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Chapter7
Candace
I’d been living with Mason and Wyatt for a week, and I still did not know what to do with myself once Wyatt was in bed.I had been retreating directly to my room to either write my novel or read a smutty book and relieve the tension of having the world’s hottest boss.
I was in the kitchen grabbing a drink to take back to my room when Mason came out of Wyatt’s room.“Hey, can you show me that stool thing?Probably safer than having him sit on the counter.”
“Shit.I’m sorry.I never moved out of reach of him, I swear.”
He held up a hand to stop my worried ramble.“I wasn’t suggesting you put him in danger, just that there’s probably a better way.I’m not mad.Kid wouldn’t stop talking about cooking pancakes tomorrow.I just want him to have whatever helps him adjust.Catherine probably has one, but it would be up north, so it makes sense to have one here.”
“Sure.Again, I promise, I didn't allow him near anything hot or sharp.He was just so excited to help, I got carried away.”
“Candace.It’s fine.Why don’t you have a seat on the couch and relax?”
It was on the tip of my tongue to decline and hightail it to my room, but he started pouring himself a drink and my curiosity got the better of me.What is relaxed Mason Davis like?
He sat on the opposite chair, swirling amber liquid in a rocks glass.“I should know my kid better,” he said with a sigh.
“Because you didn’t know he wanted to help cook?”
“He calls me Mason.”
“Kids go through phases in which they call their parents by their first name,” I shrugged.
Mason took a healthy swig from his glass.“He also calls me the Senator, and I’m not even sure he knows I’m his father.”He drained the glass and got up for seconds.
“He knows you are someone who loves him.The concept of a father is lost on him at this age.”I stood and put a hand on his arm.“Are you sharing?”
“You’re underage.”
“I won’t tell if you don’t,” I smirked, reaching for his refilled glass.
“What the hell.”He handed me the glass, and I took a sip.
“Ugh.”I gagged.“What the fuck is this?”
“Whiskey,” he chuckled.“What did you think I was drinking?”He filled the glass to the top.
“Didn’t know.Just thought maybe you didn’t want to do it alone.”
“Because I’m a terrible parent who needs all the help he can get?”We sat down.This time, both of us on the couch, and he brought the whiskey along.
“Because you’re clearly trying.Can I ask you something?”I pulled my legs up under myself and turned to him.
“Go for it,” he took a swig and passed the glass.
I braced myself for the burn of the liquid and took a sip.He chuckled at my reaction.“Why don’t you just ask him to call you dad?You don’t correct him, and it obviously bothers you.”
His gaze shifted from me to the opposite corner of the room.“The truth is, I don’t know that I’ve earned the title yet.And the last guy who probably did never asked Wyatt to call him dad, so what right do I have?”
“Catherine’s boyfriend?The one who died?”He nodded.“Wyatt mentions him a lot.”Mason deflated, and I felt bad for mentioning it.“But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you just as much.Kids have all kinds of families, you know?Don’t sell yourself short.I’m sure you’ve earned your ‘dad badge.’”
“Nah.Not like Eli.He was there from day one.I ran off and did what my daddy told me to do, which was pretend Wyatt didn’t exist.I’m a piece of shit, Candace.”
“A piece of shit wouldn’t be sitting here worried about being a piece of shit.I don’t know how much longer Eli was with Wyatt, but it doesn’t matter.He needs you now, and you’re here.”
“I have no fucking clue what I’m doing.What if I’m messing this kid up?”He exhaled.
