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That makes my stomach lurch even more. Because though I’m not over my ex-boyfriend and would go back to him in a heartbeat, I want his best friend in a way that I shouldn’t. And that is not fair to any of us.
As long as I’m in the Lyons’ den, I will never be able to free myself from this. I’ll never be able to move on. From either of them.
Perhaps I never will at all. It’s been three years and my heart calls for Mason just as loud as it did back then. Only now it calls almost just as loud for Nate too.
What the hell is wrong with me?
“Hey, man!” Mason’s more upbeat than he was one-on-one with me. He goes over and shares a private handshake fist bump thing with Nate. “We heard you forgot about us.”
Nate ticks his head, throwing his long blond hair out of his eyes. “Didn’tforget.Just misplaced the memory.”
I start to float out of the room.
They can handle getting Nate intohis chair.
Plus, I have a dinner to get ready for with some girlfriends.
“Lanes!” Nate calls out after me. As my eyes flicker over Mason, I notice a flicker of heat in his eyes.
Nate smiles at me. “You want to stay? Hang out? Pizza, beer, Call of Duty?”
“Not too much beer. With your medication and all.” I give him a pointed look.
Seth blows a raspberry. “Party pooper.”
I glare.
“Shut up, man.” Nate presses on Seth’s shoulder.
My eyes meet Mason’s.
Even if I could stay, his gaze makes it clear I shouldn’t. “I’ve got dinner with the girls. But thanks for the invite. You guys okay getting him into his chair?”
Nate starts to respond, opening his mouth, disappointment in the downturn of his eye.
“Of course, Laney,” Mason cuts him off. Though it’s a simple three-word response, I can’t help feeling there’s subtext I don’t understand.
“Have fun. I’ll be back later. Text me if you need anything.” I hurry out of the room, not bothering to wait for a response.
It’s a good thing Nate is getting better. Because I’m not sure how much more of this I can take.
2
MASON
I should have known seeingLaney would tear me apart inside.
Every time, I delude myself into thinking seeing her won’t impact me. A drop of water in the ocean.
And everygoddamntime, it’s like a gut-punch right through my heart.
I tilt my empty beer bottle back and forth in my hand as I watch the screen erupting with gunshots and enemy soldiers.
“Shit, shit, shit!” Nate thumbs the controller so hard, that the clicks echo through the room.
Seth throws up his hands, controller balanced in one palm. “I’m dead.”
I check my watch. “Welcome to the club.” I died on our campaign a good ten minutes ago.
