Page 27 of Mason

I guided her through the skating rink that had been turned into a winter wonderland. I’d bought the ice-rink so I could do what I wanted to it. The previous owner hadn’t been happy with some of the things I wanted to do. My family thinks I should have just taken her overseas to the real thing, but I knew Alexa would appreciate this, and with the trials so close she wasn’t supposed to travel too far.

Slowly, I undid the blindfold and turned to capture her face as she saw what I’d done. A gazebo sat in the middle of the ice-rink, colorful lights covered the roof of the arena. Weeping willow trees scattered around the ice-rink with more lights and orchid vines of pink, peach, purple, blue and cream. A snow machine was making snow around the back of the rink.

“Oh, Mason, this is beyond amazing. It’s so pretty.” Her eyes were wide with her wonder and she was practically jumping up and down with her excitement. I guided her to where I had a table set up with a box of new ice-skates, thick socks and a black cardigan. My own skates sat in a box on the floor by the table with my socks.

“I take it from your reaction you like it?”

She nodded her head enthusiastically. “I absolutely love it.” She jumped on the spot before she sat down on the seat letting out a happy sigh. Chuckling at her reaction, I knelt by her feet and took her sandals off. She waved me away. “I can put the skates on. You sort yourself out.”

Picking up the box with my own skates, I placed them on the table and undid my black dress shoes and took them off along with my socks. I put on new socks and my skates. Alexa was tightening her laces when I finished, but the huge smile was permanent on her face. I’d gotten her light pink skates with a sheen of sparkle. Alexa was such a girlie girl. She liked bright colors in dresses, skirts, high heels and so on. My mother was in heaven. The last couple of times they’d gone shopping, they’d been out the whole day and come back with an overflowing car full of stuff. Pretty things, was what Alexa called them. It had taken her a while to come out of her shell and spend and go to the styles she wanted, but now Alexa flourished, so much so sometimes it was hard to see the sick, beaten, street kid she’d been when I found her.

I stood and she followed close behind me as we made our way to the ice. At first, she was shaky, but slowly she got the hang of ice-skating. Music played in the back ground, a mix of, Lifehouse, Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, and Snow Patrol. Alexa was having so much fun skating she hadn’t even gone to the gazebo that had a table in the middle with bowls of snacks and a huge present with a large pink bow.

After an hour of skating I guided Alexa to the gazebo. I knew when she saw the present and bowls because she made her way there without my guidance. Holding onto the rail she got up onto the gazebo and sat before the huge present, shoving a couple of M&Ms into her mouth.

“You’re so good to me. You already gave me so much for my birthday so surely this can’t be another present?”

Seating myself across from her and to the side so I could see around the present box, I grinned at her. “It’s not a birthday present. This is just something for me, for us. Open the present.”

Leaning over, she stood up and undid the bow, frowning when she realized the box was sticky taped to the table. She peeled the tape off and lifted the box, squealing with joy when a rainbow of balloons flew out at her. Once the balloons had floated away there sat a black velvet box open in the middle, with a ring that matched her birthday pendant, diamonds on one half of the infinity loop and pink sapphires on the other loop. I lowered myself down to one knee after I heard her gasp and repeat, “Oh. My. God. Oh my God.”

“Alexa Jennings, I know we are young, but I love you with all my heart and know you’re my one. My only. My soulmate. Will you do me the honor of becoming wife? Marry me, Alexa.” I didn’t wait for her reply. I stood, got the ring, and put it on her finger.

As soon as it settled she stared at it for all of a second before she hurled herself at me and shouted, “Yes! Yes! Yes! I’ll marry you.” If I wasn’t in such good shape, I would have fallen back when she threw herself at me. I eased us up onto the seat and she clung to me like the Koala bear I thought she was. She covered my face, my neck and any body part she could get to in kisses, in between murmuring, “Yes. Oh, my God, yes.”

I held her close, relieved she agreed. Not that I would have taken no for an answer. Now I just had to tell her we would be married in a month’s time. I figured that would give my mother, aunts, and Alexa enough time to plan an extravagant wedding. I wanted her to be mine as soon as possible. I wanted no one to be able to question what she was too me. I wanted her to be Mrs. Mason Silverman.

I COULDN’T STOP STARING AT my engagement ring. It matched my necklace. My fairytale had come true. The only thing missing was my own family, but I had a feeling they were watching over me and I was sure they’d guided Mason to me.

My birthday had been amazing. I still couldn’t believe that Mason had surprised me with a party, and not just with his family, but he’d found all my old school friends and even some of my family’s friends. Life, since being with Mason had turned around. My stomach didn’t grumble anymore, I showered every day, sometimes twice. I didn’t fight off unwanted advances from not just men, but females too. I didn’t have to hide all the time and I never fought anyone. I was safe.

The more I was around the Silverman family, the more I fell in love with them. Each one gave me something that I needed, no, craved. Gillian, Mason’s mother, was like a surrogate mother. She was so different from my own and yet the same. She showed me every day how much she loved and cared for me. Mason’s father, Albert, was the best hugger. He held me just right and always knew just what to say when I was feeling a little claustrophobic. That was something I wasn’t used to, being cooped up in the house or gym most of the time, when on the street I had so much freedom. Mason’s brother’s and cousin’s wives were fast becoming close friends. Andrew was just a hoot. He was my age, but he acted younger and was the biggest terror. He teased Mason and Richard so much so that I really pitied the girl he’d end up with, because I had a feeling his brothers and cousins would give major payback.

Zeck was a favorite, though I would never tell anyone that in case it got back to Mason, but Zeck was the sweetest, hottest nerd ever. He would play video games with me for hours while Mason trained and he seemed to know when I just needed to vent. Don’t think I didn’t appreciate all that the Silvermans had done for me, and I loved Mason, but he drove me up the wall some times.

“All I’m saying, Zeck, is that I just want to go out of the house by myself. I mean with my posse of guards and attack dog, and just me, no Silvermans. Do you know that since meeting Mason I haven’t gone anywhere without a Silverman?”

Zeck sat next me on our recliner chairs in the gaming room. He didn’t take his eyes off the game as he answered. “We’re all just worried about you and want you safe.”

Sighing loudly, I took no pleasure as I overtook him and went on to win the games. “I know, but lately I just feel . . . well, to be honest, suffocated.” I sat the remote down and faced him. “Don’t get me wrong, I love Mason and all you Silvermans, but beside my animals and working at the gym, I don’t really have anything, or go anywhere. I haven’t even been out shopping with the girls without your mum being with us.” I ran my fingers through my hair and closed my eyes. I took a calming breath in and counted to ten before I opened them again. “I’m sorry. I sound like a spoiled brat right now. All you and your family have ever done for me is care for me and make sure I was safe and happy and here I am whining to you.” I realized how ungrateful I sounded. “Sorry, Zeck. Ignore me. Come on, let’s find something you can beat me at.”

He chuckled and I started to relax. I hadn’t realized how tense I was. “Don’t apologize, Alexa. We all think Mason got lucky when he got you because you didn’t resist the pull between the two of you, but you were broken and in danger and needed Mason as much as he needed you. Now though, you know you’re safe, and it’s only natural for someone who had so much freedom before to crave it now.” He put down the remote. “I’ll talk to my mum and get her to talk to my brother.”

Raising my brow, I looked him up and down. He wasn’t as buff as Mason, but he was still in shape and roughly the same height. “Why not just talk to Mason yourself?”

“Ha. Ha.” He threw his head back. “Mason may not be the he-man caveman like our brother or cousin was, but I bet if he found out how much we talk and spend time together, it would come out. He wouldn’t understand that I’m being a big brother, nothing else.”

I rolled my eyes because I really didn’t believe him and all the caveman talk. I leaned over the lounge chair and hugged him. “Thanks for being an awesome big brother.”

It took a moment, but hesitantly his arm came around to hug me. I closed my eyes and basked in the family brotherly love.

“What the fuck is going on here?” Mason screamed before I was ripped out of Zeck’s arms and shoved behind Mason. I watched, horrified, as Mason pummeled Zeck over and over and Zeck barely fought back.

“Stop, Mason! Stop, now. He was just comforting me.” I grabbed at Mason’s arms and he turned and glared at me.

“I’m the one that comforts you. You’re my woman. What could you possibly have to talk to him about that you couldn’t with me?”

My chest hurt and my heart squeezed at the anguished look on his face. I loved this man. I had agreed to marry him, but I needed someone other than him twenty-four seven. I needed to talk to someone else besides him. I needed, no, wanted, a brother. “I love you, Mason.” I spun him and wrapped my arms around him. “I love you more than I could ever have thought to love somebody, but I need to be able to talk to someone that isn’t you. Just like I know you talk to your parents and brothers, too.” I got up on my tip-toes and brushed my lips over his. “I don’t have family like you do to talk. I need someone. Zeck is the older brother I always wished I had. Please don’t take that away from me.” My heart sank and my stomach churned. I didn’t want to hurt Mason, but I needed someone, too.

---