Page 148 of The Spare
"Well we had to come for the cinnamon chocolate chip cookies," he says in a sexy, thick accent that let's me know him coming here wasn't all for the cookies. I mean,maybea cookie, but not the dessert type.
I roll my eyes. "Sure you did."
He gives me a wicked grin and lowers his voice. "Come on, butterfly-"
"Don't you ‘butterfly’ me!"I whisper futilely in his ear. “I'm not leaving early just so you can fuck me!" He chuckles, and I turn to my cousin, seeing he's been quiet this whole time. "Hey, Luca," I call, but he's not paying me any attention.
My brows furrow at seeing him standing still in place as a shocked look melts away to an amused one, and a grin tips his lips. "Hello, Rabbit," he says in a low tone, and I frown, pulling away from Mason to turn to look behind me, seeing Charayl looking like a deer caught in headlights.
My brows rise."Charayl?"I call slowly, seeing her struck mute.
I've never seen my sharp-as-nails boss struck stupid before. My eyes cut to Mason who just shrugs and brushes his hand down my hair. "Guess that explains that ugly as fuck rabbit statue on his mantle," he breathes, making me giggle.
Seeing Charayl just blinking at him I smile. "I guess so."
I walk over and bump her lightly with my hip, trying to snap her out of it. "Charayl, meet my cousin Lucien."
Her head snaps to me and her eyes widen."Cousin?"
I nod. "Yep!"
"Charayl, would you like to come to our house for dinner tomorrow? We're hosting," Mason says.
"We are?"I ask, failing to play it cool. It's not effortless for me like it is for him.
"Hmhm. Remember? You wanted to test out the new jam you made from our berries."
Oh, yeah!" I say, smiling. "So, dinner at our place tomorrow. I'll text you the address."
But Charayl’s not paying attention, and neither is my cousin. Her and Luca are too busy eye-fucking or something to listen to what we're saying.
"Okayyyy," I trill, deciding to leave anyway because this is a little awkward. "Gotta go. See you tomorrow." I say to them both, then Mason and I walk out the door, leaving them to whatever is happening. "Talk to your mom today?" I ask as we walk down the sidewalk towards our car.
"Yeah, she's been staying with your mom."
I wince, "I'm sorry."
"No need to be sorry." He cuts his eyes to me. "How about you, love? Have you returned your mother's calls this week?"
"No."
He nods, looking ahead as we meander slowly. "I think maybe you should think about that, butterfly. Being upset is one thing, but holding a grudge this long is another."
I breathe in deeply, knowing he still hasn't made amends with Richard, who stopped calling when he saw Mason wasn't going to answer.
"That was a big secret, Mason," I say sadly. "I don't know how to move past it."
He puts his arms around my shoulder and presses his lips to my temple. "Together, Melly. We'll move past it together. I believe in us. Don't you?"
I nod. "Yeah, very much so."
We get in the car and drive in silence, not needing to talk any more about it, and as I look past the palm trees and to the bright aqua water crashing against the sandy beaches, I firmly believe we will get past it. It'll just take time.
I squeeze his hand, thankful to have the love of my life at my side to go through this with. Because patience and the passing of time is something neither of us are strangers to. So, we aren't scared.
As long as he's by my side, I know there's nothing to be scared of.
Chapter forty-eight
