I raised an eyebrow. “Bossy,” I told him.
“Turn. Around.”
Chuckling, I obeyed. A second later his fingers were in my hair. The sensation surprised me.
Mason worked the shampoo through slowly, massaging my scalp with careful fingers. It was gentle, unhurried, and comforting in a way I hadn’t expected.
My shoulders loosened under his touch.
“Not bad,” I murmured.
“High praise,” Mason said.
I hummed as he rinsed the shampoo out, fingers trailing lightly through my hair before he nudged my shoulder.
“Your turn,” I told him.
I switched places with him. Mason faced the wall now, head ducked slightly under the spray.
I poured a small amount of shampoo into my hand and stepped closer. My fingers slid into his hair. He made a soft sound almost immediately.
“Good?” I asked him.
“Don’t stop.”
I smiled. His hair was softer than it looked, dark strands slipping between my fingers as I worked the shampoo through.
The shower filled with quiet sounds, of the water hitting tile, our breathing. The occasional soft laugh when one of us bumped the other in the cramped space.
When we finished, Mason grabbed a towel and wrapped it around his waist while I did the same. He leaned against the counter, still slightly flushed from the heat.
“That might’ve been the best post-run shower I’ve ever had,” he admitted.
“High praise again,” I said.
“Don’t get used to it,” he shot back.
I laughed. Eventually we got dressed and stepped back outside. The walk to Nico and Tony’s house wasn’t long.
The forest path wound through familiar territory, sunlight flickering through the leaves above us. Mason walked close beside me, hands occasionally brushing mine as we moved.
Neither of us commented on it. When their house came into view through the trees, Mason slowed slightly.
“Well,” he said, “this is me.”
I nodded. Part of me didn’t want the morning to end.
“You free later?” I asked.
His smile returned. “We’ll see.”
For a moment we just stood there. Then Mason stepped closer and pressed a quick kiss to my cheek.
“See you later, Levi,” he said.
Before I could respond, he turned and jogged up the steps toward the house. I watched him go, and then I turned to head back toward the trail.
“Levi.”
