I spend the afternoon in the kitchen with my mom and Jess while Mason watches the game in the living room with my brother and dad. Luca and Penelope play with Luca’s cars and racetrack on the floor, stopping only to run into the kitchen to grab snacks and ask when dinner will be done.
My parents’ house is filled with warmth like it always is. A light, cool breeze from the open sliding back door moves the scent of turkey and sweet rolls throughout the house. My mom turns to me with watery eyes as she chops a white onion. “Has Mason been in to grab any appetizers yet?”
I lift the side of my lip, darting my eyes between her and Jess. “Why are you asking me?”
She doesn’t answer my question and puts down the knife to start adding some appetizers on a plate for him anyway. “Mason, I made you a plate of snacks while we wait for dinner!” She has to raise her voice over the sound of the game on the television in the living room.
“Thank you.” I hear him say.
A second later, my mom is handing Mason a plate filled with spinach dip, crackers, fruit, and two deviled eggs. Deviled eggs are my brother’s favorite, and my mom makes a dozen for him every year, even though no one else likes them. But apparently, Mason does, too, because he enthusiastically takes the plate from her.
Mason heads back into the living room with a filled plate in his hands. Harry eyeballs his food. “Can you make me one too, Mom?” he asks.
“You can get it yourself,” she tells him and continues preparing dinner.
Mason turns to taunt my brother with his food, taking exaggerated bites.
“Give me some,” Harry demands, reaching out to snag one of his deviled eggs right off the plate.“Back off, dude. Your mom made this for me.” Mason’s arm shoots out, blocking Harry’s body from lunging forward.
Keeping my focus trained on slicing the tomatoes for the salad, an unexpected chuckle bubbles from my throat as I catch glimpses of him trying to fight off my brother from his plate of snacks when Harry can easily just walk in here and grab one himself.
Jess leans against the counter to my side. Both of us watch as these two grown men fight over eggs and crackers in my parents’ living room.
“They used to bicker like that all the time in college,” Jess says in a low voice.
My eyes flicker toward her, then back to Harry and Mason. “Really?”
“Oh yeah. It would annoy the shit out of me half the time.” She shifts her body to face me, folding her arms at her chest. “Like, your brother and I would be laying on his bunk in their dorm room doing homework, and Mason would barge in likesome out-of-control tornado. He’d be in a full sprint before jumping right in the middle of us, scattering our schoolwork all across the room. He’d do things like that just to piss me off.”
I pull my bottom lip between my teeth. “Mason is good at that, isn’t he?”
“Yes, but he’s really not that bad. You shouldn’t be so hard on him.” Jess pops an olive into her mouth.
What?
“How can you even say that? He tried to get Harry into so much trouble back then. Getting him high, drunk, and dragging him to parties that would clearly put him into compromising positions with other girls. It’s like he wanted Harry to be his wingman or something,” I respond with a pinched expression.
Jess sighs. Then grabs both of my shoulders, turning me around to face her. “It was a long time ago. We all do stupid shit in college. Mason is Harry’s business partner now, and I think they’re going to do great things together with this restaurant.”
There is something about him that gets to me. Was he right at the gym last week? Was I jealous of all the women that were sleeping with him? Could my extreme dislike of Mason be fueled by jealousy?
No way.
Later in the afternoon, we all sit down for dinner. Our table conversation is filled with my mom and dad raving about Jess and Harry’s upcoming wedding.
“That’s great to hear. I know it has been kinda hectic planning it all. Remember to keep putting me to work. I’ll help you with whatever you need. “My mom presses, looking over the table at my brother and his fiancée.
“Of course, Mom. We will, don’t worry.” Answering my mom, Harry passes the salad to Luca.
Luca grimaces, refusing to grab the bowl. Mason laughs and reaches over Luca to take it from Harry.
My mom suddenly turns her attention to Mason. “So, Mason, how’s everything coming with the restaurant build-out? Harry said you guys are about a month from being ready to open.”
Mason wipes his face with his napkin before answering. My eyes instantly fall to his lips just as they open slightly as he begins to speak. “Yes, that’s correct. Everything is coming along great. We start interviewing staff members next week. And if all goes well, we can officially open by next month.”
“And you’re completely moved in down here now too, right?” my mom asks.
Mason nods as he quickly swallows the food in his mouth. “Yes, I’m actually renting a condo in Bailey’s building until the renovations are completed on my new house.”
