Noah: I’m sending Mase back to you, enjoy xx
I laugh, knowing full well he likely would too. BecauseMase was stressed as fuck when he came back from his walkwith Aspen, but it takes away from my nerves so I’m all for it.
Aspen comes over and presses up against my leg.
“Soon girl, very soon.” And I’m glad I’m not in my suit yet either because I’d rather not be covered in fur, at least until after our vows that is.
There’s a knock on my door before it opens, and Mase enters.
“You know you’re meant to wait for a response before walking in, I could have been wanking myself off.”
He pauses mid step, and I can’t contain my laughter.
“You’re an arsehole.”
“Mate, you want a drink?” I ask.
His lips part as he looks at the time.
“Mase, believe me when I say this, you need to calm the fuck down. Whether it’s an herbal tea or a whiskey, pick your poison.”
He scrubs his hand over his face. “Shit man, I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
I clap him on the back as I walk past him. “I’m going to have a whiskey. Do you want one?” I ask instead of saying how I thinkit’s obvious to me, but maybe today is not theday.
“Yeah, fuck it, why not.”
Aspen jumps up on Mase, almost knockinghim over.
“I just saw you twenty minutes ago,” he says, running his hand through her fur.
“She can sense you’re stressed,” I say, handing him a crystal tumbler.
I tilt my head towards the sofa over by the bay window.
“I have breakfast rolls incoming, in the meantime drink that and take the edge off.”
He sits down and drops a newspaper on the table. He is probably one of the only people I know who still reads a physical newspaper.
He takes a sip of his whiskey, puckering his lips. “Nice.”
I raise abrow. “Would you expect anything less?” I ask.
His lips crack a smile at that. “No, it’s why I know you’ll never let Jessica go without. And I know she’s not a child and is capable of looking after herself, but I am glad she doesn’t have to. I’m glad she has you and Noah. It makes up for me not being there for her when she needed me the most.”
I sit forward. “You know that wasn’t you, right? It was all on that wankstain.” I refuse to even say Jessica’s ex's name.
“Yeah, but she’s my baby sister. It’s an unwritten rule that I should have protected her, and I don’t think I’ll ever forgive myself.”
I get it, I still kick myself over him taking Jessica.
“She’s better for having you—both of you,” Mason continues. “I know I may have come across as a bit of an arsehole at first, but I think I was shocked.”
I nod in understanding. “Mase, I know, and it’s in the past. You’re one of the least judgmental people I know, but youknow I’d lay down my life for her. Noah would too, without a second thought.” My voice catches on the last few words. Noah’s diagnosis is one that makes me wish more than anything he didn’t have to suffer.
Thankfully, the knock at the door interrupts us and I place my tumbler down.
I open the door and take the tray of breakfast rolls from Autumn. “Thank you, and you’ll ensure Noah, Jessica, and the girls get theirs too?”
