Page 71 of Stolen Moments

Cam: Very interesting.

Eli: Is he really ignoring us?

Jace: Looks like it.

Cam:Fucker.

Chapter twenty-four

Mason

May

“Uncle Mills, when areyou coming to visit me?” Rhys asks.

His golden-brown eyes are narrowed my way through the phone—my only means of seeing his face these days. Between work and spending every free weekend with Emery, I haven’t seen my nephew in far too long, and in my absence, Cameron has rubbed off on him.

Rhys’s current kick is becoming both a professional soccer and baseball player, like his uncle. I don’t think anyone besides Bo Jackson has managed to play two separate professional sports in well over a decade, but I cheer on the seven-year-old and his big dreams nonetheless. He’ll figure it out when he’s older.

“I don’t know, little man, but I will definitely be in town when your sister is born.”

“But that’s not for a long time.” He sticks his sad little lip out, and my heart sinks.

I hate that I haven’t prioritized him, but for once, I’ve found someone other than family that I want to dedicate my time to. I can’t go without seeing Emery for very long. She’s become my obsession. Being away from her is agony, and the small pockets of time we’ve managed to carve out are the only thing keeping me sane.

“I know, buddy. I have had a few projects for work that keep me out of town.” I’m bummed and miss the kiddo too.

I wasn’t lying when I said I’ve been traveling. This week I’m in Chicago, and instead of spending Memorial weekend with my family, I’m stuck in a conference room from morning until night, trying to get this code working just right with the bank’s software. We keep running into a glitch. Kenzo and I have been trying to code a patch within the network, and being onsite is critical for running diagnostics.

After next week, work should calm down a bit, at least until fall.

A thought pops into my head and has my wheels turning. Next month is June. Not only is Rylann giving birth to my niece in a couple of weeks, but it’s also Emery’s birthday. I might be able to stick around Pine Hills for longer.

“Hey, Rhys?”

“Yeah?” His dejected little voice pulls at my heartstrings again.

“How about when your Mom has the baby, I come and stay with you guys for a little while?”

“Say, what now?” Jace’s voice cuts in as he pulls the iPad away from Rhys to talk to me. “Repeat that for me?”

I roll my eyes at him but can’t help my smile. I think I just broke my brother’s brain. I am not known for taking time off—at all—so this is a shock for him. Me too, if I’m being honest.

“Need a Q-Tip? I said, when Rylann—you know, your soon-to-be wife—gives birth, maybe I can come stay with you. Help you out with Rhys and stuff.”

“Are you serious?” He still sounds skeptical.

“Yes. Gee, you act like I don’t take time off or something. Did I not stay with Rhys so you could take my beautiful future sister-in-law on a babymoon?”

Jace growls at my compliment directed at his fiancée. He hates knowing we all think she’s gorgeous. It’s funny because Cam, Eli, and I met her first on our guys’ trip to Mexico. He’s just the lucky bastard that won her heart later.

“You did,” he grits out. “But that was planned months in advance.”

I shrug. “Well, I have free time next month. Do you want my help or not?”

“Yes!” Rhys screams in the background, jumping on Jace’s back.

He picks up Rhys, both their faces now in my sightline. The image of them together has my brain jumping to scenarios.

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