Page 10 of Trust Me Always

“Aw, cute. You think you’re invited.”

“Aw, cute.” I face forward as Mason steps up, Chase at his side. “You think you girls are allowed to go anywhere without one of us.”

“Us?” I scoff playfully. “Please. Like you won’t be knee-deep in baby shit by seven. You wouldn’t know if we did or didn’t go out.”

Mason grins. “Why do you think I said one of us?”

Ari laughs, and when she looks my way, it’s written across her pretty, little face.

My shoulders fall. “You have a date with a hot jock, don’t you?”

She squinches her nose, guilty. “FaceTime at six thirty.”

I perk up a little. “Does that mean I get something good to eat tonight?”

She smiles. “We’re making something called beef bourguignon.” Pulling her phone free, she winces. “Actually, I need to head back to the dorm. He said the ingredients are being delivered around three.”

“Fine. I’ll allow you to ditch me so long as you keep feeding me.”

“I’ll go.” Brady releases me with a shrug. “Can’t get fucked up ’cause we got practice in the morning, but I can play bodyguard and dance partner.”

“Tempting.” I nod slowly. “But I think I’ll see if Paige is back yet.”

“Back from where?” Chase asks.

Glancing his way, I open my mouth to answer when I spot an interesting little scowl pulling at his forehead. “Why do you want to know?” I draw attention to his question, enjoying the way he straightens when all eyes move his way.

“Yeah, why you wanna know?” Brady doubles down with a chuckle.

“I don’t,” Chase answers swiftly. “She mentioned it, so I figured I’d ask.”

I cock my head, and he scoffs.

He waves us off. “I’ve got a meeting with Coach. I’ll see you girls tomorrow.”

“Later,” the boys call out while we wave, and I turn back to the others.

“Payton wrapped up her shoot with the new squad today,so I’m taking her and little man somewhere tomorrow, get off campus for a bit,” Mason says.

“No invite?” His sister pouts.

“Love you, but no.” He chuckles. “I’d like to actually get to play with my son, and if you’re there, I have to compete for his attention.”

The way he saysmy sonso fluidly and thoughtlessly is…I don’t even know. What a man he is and at just twenty years old. He loves that little boy like his own, and he has maybe even since before he was born.

“This one’s just for the three of us,” he continues. “But we’ll both be at the party after the game tomorrow.”

“Mom and Dad decided to stay the night?” Ari asks.

“Any excuse to get to hang with Deaton.” Mason smirks. “They’re coming to the game and taking him back to their Airbnb from there. It’ll be the first night Payton has spent without him—if she makes it all night.”

Ari scoffs. “Please, it will likely be you who calls Mom and wants to pick him up in the middle of the night.”

Brady smiles. “I’d bet on that. My boy hasn’t spent a single night in his room since we got back to campus.”

Mason only grins, his eyes sliding to the side. “Don’t look now, but there’s a Lancaster fan club coming.”

We all turn to look, and the girls smile, not caring they were caught looking at football’s finest.

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