Page 150 of Please Hate Me

“He stole her light, her overzealous personality, every part of her that I thought was too much until it was gone. She’s just starting to shine again, Seb, and I’d rather kill myself than spenda night wondering if she’s okay. If she’s breathing. If someone is hurting her.I can’t live like that again.”

Lucian’s mental health issues were a well-known topic, albeit taboo, in our family. The first drug he ever abused was a medication he’d been prescribed for anxiety. Still, I thought he had figured out a way to manage it. A rational person wouldn’t be making threats about ending his own life over Mason... though I had to admit, I had also grappled with the idea during some of my darkest days. The only difference between my brother and I was that without Mason, I had nothing.

I rubbed the spot on my chest just over my heart as a weird tingle swept the area. This pain was new and unwelcome.

“You have a whole life, Lucian. Kids, partners, a business. Why would you throw that all away over Mason Albright?”

“I know you are some type of fucked-up cyborg when it comes to emotions, but we both know that’s not how mental health works.”

Something in Lucian’s words killed me. I wasn’t sure if it was the sorrow in his tone, or the fact that he was right.

“What are you going to do when she inevitably finds out about James?”

Again, silence consumed our conversation. This time it was darker, heavier.

After a moment, Lucian spoke again. “I don’t know what to do. I’m hoping that we can just keep her busy until she’s out of flight mode, or too far along to hop on a plane and leave.”

“How do you plan on keeping her busy?”

“I don’t know!” he snapped. “I have photo albums we can do tonight and a show I can bring her to tomorrow. I called Cam—right now he has her set up on the couch, watching movies with the kids. Justpleasehelp keep Mason off her phone.”

My brow lowered. I had absolutely nothing to gain from helping with this charade. If Mason left, I’d simply track her down again, and we’d pick up where we left off.

But, as I sat in the silence, my conscience got the better of me.

“Fine. I’ll see what I can do,” I conceded.

“Thank you.”

Lucian’s tone seemed genuine, and for just a moment, I wondered if this could be the start of a proper brotherly bond between the two of us. I hung up before that thought had a chance to bloom.

For now, it seemed I would need to complete my quest for raspberry-flavored snacks sooner than expected. With a sigh, I bent down to pick up my photos, intending to stick them into an envelope to be gone through later.

But as I shuffled the pictures into a neat little pile, one in particular caught my eye.

Chapter 41

Cameron

Having Mason around was causing me to develop a serious daddy kink, which was absolutely terrible considering everything going on with her dad.

I was distraught when my family, including my biological dad, passed away. After all these years, my memories of my dad had faded and distorted, leaving me wondering if I ever really knew him at all. Because the fire stole everyone from me at the same time, I was never able to grieve for them as individuals. Their names all carried the same sorrow: the absence of a family that would never return home.

In my life after that tragedy, Dale became synonymous with the word ‘father’. Given the way he’d made my life hell, it was hard for me to sympathize with the anguish of losing a father figure. I’d pay money if someone could make Dale disappear, but that’d be more trouble than it was worth. So, instead of wishing that Dale and James could magically change places, I focused on trying to distract Mason.

About an hour ago, I encouraged Mason and the kids to lie down in the living room and watch a movie or two. It was around the kids’ nap time, so I knew the two of them would fall asleep. But Mason told me she chugged a coffee on the way home, so I’d been hoping to steal her away for some “adult playtime”when the twins zonked out.

Unfortunately, as I approached the couch, I realized my sexual desires would have to wait. Mason was passed out with the kids while some kind of Japanese cartoon played in the background.

Juniper was on the loveseat with her hand stretched out, holding onto the sleeve of Mason’s shirt for dear life, and Jas had squeezed himself onto the couch with Mason. The way she held onto him was protective and loving, and… really damn close to her belly. Should she be holding him like that? Was it safe for Rosie?

Okay, it was time to move them.

I started with Juniper, just because I knew she’d be easier. That kid could sleep through a bomb going off—she didn’t even stir as I scooped her up and carried her into the kids’ room. Once Juni was securely tucked in her bed, I came back down the steps for Jasper.

But, as I watched him and Mason for a beat, I wondered if I’d be better off moving them together. Jasper had one hand full of Mason’s hair, and the other hand was gripping her cheek. Upon closer inspection, I could see Mason holding onto the back of his shirt, as if she was terrified he would fall and was doing everything in her power to prevent it.

She was going to besucha good mom.

---