Page 21 of Pack Deception: Part Two

“I’m a growing boy, babe. Gotta fuel up.” Hudson winks at me as I stare incredulously at the piled-high plate in his hands.

“Shut the fuck up and get out of the way,” Maverick growls, shoving his way in front of the boxes. He’s no better, taking two meat lover’s slices, two supreme, and bread, too. I opt for one slice of pepperoni, one supreme, and one each of the sides. Some of it still may go to waste. When you eat for your budget–and your budget accounts for ramen noodles and cereal–you tend to get used to small quantities.

“Where do you want to eat?” Mav asks me, taking my plate from me and looking around.

I shrug. “Where would you eat if I weren’t here?”

Without any hesitation, he says, “My room,” and at the same time, Hudson says, “Mav’s room.”

“You both would eat in his room?” I ask, frowning at them.

Pink tinges Maverick’s cheeks which immediately piques my interest. “We, uh, well, we usually hop online while we eat.”

Hudson slaps Maverick on the back, almost making him drop his plate. It earns him a scowl, but Hudson just laughs. “Don’t mind him. He’s always been a little embarrassed of his hobby. He’s a bit of asuper nerd.”Hudson leans in to whisper that last part like it’s top-secret information, waggling his eyebrows. Which, I guess it is because I would not guess Maverick would be the one to be called nerdy from this pack. Mason maybe. Brooklyn, definitely. Maverick…

“I am not a nerd,” he grumbles, shoulder-checking Hudson as he passes. He gently grabs my hand as he passes and leads us to his room. As soon as we get to his room, I watch as they move in synchronized ease with one another. Clearly, they’ve done this a thousand times before. Hudson walks to the window and draws the blinds while Maverick sets his plate down on the side table by the bed and pats it for me to sit on the bed. Then he walks to his closet and pulls out a second chair to match the one already at what I’m sure is his gaming station in the corner. It’s essentially just three of the largest computer monitors I’ve seen. When he lifts it up to carry it over to set it next to the other, the muscles in his arms tense and flex, drawing my gaze. Drool starts to build in my mouth, so I clear my throat and look away.

Dinner first, Summer,I scold myself.

Maybetheycould be dinner,the devil on my other shoulder cackles. I ignore both sides of my inner monologue and opt for a bite of pizza instead. When I look back up, Hudson has a headset in his ears and is handing a second one to Maverick. It’s wireless, so he grabs it and walks back over to me. He leans down to give me a quick kiss that catches me off guard because I’m currently chewing my dinner and grabs his own plate. “We only have two chairs and headsets, sweets. Nobody else likes to play with us, so we’ve never needed another one. I’m sorry.” The chagrined half-smile he gives me really does look remorseful, so I let him off the hook.

With a shrug, I say, “It’s okay. I’ve never really been much of a gamer. But I like watching. Just do your thing.”

Two hours later, I regret telling them I liked to watch. The first thirty minutes really were interesting. Comical, really, the way they’d yell at the other people in their headsets. And each other. They obviously take it very seriously, and tomorrow, I’ll be sure to tell Hudson he can’t call Maverick a super nerd like he’s above him because he is just as bad.

My eyes are starting to feel heavy, and they show no signs of stopping, so I nudge my way under Maverick’s covers to get comfortable and pull out my phone. I may as well get a little reading in.

I open the library app on my phone, where I’ve been reading ebooks for free–since coming to Chicago and not being able to afford to splurge on the physical copies–and start reading.

Ten

Summer

“That must be Mason.He’s home really late.” I hear Hudson whisper near me. But I’m so warm and cozy, eyes still so heavy, that I don’t even attempt to get up and join the conversation.

“He did say he was going to be working late,” Maverick whispers back, but he sounds farther away. A second later, a door shuts, and then his voice is much closer. “He’s been finding more work closer to the house lately. Not as many long trips for landscape shots.”

“Yeah, I wonder why that is.” Hudson’s low voice sounds scolding, almost accusatory.

“Butt-out.”

“No. Fix your shit, Mav. I’m serious,” Hudson growls, and then I hear the quiet sound of footsteps on the carpet before a second door closes. It’s quiet in the room for so long that I think maybe both of them left. But I still can’t bring myself to get up or open my eyes.

I wonder what Hudson was talking about. Why does it sound like he blames Maverick for Mason staying close to home?

A sigh comes from down by the end of the bed that almost startles me into actually opening my eyes. At least I know Maverick is still in the room. There’s shuffling, the sound of drawers opening and closing, and then he’s out the door, too.

Part of me is ready to snuggle deeper under the duvet, but then my bladder tells me that isn’t going to happen. With a groan and an immense amount of effort, I throw the covers back and crawl out of their warm embrace. Bleary-eyed, I amble down the hall to the bathroom only to hear the water running. Maverick must have come to take a shower. Part of me wants to just walk in there and use the bathroom—sure he wouldn’t mind—but the other, louder part of me is too embarrassed. So I walk downstairs to use the other bathroom.

Mercifully, it’s empty. I relieve myself quickly and am about to head back upstairs when I hear rustling coming from the kitchen.

Mason is leaning over the island, pizza in one hand and scrolling on his phone in the other. I must make a noise because as soon as I’m in the living room, his head jerks up, and a brilliant smile lights up his face. The smile I return is effortless.

Everything about Mason puts me at ease and makes me feel like coming home after a long day.

Walking up to him and wrapping my arms around him is natural. As easy as breathing. He returns my hug for a second and then surprises me by lifting me by my hips and planting me on the island countertop. The squeak that comes out of me is embarrassing, but he ignores it.

The sweetheart.

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