Page 101 of Sapphire Spring

Naser stiffened, lips leaving Mason’s. “Who is that?”

“Just ignore him.”

“Him?Wait, who?”

“Seriously, it’s fine. He’ll go away.”

“It’s kind of ruining the mood.”

“Don’t let it.”

Naser’s hands pressed against Mason’s chest, a small movethat shifted things from a green light to a red one. Mason went still, openinghis eyes to see Naser staring up at him.

“Mason…”

“It’s just Chadwick. He’ll go away.”

A pounding knock against the front door. The name, Masoncould see, lanced through Naser like a hot sword.

This is probably how he used to look when people said myname,Mason thought.

The anger was back. As white hot as it had been in hisfather’s office. No way could Chadwick or his father steal this moment fromthem. But Mason could channel his anger, he was sure. Redirect it. Turn it intosomething positive.

He started for the stairs. “Come on.”

Naser didn’t follow. “Wait, come onwhere? What’shappening?”

“I’m going to deal with him.We’regoing to dealwith him. Together.”

At the top of the stairs, Mason turned. Naser lookedparalyzed, legs dangling off the side of the bed, resting back on his elbows,black hair still mussed from their burst of passion.

“If he wants to force his damn way into my house, then hegets to meet my boyfriend,” Mason said. “I mean, that’s what you are, right?”

“Mason, I…” The words left him on a sigh that sounded both happyand confused. And afraid.

He figured Naser would follow if he made the first move, sohe did, taking the stairs two at a time. When he threw the front door open,Chadwick reared back a step. “Figured if I gave you a day to sleep off yourPMSyou’d realize what a dick you were being, but you’reignoring my texts so…”

Mason gestured for the guy to cross the threshold. But oncehe’d closed the door behind Chadwick, he didn’t see any sign of Naser on thestairs, which made his stomach feel cold.

“Naser?” he called out.

Wide eyed, Chadwick looked from Mason to the empty stairs. “Nawhut?”

A few seconds later, footsteps sounded, as slow and cautiousas the ones Naser had sometimes taken to avoid them in high school.

When Chadwick and Naser’s eyes met, Mason struggled to putwords to the current that seemed to pass between the two men.

Naser looked dead inside and cold on the outside. Chadwick,on the other hand, looked caught. Mason would have expected the dynamic to bereversed, but maybe this was how Naser had looked at Mason when he’d crossedthe pool deck at Sapphire Cove two weeks before. Mason had been too drunk toremember. After all, Chadwick had been the worst out of the three of them. Theaggressor. The ringleader. The one whose rage always had to be dialed back.Mason hadn’t done nearly enough to put a stop to him in high school. It wastime to make up for that, right here, right now.

“There’s something else I need to tell you,” Mason said,“something I didn’t say last night, something I don’t think you’re going to beable to handle, to be frank.” Chadwick couldn’t take his eyes off Naser.“Chadwick, are you listening to me?”

Chadwick turned, giving Mason a stunned look.

“I’m bisexual. And Naser and I are in a relationship. Ithink he’s my boyfriend, but I might’ve sprung that one on him too fast. We’llsee. That’s fine. I’ll give him all the time he needs. But the deal is this. Ifyou want any part in my life, youhave toaccept that.Both of those things. Youhave toaccepthim.”

No quick response. Noshittyretort. No slur. The news had shocked the man across from him, and whenChadwick was shocked, he went blank. Then, slowly, he started to nod.

For an instant, he felt pride. Chadwick looked speechlessand repentant, and that meant Mason had handled this perfectly.

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