Mason got a pile of sheets, blankets, and pillows from his linen closet. After a few false starts, we found our rhythm, creating a tent over the family room’s massive sectional. We layered comforters on the floor to have cushioned beds to lay on.

“Noah told me this movie was super good,” Justin said as Mason hit play on The Karate Kid.

“It was one of my favorites when I was your age,” Mason said.

I burrowed into Mason’s side, needing the closeness. I felt as if he were slipping away, even though he was right here. All because I wasn’t ready to make that next step. I knew he was waiting for a sign from me. That was just the kind of man he was. Yet, I was terrified to move forward.

He pressed his lips to the top of my head. “I could live in this fort forever, I think.”

Something about his words made my chest ache even more. Because Mason was destined for this life. Husband. Father. I just wasn’t sure it would be with me.

27

MASON

Cain set his Coke down on the restaurant table. “I think adding that fourth tier will open us up to an additional market.”

“I agree.” Attempting to find demographics that Halo wasn’t serving was a key to our success. Right now, we were discussing adding another option for home security above our most budget-conscious line but before our middle tier. “And I don’t think it will take much of the tech team’s time to create the hardware.”

Cain flipped the page of his legal pad over and began sketching something. “I’m thinking about this for window censors.” He moved quickly, incorporating a few elements from our higher-end lines with our budget system’s basic alarm components.

“I’ll have to run the numbers, but I think it’ll work.”

He set down his pen. “See, sometimes getting out of the office is all it takes.”

Cain had a point. I’d been distracted at the office lately. My mind on Anna, Justin, and Lyla, a million and one worries hounding me. “And it doesn’t hurt that the Saloon has the best burgers in town.”

“It definitely doesn’t.”

My phone buzzed, and I flipped it over to read the text.

Juliette: Mase, we need to talk.

Guilt pricked at me. I’d been a shitty brother the past couple of weeks. As mad as I’d been at Jules, I never should’ve left things unsettled for this long.

Me: Lunch tomorrow? Meet me at my office, and then we can figure out where we want to go.

Juliette: See you then. Love you.

Me: Love you, too. Always.

Maybe now that she’d had time to cool down, Jules would see how wrong she’d been about Anna. But until I was sure, I wasn’t putting Anna in range of Juliette’s biting words.