Page 95 of Stolen Moments

“You’re really going to help me? Even after I fucked you over and scared off your man?” He raises a brow at me.

“You know I will, you idiot.”

As for my man, I don’t think he is anymore. I’ll figure that out later. Right now, I need to help the people I know need me.

“All you had to do was ask. I will help you find Lizzie. I might know someone who can get Flip to talk.” Flip’s best friend.

“Chris,” we both say. The one person who was forced out as a teen and never looked back is Lex’s only hope.

The irony is not lost on us as we share a laugh, and for a fraction of a second, the pain in my heart lessens. If I can’t get my happy ending, I’ll at least make sure my friends do.

“We’ll figure it out. Together.”

“Promise?”

“I promise. You owe me big time, though.”

He hands me his pocket square, and I wipe the smeared mascara under my eyes.

“If you help me, I’ll be indebted to you for life. You can have anything you want.”

If looks could kill, he’d be dead. He has nothing to offer. All I want is the man who walked away with my heart and soul.

Lex hisses and throws his hands up in surrender. “Sorry.”

“It’s my fault. I should have told him.”

That’s the truth. I was afraid that if I told him, it would taint our relationship. I’ve watched Lizzie’s face firsthand when our parents would make comments about Lex and me getting married. It killed her. I thought that by keeping this farce away from Mason, I would be protecting him from that kind of pain. Instead, I probably made things worse.

“Ready to make things right with the people we love?” I ask him.

“Yes, but…” His shoulders lift with his inhale and as he exhales, a smile falls over his face. “First, I have to tell Alfred to fuck off.”

I wince. “That’s not going to go over well.”

“No, it’s not. But it’s time.”

I nod, agreeing. But it has to happen for him to move on and live the life he truly wants.

“Can I stay with you when my father inevitably kicks me out of the company, I’m penniless and homeless, and Lizzie tells me to fuck off?”

I lace my hand through the crook of Lex’s elbow with a laugh—a real laugh because his prediction might come true—and lead him down to his car parked in the circular driveway. “You can always stay with me. Or Chris. He’d love that.”

“Oh, god no. Not Chris. He’d rake me over the coals, and I don’t think I’m strong enough to take that kind of torture.”

“True. Chris is mean. He cuts you deep with the truth.”

Lex hums as we reach his car. He pulls out the fob and unlocks his ugly-as-hell sports car. “Speaking of … are you going to tell him about all this?”

I bite my lip, unsure. I know I’m going to have to tell Chris, but not yet. Right now, I just want to get away from this horrible placeand break down. My brother will only point out the obvious—I had it coming, playing games with the Rhodes and Westfields.

“I will. But tonight, I just want to be alone and lick my wounds.”

I regret not immediately chasing after Mason and falling to my knees, begging him to listen and forgive me. When he said I meant nothing to him, it was like taking a knife to my heart and cutting it from my chest. I hurt him so deeply. I doubt he would have even listened to me. He was so angry, it’s probably for the best if he has some time to cool off. I hope he’ll give me a chance to explain. I did try to tell him, but I knew he wouldn’t understand.

I was barely an adult, with no real money, trying to take care of my brother, who at the time had just been ostracized for being queer. It was my job to protect him when no one else would. This was only supposed to be until Chris was done with college and Lex took over the company. I should have known better, but hindsight is 20/20 and all that.

I don’t know if I would have been strong enough to say no if not for Mason. He came along and made me fall in love with him. He might have forced himself through my walls and destroyed my carefully constructed plans, but I let him. I’d do it again.

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