new beginnings, just like he did in my dream.

I close my eyes a moment, then roll my head along the seat to look at the man beside me. “Hey, Mase.”

“Yeah, baby?” he asks, his voice thick with exhaustion as he pulls into the parking lot of my building.

He looks over a few times, but I wait until the car is still, the engine shut off.

“I have something to tell you.”

He leans forward, taking my chin in his hands and sliding his lips across mine in a perfect tease. “And I want to hear it, but it’s late. Let’s go inside and get our little man in a real bed.”

“K.” I give in instantly, and I don’t realize my eyes have closed until I hear his door open.

He takes Deaton from his seat, and we leave everything but the diaper bag in the car.

Inside, Mason gently lays him down on the bed, and Deaton hardly stirs as Mason changes him, leaving him in nothing but a diaper and socks.

I drop onto the mattress, watching as Mason strips his shirt from his head, followed by his jeans. Silently, he climbs into bed, and my heart melts when he reaches down, lifting Deaton and placing him in the center.

He closes his eyes, his arm gently tucking Deaton into his chest.

Moisture pricks my eyes, and I kick my shoes off, climbing in beside them.

Mason’s eyes pop open for a split second, but they close just as quickly.

I’m not sure I’ve ever wished I had my camera on me more than I do in this moment.

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