Page 70 of Rival for Rent

“Um. Thanks?” I said.

I definitely hadn’t been prepared for this conversation. She nodded and handed me another plate, her attention already back on the sink.

I dried it absently, mind elsewhere.

It’s a good thing.

Is that what we had, Mason and I? A good thing? I wasn’t sure. But I was more determined than ever to keep him safe—the way he’d been guarding me.

I owed him that.

That, and so much more.

15

MASON

“So what’s up with you and Kai?” Amir asked as he followed me upstairs to make sure I got in bed.

Dana had sent him up to play nursemaid while she and Kai cleaned up after dinner. I’d insisted I could help, but they shooed me away like I was some annoying puppy. I hated not being allowed to help, but I hated even more how good it felt to be back in bed after the day I’d had.

“What do you mean?” I asked, probably more suspicious than I needed to be.

“Man, can we not do this?” Amir said. “You’re not an idiot, and neither am I. It’s pretty clear something’s going on between you and Kai. And I am nothing if not a nosy bitch. So come on, spill.”

I shifted, trying to get comfortable, which only made things worse. Broken ribs sucked. Every movement was a reminder that healing was going to take forever.

“There’s nothing, really,” I said. “I mean, if you want details, you should ask Kai.”

Amir sat on the edge of the bed and waved that off. “I don’t need to talk to Kai. He can’t tell me what I want to know.”

“Which is?”

“If you’re going to hurt him,” he said calmly, fixing me with a look that was more serious than I’d ever seen on him.

It felt like he stabbed me in the chest. “Why would I hurt him?” I asked reflexively. The defensiveness leaked out of me before I could stop it.

“I’m not saying you’d do it on purpose. But dude, I’ve been hitting on you for months. And IknowI’m a catch. But I’ve never gotten the tiniest bit of interest from you, which suggests to me you don’t like men in that way.”

“That’s not—” I started, but he kept going.

“And yet, here’s Kai. A man. And you. Another man. You bicker like an old married couple, but I saw the way you looked at each other at dinner. There’s definitely something physical happening.”

I winced. “Is it that obvious?”

“Is it a bad thing if it is?” Amir countered. “Because the only reason I can think of for keeping it secret is if you’re just experimenting on Kai. Or using him because he’s right there and clearly into you. I know that would hurt him, and as his friend, I don’t want that to happen. Hence me grilling you. So, like I said. Spill.”

“I’m not using him,” I said quickly. “And I’m not experimenting either. I don’t think. But I’m also not—wait.” I tilted my head, which pulled at my shoulder, which tugged at my sling, whichmade everything ache until I straightened up again. “You think Kai’s into me?”

The thought sent a ridiculous thrill through me. Like my chest was full of pink champagne bubbles. But I wasn’t built for pink champagne bubbles. I was more of a whiskey and regrets kind of guy. I didn’t want to hurt Kai, but this couldn’t go on.

“Mason, what did I say about not pretending you’re an idiot?” Amir said, raising an eyebrow.

“I’m not pretending,” I protested. “I really didn’t know. He said what’s going on between us is just physical.”

“Well, that boy is either lying to you or lying to himself, because I know him, and he isgone.”

“Fuck,” I whispered.

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