“Istole it from her. I hated coffee at first, but used to take little sips of Sarina’s until it grew on me.”
“Here.” Mason pushed the mug across the island, lowering onto his forearms. “Are you…still upset?” he asked carefully.
“Not really.” Sky shook his head but his frown deepened. “I’m a little…bothered about Lance, but who the fuck am I to judge, right?”
That got a chuckle out of Mason and he nodded. “I’m not throwing any stones, that’s for sure. Everything about this family, including myself and Lance, is twisted and messy.”
“I bet you regret getting involved with the esteemed Suttons,” Sky murmured.
Mason shook his head. “Your sister said the same thing a few nights ago, but I wouldn’t do anything differently, except the parts where we hurt you. I’m sorry. I wish we hadn’t—” he started before Sky cut him off.
“No!I’m sorry, Mason,” Sky said with a pointed look. His eyes glittered and Sky sniffed hard as he shook his head. “I convinced myself that you were the Devil—lying to my sister and playing games with me. But you were protecting Sarina and cleaning up Lance’s mess.”
“I was protecting myself too,” Mason admitted quietly. “I couldn’t come out, and I found a shortcut to everything I wanted. I just wish we hadn’t lied to you and hurt you the way we did.”
Sky’s shoulders bounced. “I get it now. There’s no way I would have gone along with it. You know how badly lying freaks me out. I can’t cope when I know people’s words and their faces don’t match with the things I know. It…distorts everything they say, and I can’t tell what’s true or what’s more lies or what I’m supposed to do about it.”
“I know. I pulled you into it deeper by revealing that I…am not what everyone thinks I am.”
“You are, though,” Sky argued. “You areexactlythe man you present to the world. You just don’t have sex with your wife. But as far as lies and relationship crimes go, it’s pretty low on the scale. I can say that as a Sutton and an authority on shitty relationships.”
“Thanks, that means a lot. It’s killed me, not being able to tell you the truth and explain everything.”
“I didn’t make it easy. I ghosted you for five years and blamed you for…our indiscretions. The whole thing felt so…so twisted andbad. I couldn’t believe thatyoucould be that cruel and selfish. It didn’t make sense to me, that you could change that much or that I could have been so wrong about you.”
“Hey.” Mason reached across the island and took one of Sky’s hands. “I understand. It’s messed with my head too, and I know the whole truth.” That was an understatement, but how many bombshells could they drop on Sky in one visit? Did he need to know the whole truth or were some lies better left alone?
“Sarina’s lucky we haven’t scared you off,” Sky offered Mason a shy smile. “So am I. I’m glad you’re still here and you didn’t say to hell with me. I’ve been a raging asshole about all of this.”
“You’re not an asshole, Sky, you were just raised by them. I’ve always understood why you had so many walls and why you always have your fists up. It’s never been easy for you.” Mason’s head tilted as he considered Sky’s bigger build and the tattoos on his hands and neck. “Is that why you bulked up so much in college and did all of this? Was it a lot harder for you in the city?”
Sky laughed softly. “It’s a lot easier to be gay and weird in New York, and I just like tattoos. But I got cornered by some jocks when I was a freshman and barely talked my way out of an ass kicking.” Sky shook his head, grinning. “After that, Istarted eating better and working out. My mom raised a weapons-grade bitch, and I wasn’t going to let anyone make me feel small or scared.”
Mason cheered and held out his hand so Sky could slap it. “Hell yeah! That’s my Sky!”
There was a brief pause before Sky reached out and slapped it back and their hands caught and curled together. “It’s good to have my Mason back but I’m not sure what to do with the rest. I love Sam as much as ever and I can—no, I have—forgiven Sarina. I’m not mad at you two anymore but it happened so quickly…” His hands were shaking as he let out a watery laugh. “It feels like I’m on another planet right now!”
“Fuck! Anyone would feel like that!” Mason hurried around the counter and opened his arms, hoping Sky was ready for a hug. Sky leaned into Mason, gasping and trembling as they embraced. “You’re okay, and we love you!” Mason rocked Sky, holding him as tight as he could. “I’m so sorry you had the worst parents in the world and that I didn’t do more. I hate that you’ve been on your own for so long.”
“It wasn’t your job, Mase,” Sky mumbled into Mason’s shoulder.
Hearing Sky call him that brought fresh tears to Mason’s eyes. “Shut up. You’re wrong.” In a perfect—albeitreallyweird world—Mason would have married both of the Sutton siblings. The thought made him laugh.
If there was anywhere something that fucked up could happen, it would be Roseview.
“What?” Sky leaned back warily.
“This family.” Mason gave him a wide-eyed look and they both laughed.
They heard the door open just before Sarina shouted Mason’s name in distress. “I got all the way to the officewithoutmy purse!” she announced as she stormed into the kitchen, then froze. “Hey, you two! You’ve been crying. Is everything okay?”
“Yeah.” Sky nodded quickly and smiled at Mason, making his heart feel like it might explode. “I’ve apologized to Mase for being an extreme asshole and he’s forgiven me.”
“Really?” she croaked and swiped at her eyes. “That’s the best news!”
Sky let go of Mason and held his arms out to Sarina. “I hope you can forgive me too.”
“Oh, no!” Sarinaflewacross the kitchen, nearly knocking Sky over when she crashed into him. “It was all me. I’m so, so sorry. I hope you can forgive me for Lance and for the things I said that awful, awful day.”
