Page 102 of Please Hate Me

So, instead of reaching for my glasses on the nightstand, I blindly explored the bed, hoping to find the love of my life. Instead, all I found was a mound of downy comforter. I shot up and spread my hands across the entire mattress, only to find I was alone.

Where the fuck is she?

I snatched the bronze frames off the bedside table and slipped them up my nose. This added clarity to the room around me, but did not help in finding my girl. I threw my legs over the bed before heading to the kitchen. Maybe she woke up earlier than me and simply got hungry? Shewaspregnant, after all.

As I wandered into my kitchen, all I found was a half-empty glass of water. I dipped my fingers into the clear liquid... it was approximately room temperature, which meant it had to have been out for six hours, if not more. But Mason’s memory had also been a little murky as of late. She could have poured the water yesterday and simply forgotten.

I moved the glass to the sink and looked around my apartment once more. A distant chorus of laughter echoed from downstairs, adding fuel to the fire of my anger.

Last night, when Mason told me she didn’t want to continue her relationship with my brother’s harem, part of me was happy. I had realized that I wascompletelyunable to share with Lucian, and I didn’t want her involved in any way with the biological father ofourdaughter. Especially because he was a liar; if Cameron Cole didn’t speak French, he wouldn’t have shot me a glare when I insulted Mason to his face. He shouldn’t have been able to understand me.

That was suspicious, but what did I know? I was only the most brilliant detective to ever walk this earth—or any other planet, for that matter. I just wish I’d had the opportunity towatch Sophia pleasure Mason. And it seemed likely I had already missedthat, since Mason came home wearing Sophia’s clothes yesterday.

I gritted my teeth and moved past the jealousy bubbling just below my surface as I tried to rationalize where my girlfriend could be.

The bathroom.

With pregnancy came increased urination; Mason wasn’t immune to this. She wasalwayspeeing. With that in mind, I headed back down the dimly lit hall.

Relief flooded me when I noticed the band of golden light spilling out from under the door. I jiggled the handle—it was unlocked. Mason and I rarely locked the bathroom door. It was a peculiar relationship milestone, but one I was proud to have achieved.

I pushed the door open, and what I saw infuriated me.

The pajamas she had borrowed from me had been tossed into the mostly-empty laundry basket, and her makeup bag had erupted all over the counter. I swiped a digit over the quartz surface, causing loose powder to clump in the grooves of my fingerprint.

Mason could be forgetful, sure, but she wasn’t messy. Clearly, she’d been in a rush, but why?

And... Why wouldn’t she wake me up?

I texted Lucian yesterday to let him know Mason wasn’t interested in him. If shehadleft this apartment, he would’ve blown up on her. He was a notorious hothead, and Masonhatedyelling. That’s all it should have taken to secure the end of their relationship.

Unless…

No. There’s no way.

I rushed out of the apartment and careened down the steps. I needed visual confirmation that she was truly done with them.As I swung around the post at the bottom of the steps, I finally found Mason at the end of the hallway leading to the living room, sitting on the rug with Jasper and Juniper.

They were both leaning into her lap, trying to catch a glimpse of whatever book was in her hands. The sight of Mason surrounded by small children warmed my heart. She looked like she was in her element. If I wasn’t sure before, I knew now: we’d be having our second child sooner rather than later.

But surely Mason wasn’t home alone with the kids. Where was everyone else?

Fuck it, no one in this house mattered like Mason did. I was just glad I didn’t find her in bed with my degenerate brother, or worse, the serial killer that knocked her up.

I cleared my throat as I headed toward them, and all their eyes turned my way. The second Mason saw me, her face lit up, filling me with a rush of euphoria.

She started to put the book down, only for Juniper to push it back into her hands.

“No! Read.” She pouted.

Mason shrugged before turning the page and mouthing, “Sorry.”

I smiled as I ruffled Jasper’s curls and sat beside him. He looked up at me, little brows drawn together.

Jasper was a peculiar child. He always seemed confused and rarely spoke. I had to admit, due to his quiet demeanor, I favored him over my niece.

Juniper was every bit as charismatic as Sophia, but she had my brother’s temper. I had hoped that, under Sophia’s capable guidance, both children would transcend the dishonor of sharing Lucian’s DNA. Unfortunately, Juniper inherited too much from her father—such a shame. At least Lavender would be safe from developing any of my brother’s wretched traits,though I would have to be on the lookout for any psychopathic tendencies inherited from that insufferable cowboy.

He may have won a paltry battle for Mason’s heart, but I alone had won the war.

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