Page 86 of Knockin' Boats
“Ah.” He chuckled. “Well, I can’t say I relate. It’s men only over here.”
“I know.” My lips quirked. “You’re lucky. That’s so cut-and-dried. I just…always thought I was straight. But now…”
“Yeah, it’s a pretty big step out of your comfort zone,” Mason said. “You don’t take chances on new things. New people.”
“Well, he’s not exactly a new person.”
“No shit? Did Cash finally make a move on you?”
I thought of that kiss at the pub and pulled a face. “No, it’s not any of my friends. Well, current friends.”
“You’re being cryptic.”
I sighed. “It’s Ash.”
There was a loaded silence. Then, “Ash Dixon? Ash, who fucked around with your ex and destroyed your friendship?”
“Yeah, that Ash.”
“I thought you hated him.”
“I did,” I said. “But…”
“There’s a fine line between love and hate?”
“That’s going a bit far,” I said, squirming uncomfortably in my chair.
It was one thing to stop hating Ash for mistakes made when we were teens. Or to fuck around with him. But love? How could I ever go there? He’d broken my trust. I forgave it, but I couldn’t forget it so easily.
“Well, either way, I never thought I’d see the day.”
I chuckled ruefully. “That makes two of us.”
“This might be good for you.”
I snorted. “I knowyou’rea fan of sex with men, but I’m kind of an equal opportunist, so?—”
“No, no,” Mason said with a laugh. “I just mean, trying something new. Expanding your horizons.”
I rolled my eyes. “Here we go again.”
“I’m not criticizing,” he said. “You like your life at the lake. I get it. But…I’ve always gotten this sense, ever since shit went down with the restaurant and Mom and Dad splitting, that you were…a little overly cautious about your choices.”
“Why shouldn’t I be? Mom lost everything.”
“Not everything,” Mason said. “She still has us.”
“You know what I mean. Taking risks means opening yourself to consequences. If you don’t want the consequences, you don’t take the risks. It’s simple.”
He hummed thoughtfully. “Sounds like you’ve got it all figured out.”
I hated when he pulled this wise older brother crap. Mason meant well, but I didn’t need lessons in how to live my life.
“I should go. Ash is waiting, and I’ve got to get to work.”
“Okay. You know I’m here if you need to talk about anything.”
“I know. Thanks, man. I’m still…figuring it out, I guess. What to do with it.”
