Page 47 of Sapphire Spring

But he wasn’t seeing his mother’s face now, he was seeingthe look she’d given him across the front seat of her car that morning elevenyears ago. Now, thanks to Pari’s mimosa-loosened tongue, he knew how concernedhis mother had been that day, knew she had some inkling of what he was beingput through every day at school. And that made it even harder to say Mason’sname.

“He hugged you like he knew you.”

Naser wondered if this was the first time his mother hadever witnessed another man show affection for him that wasn’t entirelyfriendly.

“He was drunk. That was all. We got himouttahere.”

If his mother knew he was lying, she didn’t let on. He felt,once again, the familiar tension that always passed between them when theywandered too close to the topic of his sexuality. An awkward moment where hewas never quite sure who wanted to broach the topic less—him or his mother. Pari’saccusations on Saturday had stayed with him. Did he play a bigger role inplacing that topic off limits than he was willing to accept?

She nodded, leaned forward, and kissed him on the cheek.“Work now, but dinner soon. Without your sister, or maybe she comes for onlypart of it. The part where we don’t get to talk.”

He nodded.

As soon as she was gone, he turned and almost ran smack intoJonas, who was holding a paper bag with Camilla’s logo on it. “They needed thetable, so I had them pack up your salad. I hope that’s okay.” He handed Naserthe bag as he watched Mahin step inside her parked car and drive off, then heturned and gave Naser a knowing look. “Some guy Fareena was breaking up with?”

“Don’t. I handle my mother the way I handle my mother.”

“I see. I’ve got a call in ten. Should we continue ourconversation this evening?”

“I think I’ve got a pretty good sense of where you stand,thank you, Jonas.”

“Suit yourself.” Jonas turned and headed across the lobby.

A thought gripped Naser. When he called out the man’s name,he stopped, turned, and Naser closed the distance between them.

“Do me a favor and don’t tell Connor anything about this ifhe calls and checks in. He’s already texted me to ask how the party went, and Ikeep sending him a screen cap of the Dictionary dot com page for vacation.”

“Soyoudon’twant yourbest friend to know about you and Mason?”

“There is no me and Mason. But Connor knows everything thathappened to me in high school. In excruciating detail. If he finds out I’mspending time with Mason on Saturday, he might have opinions about it.”

Jonas smiled and nodded. “And our closest friends shouldalways be opinion free.”

“Some of Connor’s opinions turn into judgments.”

“Perhaps. But I find that distinction often exists solely inthe mind of the one being addressed, and usually because the other person’sopinion has…hit home, shall we say.”

“Jonas—”

The older man held up his hands in a gesture of surrender.“Relax. Your secret is safe with me. I have to say, I’m somewhat honored to bethe only one who knows about this.”

“Congratulations. Maybe someday you’ll tell me at least oneof the corporations you worked for.”

“I would, but I’d have to killya.”Jonas winked and walked off at a clip.

16

Up with the dawn, bare feet poundingthe wet sand at the surf’s edge, sweat pooling on his shirtless torso as thebrisk winds worked to whisk it away—in one week’s time, this had become MasonWorther’snew morning ritual, a run at first light thatmade the long stretch of beach in front of his home feel like an exotic,unexplored world.

Followed by gallons of coffee. Caffeine had become his newdrug of choice, along with early morning exercise.

And thoughts of Naser, who’d be here in a few hours. Whichmight explain why Mason’s eyes had popped open before sunrise.

The AA folks had told him exercise was a great way to boostnatural endorphins. They’d also promised that sugary candy was his mosteffective weapon against withdrawal. Occasionally, it made him laugh—running himselfragged along the sea only to shove fistfuls of M&Ms into his mouth as soonas he reached the kitchen. “Sobriety first, fad dieting later,” Shirley hadquipped when he’d pointed out the contradiction.

For the first time since college orientation, he felt likehe was on the right path, making good choices and enjoying the benefits.

I am healthy.

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