Page 74 of Obsessed

“How about I get your information and we can set up a few appointments?” He glanced at Mason, just to be sure, and almost forgot what he was doing because Mason’s stare was full of pride, amazement, and that other mysterious quality that now had a name.

Love.

“You’re my manager?” Mason asked with raised eyebrows, his breath fogging the air as they stood on the street outside the gallery.

Rain smirked. “Do you have a problem with that?”

“No.” It was adorable how Mason answered teasing questions with honesty. “Do you want to be my manager?”

“Kind of.” Trying to ward off the cold, Rain put his hands in his pockets, his heart warming as Mason pulled him close, giving him his body heat. “I liked handling your calls and assisting on shoots, I wouldn’t mind taking that over. But I also want to learn more about drone photography and photography in general. Not because you do it, but because it’s cool.”

Mason gave him a light squeeze.

“I’d like to teach you.”

Rain could tell that something had softened in Mason tonight. Between admitting his love and the popularity of his portraits, he’d been hit with a couple of big things and he was handling it well; in fact, he’d somehow improved his people skills while they’d been apart, easily chatting about his photography with the patrons while Rain had handed out cards and collected numbers.

Since the exhibition was closed for the night, Tommy and Ollie were trying to coordinate an afterparty, and Rain watched as they made their way back from the parking lot.

“Okay so everyone is meeting up at Bar None -” Tommy began but Rain put a hand up, stopping him. Right now, all he wanted was to get Mouse and go back to Mason’s where he belonged. Besides, it was clear that Mason had been working himself to the bone; exhaustion lined his eyes, dulling the sea glass, and he needed to get some rest.

“I think we’ll pass, it’s been alongday,” he said. “I don’t think Mason’s slept in a-”

Rain went cold, his hand dropping as adrenaline shot through his system.

“What’s wrong?” Despite his fatigue, Mason immediately picked up on Rain’s discomfort, following his gaze, and his eyes widened as Ollie cursed.

Standing on the corner in an expensive new coat, expression unwaveringly happy, was Rain’s mother. How long had she been there? And how had she found him? Realizing that he’d noticed her, she waved, acting like their relationship was perfectly normal, as if he hadn’t faced off with her months ago and gone no-contact.

Mason stepped between them, blocking her line of sight.

“What do you want to do?” Worry lined Mason's features and he twitched, obviously wanting to whisk Rain away but he didn’t, and Rain appreciated the space to choose as well as Ollie and Tommy’s quiet patience.

Leaning out, Rain glanced at his mother again, realizing that he was stunned and apprehensive but not frozen in terror. Oddly enough, for the first time in his life he felt safe around her because Mason wouldn’t let anything happen to him and neither would the Clark Brothers.

Rain bit his lip, staring up at Mason. “Come with me?”

Mason’s gaze pried Rain open, reaching inside and holding his heart. “Always.”

With a quick look behind him, Rain set off down the street, hand in hand with Mason, his heart thumping in his ears. Ollie and Tommy followed but kept a respectable distance, available at a second’s notice, and it helped Rain keep his head high as he stopped near the end of the block, leaving a noticeable gap between him and his mother.

“Rainy!” She reached out before he could even say hello but he skittered back, and Mason put an arm between them, giving her a glare that stopped her in her tracks.

“Don’t touch him,” he growled.

“Who the fuck are you?” She tried to glare back, clearly not remembering Mason from the day of the fire, which wasn’t surprising.

“Mason,” he replied blankly, not rising to her bait, his intensity an asset because he continued to stare until she sagged, looking at Rain for help. But why would he help her when she’d never lent a hand to him?

“How did you find me?” he asked quietly, knowing he had a better chance for an answer if he remained calm, and she responded to his attention by lighting up like a Christmas tree.

“I’m meeting Josh for dinner on the next street and I saw you. It’s my lucky day!” Her joy fell flat when no one joined in.

“You were just walking by?” Nobody believed her but it didn’t matter. “Wait, yourbossJosh?

He heard Ollie snort behind him.

“Of course! We finally took it out of the office and started living together after Gage got arrested because I had no place to go.” She rolled her eyes, obviously not concerned about Gage, her continuous lack of empathy makingherthe toddler adult.

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