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Mason
Mason turned down his street, a grin on his face he still couldn’t get rid of. Pippa’s hand was wound tightly around his. Once he got to his house, he was gonna run her a bath and wash every inch of her before he laid her out for round two and put her to bed.
“Whose car is that?” Pippa asked.
Mason’s gaze jumped to his driveway. A black Jeep was parked there. His brows drew together. “My dad’s.”
He parked the car before walking around the other side to help Pippa out. Lady followed beside her owner. Pippa reached down to pet her. “I hope we didn’t traumatize her with that little escapade back there.” She giggled.
The front door slammed open, drawing Mason’s attention to his father’s distraught expression. The blood drained out of Mason’s face. Panic lanced through him. “What’s wrong? What happened?”
His father stomped down the steps, cutting a quick glance to Pippa before returning to Mason. “Aspen was hurt at camp—”
“What? Is she okay? Why didn’t they call me?” Mason reached for the phone in his back pocket but it wasn’t there. He rushed to the car, pulling it from the toolbox where he’d left it when they were in the bookstore before he got distracted by Troy flirting with Pippa. The battery was dead. How could I be so careless?
Mason stumbled towards his dad.
“They called you, I called you, Sebastian called you. Hell, no one could get a hold of you for hours!” His dad turned his attention back towards Pippa.
“Is Aspen okay?” Pippa repeated his question.
His father sighed and pointed his thumb over his shoulder. “She’s inside. Got a pretty nice shiner.”
“Aspen?” Mason ran to the front door, tore it open and ran inside.
“In here, Daddy.” Aspen was curled up on the couch, holding an ice pack to her face.
Mason fell to his knees, a million possibilities of what could have happened running through his mind. I was so stupid. Aspen needed me and I wasn’t there. I failed. He’d let himself get distracted again. How the fuck could he possibly think he could have the best of both worlds?
A gasp fell behind him as Pippa entered the room.
Aspen’s eyes widened before they cut to Mason’s. “You guys were together?”
Would Aspen forgive him for not being there when she needed him? Was she hurt because he’d been with Pippa? Mason straightened, brushing his thumb over his daughter’s cheek before he kissed her forehead.
His dad leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
Pippa walked closer, Lady at her side as usual, and Aspen opened her arms for her. Pippa hugged his daughter, worry evident on her beautiful face. The sight tore a hole in his chest.
“What happened, sweet pea?” Mason asked.
Aspen clung tighter to Pippa, burying her head against her chest.
“Was it the bullies again?” he asked.
Aspen nodded.
“They escalated from name-calling to assault? Tell me what happened so I can fix this, Aspen.” Mason clenched his fists. His baby girl had been hurt. Someone was going to pay.
“Did you tell him about Rachel?” Pippa asked.
Mason’s gaze snapped to her. What did Pippa know that he didn’t? “Tell me what?”
Aspen pulled away, wiping the tears from her cheeks. “Telling him only made it worse last time.”
Mason’s body grew cold. “Pippa, can I see you alone for a minute?” Mason walked towards the front door, passing his father’s watchful gaze on his way out.
The warm summer air was much stickier here than it had been at the beach. How did that seem like a lifetime ago when, in reality, it was less than an hour?
