“Shedid notcheat on me.” Mason held up a finger. “It’s never been like that with us and we’ve never lied to each other,” he stated clearly but had only managed to confuse Sky more.
“What?” He shook his head and looked at Sarina, hoping she would explain.
She chewed on her lip, a blush spreading up her neck and tinting her cheeks. “Mason and I have never…” She coughed suggestively. “I made a bigmistake, Sky. Abigmistake. But I ran to my best friend and he saved me.”
“Holy shit,” Sky mouthed as he finally put the pieces together. “Why…?” It was a stupid question because who else would she run to? Other than Sky. She could have run to him—he had even offered to help—but he wasn’t going to be a shit about that right now. Maybe later.
Sarina pushed out a trembling breath. “We knew that everyone would assume that Mason was the father so he…told everyone he was and that we were secretly engaged,” Her smile was soft and misty as she looked at Mason. “They all believed it and Nana was so happy. Everyone was so happy.”
“It was what everyone wanted and everything just fell into place after that.” Mason held up his hands like it wasn’t a big deal.
“But…” Sky’s gaze ping-ponged between them. “You’ve been married for almost five years and you’venever…”
Mason’s neck craned as he squinted and hissed. “We tried itoncewhen we were seventeen andno.”He shuddered and shook his head. “Never felt anything more wrong in my life,” he said while Sarina made a gagging sound.
“It was so bad!Hewas so bad and it was gross, like kissing you, Sky.”
“Hey, now,” Mason complained. “I didn’twantto do it and I was doing my best but you were…a girl,” he added with a hard shudder. “Ryan Gosling couldn’t even save me.”
“Jesus!You’regay?” Sky clapped a hand on his forehead in distress but Mason and Sarina blinked back at him.
“I…thought you had noticed,” Mason replied slowly and Sky laughed in disbelief.
“Some people are bi or pan,Mason! I just assumed you were and that you were a dirtbag.”
“Absolutely not!” Sarina said firmly. “He’s been an amazing husband and he’s the best dad ever.”
“I wouldn’t go that far,” Mason argued with a dismissive shrug. “I married the best girl in the world and Sam’s my everything. I couldn’t love him more if he really was mine.”
“Right, but…” Sky frowned as he considered how much they were both hiding, especially Mason. “You’re in the closet and living a lie. Is a weird lavender marriage worth it, just so you can be mayor?”
“Seriously?” Sarina’s voice rose again. “This is Roseview, not New York City or Chicago. He isn’t hiding it because he’s afraid of losing the whopping eighteen grand a year they pay him to carry this town on his back. He’s doing it for me and Sam.”
“That’s not the only reason!” Mason shook his head quickly. “This is the lifeI want. Being here for you and Sam and taking care of my parents and Roseview is all I need. I bet that most of the people around here wouldn’t mind a gay mayor. But I don’t know if they’d trustmeif I came out and admitted I’d been lying about damn near everything for most of my life.”
“Really, Mason?” Sky asked, both dubious and saddened. “You don’t get tired of living a lie? What about you?” he asked his sister. “What happened to Sam’s father and why settle for a fake marriage when you could be happy?”
She let out a loud cackle, then covered her mouth when Mason hushed her. “Like Mom? Look at howhappyher and Dad were. She barely shed a tear when he died.”
“No one said you had to be like them,” Sky replied but they all knew that wasn’t true. Their parents and the entire town expected Sarina to follow in their father’s footsteps and take over the family medical practice. “You could have left if you wanted.”
“I know, but I worked my ass off and I knew Icouldbe happy if I found a way to turn some fucked-up lemons into lemonade.” Sarina smiled tenderly at Mason again. “We built a beautiful life together and it works for us.”
Mason laughed softly as he took her hand, nodding. “I still can’t believe we’re adults and parents half the time, but I wouldn’t change a thing.”
“Wow.” Sky didn’t know what else to say. “If you’re both happy—” he started but remembered the way Mason had kissed him and how demanding his hands had been as they tore at Sky’s clothes and gripped his ass. “What about…?” He coughed awkwardly, making Sarina roll her eyes.
“Lexie and I have been a thing for years.”
“Lexie Walston from the hardware store?” Sky verified and she nodded. “But she’s…like fifty and she’s married to Bill.”
“And Bill’s sixty-two and impotent. He knows that Lexie has something on the side but he’s more interested in fly fishing than fucking his wife,” Sarina explained, only adding to Sky’s confusion.
“How did you get pregnant with Sam, then?” Sky braced himself because it was a question he had to ask, not one he wanted to ask.
“Oh, this is so bad!” Sarina whimpered, then shook out her hands and took several deep breaths, scaring Sky more.
Mason whispered that she’d be fine as he gave her shoulder a supportive knead. “It’s not that bad and it’s going to be okay.” He flashed Sky a wide smile. “I download Grindr whenever I’m out of town and need to scratch the itch. No one knows me in Newark or Boston and it’s easy to get away once or twice a month.”
