Page 56 of Gin and Lava

“Secret boyfriend?” Mason’s eyebrows shoot up.

“No, he’s not my—” I try to correct, but Mason grabs my phone and turns it to him.

“Who is this?” Mason asks, and I swear Shauri lights up like she just uncovered Montezuma’s Treasure.

“Hello, Secret Boyfriend!” Shauri waves like crazy. “I’m Shauri. What’s your name?”

“Uh …” Mason glances at me, thrown off guard, and my mouth just hangs open at how Shauri’s completely blindsided me. I should be doing something sensible like throwing my phone on the ground and lighting it on fire, especially when Mason gets that mischievous hitch to his cheek, and in true Mason form says, “We prefer to use the term fuck buddy.”

Shauri burst into laughter. “Oh my gosh, you’re hilarious! And cute. I love that shirt. It’s so meta: A Hawaiian wearing a Hawaiian shirt in Hawaii!”

I doubt she can see what’s actuallyonthat shirt from my phone.

“Thanks!” Mason perks up, taking the compliment. “Did you see that the flamingos on my shirt are—”

“This is Mason,” I interrupt, not wanting him to give her a close up. “And he’s, uh—”

“Your plus one! Of course!” Shauri jumps in. “I’m so excited to meet you, Mason. You’re going to have so much fun with the week we’ve got planned before the wedding.”

“The wedding?” Mason asks, his eyes flicking to me again. I hold out my hand demanding he shut up and give me the phone.

“Yes, my wedding!” Shauri chirps. “I’m sure Naomi’s told you all about it. I expect you to come to all the pre-wedding fun. You’re invited to that, too. We’re all staying at Naomi’s beach house!”

“We are?” Mason’s eyebrow hitches in my direction. “Naomi neglected to—”

I launch at Mason for the phone, but he does some ju-jitsu move that twirls me around. Suddenly, I’m looking straight at Shauri, wrapped in Mason’s arms with him behind me like we’ve been dating for years.

“You have to come!” Shauri exclaims. “You’re her boyfriend, so obviously you’re invited. There will be volleyball, and bonfires, and beer—”

“I own a bar, you know,” Mason mentions, cinching me tighter against him.

“You do?” Shauri spears me with a look as if I’ve been holding out on her.

“He does,” I confirm, plastering on a smile and pretending it’s totally normal for Mason to have his arms wrapped around me in public.

“If you need tiki drinks, I’m your man,” he offers. “I could even make you a special tiki drink for the occasion. I’ll give it a raunchy pre-wedding name like Sex on the—”

“He’s kidding,” I interject, trying to pinch him, but his martial arts hold on me is too strong.

“You’re hilarious!” Shauri laughs, then she looks at me. “He’s hilarious, Naomi. I love him. I’m so glad you’re getting out there again. I mean, it might make the fact that Sam’s at the wedding a little weird, but—”

“Sam?” Mason asks, not missing that one.

“You know, Sam, her ex,” Shauri reveals. “I’m sure she’s told you all about him. I mean, how awkward is it to break up after you’ve RSVP’d as a couple to a wedding? Right?”

I feel Mason squeeze me harder, indicating that’s a story I’ll be telling him before he dares to let me go.

“Okay, so—” I jump in. “Now you’ve met Mason. Yay.” I laugh awkwardly. “But—”

“Promise me you’re coming to the wedding and everything before it!” Shauri says to Mason. “Don’t let party-pooper-Naomi sideline you for what will be the best week of your life.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Mason confirms. “I can’t wait to meet you in person.” To which Shauri giggles with glee and gives him a virtual high-five.

“Okay, I have to go back to work,” I say, before Mason accepts anymore invitations. I manage to rip one of my hands out of Mason’s death grip, and I shoot it up toward theEnd Callbutton. “Email me later, Shar-Shar. Bye!”

Blooop—Shauri’s face disappears from the screen, but the damage is done.

“What the hell, Mason?” I growl, trying to wiggle out of his arm. Only, he must be a black-belt in who-knows-what because he doesn’t even try to keep me trapped to his chest, he just does it.

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