Page 16 of One Last Memory

Benji grinned, a spark of his usual mischief returning. “And if it doesn’t, y’all are paying for dinner.”

“That’s not even a fair trade,” I shot back, crossing my arms.

“Yes, it is,” Benji said, leaning back with a smirk. “You both make more in a month than I do in three.”

Laughter broke the tension, a brief, bright moment that felt like a lifeline. “Alright,” I said, grabbing my keys from the counter. “Wish me luck.”

I didn’t know what I’d say, how I’d explain everything without making her feel cornered. But even if it all went to hell, I thought, at least I’d get to see that smile of hers one more time. That alone was worth the risk.

BAILEE

Breakfasthadbeenadisaster, the kind of awkward that made my skin itch. I’d sat at the villa’s long dining table, picking at my pancakes while Elissa’s eyes bored into me. I’d finally caved and spilled everything—how Angelo, Mason, and Benji were connected, how I’d somehow stumbled into all three of them like some cosmic prank.

Elissa’s jaw had dropped, but she’d kept quiet, which was better than teasing me about it. She promptly shut up when the rest of the family filtered in, Malia, of course, had been sniffing around, trying to piece together what was going on. Zak was nowhere to be seen, probably hiding in his room with his fiancé, and honestly, I didn’t care. Mom and Dad kept shooting me worried glances, their forks pausing mid-bite.

“I’m enjoying the vacation just fine,” I’d said, brushing them off with a smile that felt like plastic. They didn’t buy it, but they let it go.

I stood to clear my plate, the clink of ceramic loud in the tense silence. My hands shook as I stacked it in the sink, my mind spiraling. How was I supposed to get over this embarrassment? The way I’d bolted from the club, Angelo’s voice calling after me, the terror in my chest as I realized I’d been drawn to three men who were friends, maybe more. It was worse than my public breakdown in Times Square two years ago, sobbing on New Year’s Eve while strangers stared. At least that had been anonymous. This? This was personal, and it stung.

A knock on the door snapped me out of it. Malia hopped up to answer, and when I saw who was standing there, my face went hot, a flush that burned from my cheeks to my chest. Mason. Fucking Mason, with his easy smile and those eyes that saw too much. This was beyond embarrassing—it was mortifying.

Elissa caught my deer-in-headlights look and stepped in, smoothing everything over. “Shit, more repairs?” she said, loud enough for everyone to hear. “Lee, can you go see what he wants? We’re still eating.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but Elissa’s eyes flicked to mine. She was giving me cover, and I wasn’t about to waste it. I forced a smile, grabbed my courage, and rushed outside, shoving Mason back down the villa’s steps before he could say a word. I yanked the door shut behind me, my heart hammering in my chest.

“Lee, I’m so sorry about last night,” Mason started, turning to face me, his hands raised like he was already giving in. “I—”

“Stop,” I cut him off, my voice sharper than I meant. I crossed my arms, trying to hold myself together. “Just stop playing me. Ha ha, I was the butt of a joke. I get it. But please, don’t make me feel worse.”

Mason’s face softened, his brows knitting together. “Sweetheart, we’re not playing a joke on you.”

I laughed, a bitter sound that scraped my throat. “The likelihood of that one moment with you was out of the blue, but all three of you in the same place? That’s not… I don’t attract—” My voice cracked and I looked away, my hands twisting together.

Mason stepped closer, his hands gentle as they cupped my face. Before I could pull back, he pressed a sweet, lingering kiss to my lips, stealing my breath. “We’re not doing that shit again,” he growled. “This is not a trick and you are worth every bit of attention we give you. You found mine, stole Benji’s and captured Angelo’s.”

I blinked, my brain stuttering. “Um…”

He cleared his throat, a faint flush on his cheeks. “Well, my boyfriend and my best friend.”

My eyes widened and I wrung my hands harder, the pieces clicking into place. “You have a boyfriend? Angelo?”

Mason gave me a soft smile, his thumb brushing my cheek. “Yeah, it’s an open relationship. I swear we didn’t plan this. Maybe it would help to talk it out?”

I bit my lip, my stomach twisting. “Isn’t that more awkward?”

“But would it help soothe your worries?” he countered, his gaze firmly locked with mine. “I swear to fuck, we’re not playing around.”

I cracked a smile despite myself, the tension easing just a fraction. “You mean three beautiful men aren’t just sticking their dicks in all the pretty women vacationing here?” I froze, my face heating. “Sorry, fuck, I shouldn’t have said that.”

Mason grinned, stepping closer, his fingers brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “Actually, no. The last thing I stuck my dick in before you was Angelo.”

I snorted, the sound surprising me, and just like that, the weight on my chest lifted. Not completely, but enough to breathe. “Yeah, okay,” I said, my voice steadier. “Um, dinner?”

His grin widened. “Yeah, I can swing that. How’s the tiki bar? Six pm?”

“Yeah, I’ll be there.”

He gave me one last smile before turning to go, and I rushed back inside, my pulse thrumming. Malia was waiting, her arms crossed. “What was that?”

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