Page 8 of The Partner Predicament

A tear slips down her cheek and I want nothing more than to comfort her. Taking a deep breath, she nods. And I finally know what to do. Grabbing my running shorts from the floor, I stand and pull them up my legs before grabbing her. Cradling her against my chest, I walk through the house and up the stairs.

I stop outside Jaxon’s room before pushing the door open. He is seated at his desk in a pair of grey sweatpants and nothing else. He turns to look at me but before he can say a word, I cut him off.

“Master bedroom. Now.”

Chapter Eight

Jaxon

To say that I’m confused would be the understatement of the year, but I don’t argue with Mason. Instead, I follow toward what I know used to be his room. I watch him gently deposit Aspen in the middle of the large four-poster bed before taking a few steps back. He runs his hand through his hair leaving the short, dark strands sticking up in different directions.

“Um, Mason,” I say, “is everything okay?”

“No. Nothing is okay.”

I turn to look at Aspen but she’s hiding behind her hair as she often does when she’s uncomfortable.

“Care to explain what is going on?” I ask roughly. I don’t like this situation one bit.

“Aspen came to tell me that she wants to be a good Partner. That she’s struggling and she doesn’t know how to do that. She asked me to draw up a schedule,” Mason replies as he sits down in the wingback chair near the window.

“A schedule?” but the moment the question leaves my lips I know exactly what he means. “You can’t be serious, little one,” I direct at her.

“Oh, but she is,” Mason says and chuckles darkly. “But I don’t think a schedule will work for us.”

Both Aspen and I swing our gazes toward Mason. He must have lost his damn mind if he thinks I’m going to share her on some damn schedule. The moment I get my hands on Aspen I won’t ever let go.

“Tell him what you told me before we came upstairs, sweetness,” Mason prods before I can interject with my opinion. Aspen shakes her head and hides her face in her hands. “Aspen.” Mason waits until she looks at him. “You wanted me to take control, this is how I’m going to do it.”

She watches him for long moments before turning to face me. “I’m in love with you,” Aspen says with a hitch in her voice. “And with Mason.”

Her words almost bring me to my knees. I know we get along fine and enjoy each other’s company. But love? I never even thought it was a possibility. You hear of so many Partners that get along but so few that truly have a fully committed, loving relationship.

“See, my friend,” Mason says, “I don’t think we need a schedule.”

****

Mason

“This entire situation is seriously fucked up,” Jaxon says as he leans against the doorjamb.

“Do you love her?” I ask not entirely sure I’m ready for him to answer the question. “Because I do.”

“How could I not?” he replies softly. “But that does nothing to change the predicament we’re in.”

“But it does. I have watched the two of you together these past weeks as I’m sure you have,” I explain. “I know you love her, I just wanted her to hear you say it.”

“What?” Aspen cries from her spot on the bed, her gaze jumping between the two of us.

“And I’ve seen it done,” I continue without addressing her. “More than one man can love a woman, and one woman can love more than one man. And everyone can be happy.”

“So, what are you saying exactly, Mason?” Jaxon asks as he watches me intently.

“I’m saying that Aspen is ours. Ours to love. Ours to cherish. And ours to fuck.”

Shock scrolls across Jaxon’s features before he smiles. “And how would you like to proceed?”

It took him a minute to catch onto what I was saying but if his tented sweatpants were anything to go by, he was fully onboard with my plan.

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