Page 13 of Coastal Rewind

“The most fun! Ryleigh is awesome. We even took pictures!”

“Pictures, huh?” Mason smirked at me. “Any of me?”

“A few, Superstar.”

His eyes slowly trailed from my face down to the number 42 on my sleeve. His eyes flared as they sprung back to mine. My heartrate picked up and I grabbed my camera just so my sudden nerves weren’t obvious in my trembling hands. I wasn’t sure what was happening to me. Men did not make my heart feel like it was going to burst out of my chest. I’d managed to get by without catching feelings for a single one since high school, and I wasn’t about to let this one tunnel his way inside with a sexy smile and an unwavering love for the cutest little boy that has ever existed.

“How was the game, MJ?” Nolan popped up behind Mason followed by the rest of my siblings.

“It was so good.” MJ yawned but his face had the sweetest content smile as he leaned against my legs. Nolan seemed to notice the way MJ continued to lean in closer to me because a slow, sly smirk came across his face in that creepy way the Grinch did in the cartoon movie.

“Ry, you said you’re here for two weeks?” he asked casually.

“Uh, yeah? I told you that.”

“I see.” He was nodding his head until he pointed a finger to the ceiling and widened his eyes as if a light bulb just went off in his mind. “Mason, maybe Ryleigh would be willing to watch MJ during the away trip.”

Mason’s gaze shot to Nolan as his eyes bore into my brother’s head. He looked like he was trying to set him on fire with his mind. “I’m sure she has better things to do with her time⁠—”

“You need someone to watch MJ?” I asked, abruptly cutting him off.

He sighed and shook his head. “His nanny bailed, and we hit the road on Wednesday night for a four-day trip. I’m figuring it out.”

His words were confident but his eyes showed nothing but concern mixed with a little fear.

“I’ll watch him.”

“What?” Mason’s brows quirked.

“I’ll watch him. I literally have nothing else going on and I’m stuck here until my van gets fixed.”

“Are you sure?”

I nodded. “It’s really no problem. I’m happy to help.”

“I have an idea,” Keegan said from Nolan’s side. “Why don’t you guys go with Nolan for a drink to hash out the details while Luke and I take the little man home. We can stay with him until you get home.”

Mason shook his head. “I can’t ask you to do that.”

“You didn’t ask, I offered. It’s good practice.”

Mason glanced down at his son and then back up to me. I could tell he was really debating this in his head to the point it was causing more stress than it should.

“Do you still have the key?” he asked.

It struck me as odd that Keegan would have a key to Mason’s house, but it wasn’t surprising that my family would step up to help when they could. It was just what the Kellys did.

Keegan nodded before she turned to tell Luke the plan.

Mason crouched down to MJ’s level and whispered something in his ear before MJ nodded and wrapped his arms around Mason’s neck. He squeezed tightly before standing and handing MJ over to Keegan and Luke. They turned to leave, waving goodbye to us.

Mason let out a deep exhale before he, Nolan, and I headed out into the employee parking lot.

six

Mason

We pushed through the doors of Murphy Malley’s and approached the bar.