Page 128 of Please Hate Me

“I agree, Mason; pregnancy really suits you. Your boobs are huge!” Sophia said playfully.

There was an audible slap as Mason swatted at her hands. I shook my head and choked on a laugh. I had to admit, I’d miss seeing this dynamic.

“I do not like the wordhugebeing used regarding my body,” Mason explained.

“Then what do you want me to say?” Sophia challenged.

The door slid open, and Mason poked her head out. Water dripped from her nose onto the floral bath mat that came with the apartment.

“Seb, can I have a towel? I’m done.”

“Oh, you’re no fun,” Sophia huffed.

What sort of “fun” did she intend to have withmygirl while I was watching?

I reached over to the towel rack and plucked a striped towel off it before handing it to Mason. She buried her face in the fluffy cotton before stepping out of the shower, bringing a pool of water with her.

I chuckled; my girl was absolutely terrible at drying herself off.

“Here, Princess, let me help.”

I kicked myself off the counter, taking the towel back before tossing it over her head. She didn’t protest as I shimmied it back and forth, soaking the water from her silky, raven-colored hair. When I finished, damp strands of hair stuck out in every direction. My smile widened, and I kissed her forehead.

God, I missed Mason while I was gone.

My touch trailed onto her shoulders, and I dared to look down at her breasts. After all, Sophia had pointed out that they werehuge, and I had a responsibility to fact-check.

“Hey.” Mason cupped my chin, lifting my gaze to meet hers. “My eyes are up here.”

Just as I began to protest, I was interrupted by a loud buzzing sound coming from the counter. I wanted to groan and tell Mason to ignore it, but her brow furrowed, and I swallowed my words. Slowly, she reached forward and lifted her cherry-red phone from the marble surface, treating it almost like a foreign object.

Her breathing stalled as she stared down. The water shut off, and Sophia poked her head out.

“Who is it?”

A subtle tremor coursed through Mason’s hands. If I hadn’t been openly staring at her, I wouldn’t have even noticed. Mason held her breath as she waited for the screen to dim.

“My dad’s assistant called me,” she murmured.

Mason’s eyes remained wide, and the pulsing veins in her neck betrayed her calm exterior. I could practically feel her anxiety. Every muscle in my body tensed as I feared Mason would call them back.

Mason adored James, in spite of the indisputable fact that he was a horrible father. He had put her through literal hell on earth, but he was still her idol. The second she broke out of that, I would rid the world of him, just as I’d done with her mother.

But that would have to wait for a much later date.

“I’m sure if something’s wrong, they’ll call back,” Sophia assured Mason. She stole the towel from me, scrubbing the water from her platinum hair. In any other circumstance, studying Sophia’s nude figure would have been my top priority, but I found it highly suspicious that James’s assistant had been the one to call Mason. Even though James was worse than the devil himself, he never deferred the responsibility of contacting his daughter to someone else.

Mason’s asymmetrical gaze lifted to me, and I could tell by the look on her face she wanted reassurance. I was usually above lying to Mason, but the last thing she needed right now was her father’s influence.

“I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about, princess. Sophia’s right.”

“I always am!” She flashed me an award-winning smile. “Plus, we have big plans for tonight.”

Mason turned her head just enough to side-eye Sophia. “We do?”

“Of course! We have to decorate the holiday tree tonight. It’s a family tradition.”

Tension caused Mason’s shoulders to square. I had to wonder: was her father the source of her apprehension? Or was Mason uncomfortable because she’d been lumped in with Sophia’s “family”?

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