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Mason
Music blared from the speakers as bodies writhed and moved to the beat on the dance floor of The Shipwreck. Mason carefully scanned the room lit in a blue haze from the circular fish tanks on the wall. His focus landed on a couple of usual troublemakers in a dimly lit corner. They smiled cheekily at him. If they knew he was watching, maybe they’d behave themselves tonight. They were good guys, but after four beers they could get a little rambunctious.
Charli passed by them, serving appetizers to a small group of ladies at one of the tables. She returned to the bar, giving Finn a smile. Jamison must be with his grandparents tonight.
His phone vibrated in his pocket. Mason pulled it out.
Pippa: Thank you for the flowers and the chocolates. You do know Valentine’s Day is in February, not August, right?
He grinned.
Mason: Every day with you is a day that should be celebrated.
Pippa: Wow. Where do you get these lines?
He frowned.
Mason: It wasn’t a line. It’s the truth.
Pippa: Do you have any flaws? No man is this perfect.
Mason: Pretty sure you saw those firsthand.
A text bubble appeared and disappeared. He waited. His gaze flicked up to the pool table in the back. Fuck.
Mason tore across the room, sidestepping as many people as he could without knocking them over. Lester Marby swung his fist, but Mason grabbed his arm, forcing it behind him before twisting the other and leaning him over the pool table.
“Better calm down,” Mason warned, tightening his grip.
Lester bucked and struggled. “Get off me!” The stench of his sweat mixed with alcohol was terrible.
“Not until you calm down. Then you and I are gonna walk out the door and get you a ride home.”
“Oh, come on, Mase. We were enjoying the entertainment,” one of the troublemakers commented.
“Everything okay here?” Charli asked beside him.
“Call Bobby Jo and tell her to come get her husband,” Mason instructed.
Charli stepped away as the man Lester was about to punch came closer. “He owes me twenty bucks from that round.”
“You fucking cheated!” Lester argued.
“Let’s go.” Mason tugged Lester to his feet, keeping Lester’s hands locked behind his back as he forced him through the crowd towards the entrance.
“Bobby Jo is already outside. Said she’s been waiting an hour for him.” Charli appeared by the door.
Mason nodded and pushed Lester out, past the bouncer. “Why didn’t she come in?”
“That bitch knows not to interrupt me,” Lester snapped.
Mason shoved him onto the ground. “You better get yourself under control if you want to come back to this establishment.”
Lester scurried to his feet as his wife exited the beat-up truck in the lot and ran over to her husband.
“Are you okay?” Bobby Jo reached out for Lester.
He jerked away from her and slapped her across the face. “I told you to wait in the fucking car!”
