Page 100 of Please Hate Me

“Something wrong?” Mason asked.

“Nope,” I mumbled, returning my hand to its position on her stomach. “Just tired… Hey, maybe you should sleep.”

Mason’s eyes fluttered closed as she nestled into my chest. I softly traced the gentle slope of her nose; in the past, that motion would have put her right to sleep. But this time, her eyes shot open.

“Is Leona really dropping your kids off tomorrow?” Mason smiled with her teeth.

I fought the urge to sigh. Her relationship with my sister was... complicated. Not that they hated each other or anything—it wasjust a weird situation. Leona had kids of her own, but if you asked her, she’d tell you her first child was Mason.

When Mason and her mom moved to the States, they needed an incredible family lawyer to fend off James, and my sister fit the bill. Holly and Mason visited her office for a preliminary interview, but apparently, Leona wasn’texperiencedenough. Even though Holly ended up hiring some bald white guy with his face on a billboard, Leona stuck with Mason. I had a feeling that Sophia’s moms had something to do with Leona’s decision, but that had yet to be proven.

Regardless, Leona became Mason’s advocate, giving her a voice when she didn’t think she had one. Each and every time Mason was taken out of her mom’s house by CPS, she lived with Leona. My sisterstillkept Mason’s room ready in her home just in case she ever needed it.

Honestly, I think Leona took Mason’s sudden disappearance the hardest, which was impressive because I genuinely thought it’d kill me.

“I’m pretty sure she’ll be here,” I assured Mason. “She called me the second she found out you were home.”

Mason perked up as she propped herself up on her elbow.

“What did she say?”

Just thinking about that conversation shook the wasp’s nest in my chest. There was no way I could tell her.

“She said you need to go the fuck to sleep,” I groaned.

Mason’s lips pursed into a pout. “You’re lying to me.”

I pushed her head back down. “Maybe if you go to sleep, I’ll tell you.”

Mason studied me for a moment before slowly lowering her head back to my bare chest. I softly traced my fingers along her cheek and neck. Her skin was unbelievably smooth and touching her sent a magnetic sensation through my body.

She closed her eyes again, and her breathing deepened. Just as I thought I was off the hook, she looked up at me again. I exhaled hard enough to move her bangs.

“Yes, Mason?” She was so goddamn cute, I had to force myself to sound irritated.

“Do you promise you’ll tell me?”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake—Yes, I will tell you.”

“Promise?” She held up her pinky.

I half-heartedly took her finger in mine.

I moved her hand back and forth, examining the flowers and glossy red polish from the manicure she’d gotten with Sophia. I needed to repaint my nails. They were chipped to hell.

“Your nails are cute, by the way.”

“Thank you.” Mason beamed.

“Now. Go. To. Bed.”

“If I don’t, what are you going to do?” There was excitement in her tone. “Are you going to make me kneel on uncooked rice?”

“Am I—why would you—” I rubbed my temple. “Nope, I’m done. We’re not talking anymore.”

I retracted my arm and rolled over, hating how empty I felt when I wasn’t holding her. But, if it would get her to fucking sleep, it was fine. I closed my eyes, only for a hand to appear on my shoulder moments later.

“Lucian,” she whispered.

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