Page 144 of Please Save Me

“But Mason’s only thirty four weeks. It ain’t time.” That’s all I could think about. Rosie was supposed to be born the Monday after thanksgiving, and even that wasearly.

Dr. Reed nodded. “You’re right. But like I said, Mason’s body is just preparing. But, because of how far and fast she’s progressing, I want Mason to stay off her feet as much as possible.”

Mason’s expression remained neutral, but her eyes told me just how upset that made her.

Dr. Reed poised herself to continue. “You can do light chores and short walks, and–”

“Can I have sex?” Mason blurted.

This drew a laugh from Dr. Reed. “My, no wonder you have not one but two men–”

“Pleasedo not slut shame my girlfriend.” Sebatian’s tone was formal and sharp, almost as if he were daring Dr. Reed to try that again.

Dr. Reed raised her eyebrows as she blinked in surprise. She cleared her throat and adjusted her posture, and I wondered if she wasn’t used to her patients partner’s sticking up for them

“I apologize if I offended anyone, I’m just used to it being the dads that ask those types of questions, ” Dr.Reed explained. “But, yes. Sexual activity is still allowed, you just need to becautious. While it won’t necessarily induce labor, itcanstimulate contractions, which is something to keep in mind.”

Dr. Reed’s gaze shifted between Sebastian and I as if she was waiting for one of us to snap again.

“Now, does anyone have any more questions?”

I shifted as I raised my hand, feeling as though I was back in highschool and about to ask the world’s dumbest question.

Dr. Reed nodded toward me. “Yes, Cameron?”

“So, since the baby is getting close to being here–She is close, right?” I stopped as I realized my nerves caused me to rush through my words. Dr. Reed motioned for me to continue, and I took a deep breath. “How do we know if Mason needs to come back to the hospital?”

“Well, I, for one, am a strong believer that mother’s know their bodies better thananyoneelse.” Dr. Reed’s smile returned. “But, the main things to watch for are heavy bleeding, her water breaking, or if she has contractions that are five minutes apart for over an hour. It’s also important to make sure these contractions are getting stronger, as I saw on Mason’s chart that she recently had a false alarm with labor.”

I nodded, trying to absorb every word as if my life depended on it, and to be fair: it kind of did. Sure, I’d be alive, but I knew Mason was mylastchance at having the family I’d alwaysdreamedof, not as Cameron, but back when the only name I had wasCalvin Waters.

After we left the appointment, we took Mason to a café she liked just up the street. According to Mason, it was a mandatory routine because she deserveda treat after going to the doctor, and I didn’t argue. So, we stopped, and I got coffee for the house.

Sophia’s order was always the same: an Iced Oat Milk Latte with Vanilla and Lavender. Lucian tended to like his coffee black and iced, but I got him the same thing as Sophia, intending to make him drink the whole thing as a sort of punishment for blowing off Mason.

I was a little surprised to see that Seb liked his coffee the same way as his brother, but I wondered if he actually liked the black coffee or if he didn’tallowhimself to enjoy anything that tasted good.

It was a little funny that he himself stuck to such a rigid diet, but when Mason was torn between ordering what looked like a gourmet Poptart and a chocolate croissant, he encouraged her to get both.

She listened and managed to drink all of her London Fog and devour the pop-tart within the first ten minutes of the ride home, but she saved the croissant until we got home. I wasn’t sure why until we pulled in.

On the porch, Lucian sat in one of the many wooden rocking chairs. His long hair was pulled back into a low, uncharacteristically messy, bun. A few of the loose vine-like curls swayed as he slowly propelled himself back and forth.

Mason was the first to get out of the truck, and I was a little afraid she’d fall because of how fast she went.

Before my seat belt was off, Lucian was standing and she threw herself at him like a golden retriever who missed their owner.

Lucian’s expression softened as he held her, kissing the top of her head before his eyes fluttered shut and he breathed her in. And, all I could think about was how he didn’t deserve to be Mason’s fiance.

Sebastian and I got out at the same time, and I wasn’t immune to the fact that he reached for my hand the second I was within range. I never expected him to be so touchy, but I wasn’t opposed to it. There was somethinggroundingabout Sebastian’s presence. It was like he and I were two parts of the same puzzle, but not a good one.

Actually, he and I were more like bits from two different puzzles that somehow just fit together. It didn't make sense, and it felt right and wrong at thesame time, but the connection I felt toward him was undeniable, just like the one between Mason and Lucian.

She pulled her face away from his chest and looked at him like he was the sun. The warmth she held for him made my heart ache, this time not from jealousy, but because, for the first time ever, I feared Lucian would hurt Mason worse than he already had.

If he did, it wouldn’t be intentional, but it would break her. He was already flaking out on her, and while I loved Lucian, I was starting to think he was too rough around the edges to be with someone like Mason. Instead she deserved someone a little softer, someone just as willing to protect her… someone like Seb.

And, I was willing to play matchmaker if it meant her choosing Seb over him.

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