“My mom did the best she could,” he starts, but then chews at his cheek for a few seconds, his brow bunched, until he turns his body to face me. “No, that’s not true. She probably could have done better. She was always pawning me off on people, your dad more than most, so she could go on long weekends with guys she’d meet at the bar. She was always looking for that quick fix in life—marry rich and live easy. When I got old enough to realize what she was doing, I’d confront her about it. We had some serious fights when I was a teenager.”

“That’s when you stayed at our house a lot,” I whisper, connecting Mason’s story, which I already knew, but for some reason hearing it from him made me feel differently about it all. I felt sad, for him and for Barb.

“Yeah, Ray said it was better for me and my mom to have space, rather than ending up hating each other,” he says, his eyes coming to mine while he talks, and his lips tighten into a soft smile. “He was right. And I don’t hate her. I thought I did for a while, but I realize that she and I aren’t very different. We’re both selfish in our own way. And I know my mom loves me…she loves me the best she can.”

For some reason his words make me want to hold him tightly, so I cling to his side and squeeze his entire body to mine. When I do, he pulls me up to his face and kisses my lips softly. Then, he just stares at my eyes for minutes, the sounds of everything else behind us fading away. The longer he looks at me, the faster my heart races, but I can’t tear my eyes away. I won’t.

“I love you, Avery Abbot,” he says, and my stomach leaps up into my chest, my ribs constricting with every second that passes since he said it. I can’t help the tear that forms in my left eye, and I don’t dare stop it from sliding from my cheek onto his arm. It’s the happiest tear I’ve ever shed, and I’ll never forget it, or this moment.

“I loved you first,” I say, my lips actually shaking with my nerves as I speak.

Mason chuckles lightly at me, smoothing my hair from my face and turning completely on his side so we’re both lying under the stars staring at one another—alone among a dozen strangers. “Okay, but I get to love you more,” he says, cupping my face in both of his hands and pulling my lips to his, his eyes intent on our barely touching lips before flicking back up to look into mine. Then he closes them completely, and kisses me for the rest of the night.

Chapter 18: Right At Home

Mason

“Ben, you can drink until you vomit after the show. But for now, for the love of god, man…can you just stick with beer?” I plead. I’m tuning my guitar on the side of the stage, playing through a few riffs on some of the songs we’re going to do.

“Come on, loosen up, princess. It’s just one shot,” he says, carrying a tray over to me and the guys. I know Ben; one shot turns into twelve out of nowhere. But it’s our first gig together since we all split and headed different directions a couple of months ago, and I’m actually excited about some of the songs we’re playing tonight. We’re even playing the one I’ve been working on. It’s going to be a little rough, but I don’t care.

I give in to Ben’s pressure and tip my glass back fast, the tequila burning on its way down. “Wooooooo!” Ben yells, smacking his hand hard on the table. “Okay, just one more…”

I look at him instantly, and he slaps my back. “Just kidding!” he laughs, his breath foul as f**k in my face.

Avery is next to me seconds later, and I can’t help but smile at the sneer she gives Ben. “You want some, Birdie?” he says, breathing out in her face.

“Knock that shit off,” I say, shoving him away from her. I don’t care if it ruins our show for the night; I’m not letting Ben treat her like that.

“Damn, lighten up, Mace. I was just messin’ with her,” Ben says, his balance a little wobbly when he walks over to the stage steps. He’s had more than just one shot, and if I had my guess, he tipped a bottle of Vodka right before we downed that tequila.

“It’s okay. I’m used to Ben. He’s an ass**le,” Avery says, her breath against my neck, lulling me back to a happier place.

“It’s not okay, and I’m sorry you’re used to it. He won’t do that again, I promise,” I say, kissing her lightly, and squeezing her hand.

“I’m covering the back, so I can sit with Max for a while. My dad’s going to hang back there with him, too. But I’ll come up front sometimes so I can get a good look at that sexy lead singer,” she winks and actually reaches around to grab my ass.