Page 63 of Mr. Almost

I have been keeping it in for so long, but I don’t even know if I want to keep this job anymore. Not if I have to see that woman. Making the decision to tell Tristen, I ready myself for her reaction.

I take a deep breath as I rest my hip on the counter. “Several years ago, I met a man on a dating app. He was looking for a date for an event, and I went with him. Long story short, we slept together, and I ended up pregnant. When I went looking for him, I found his mother instead. Until recently, I didn’t think he wanted anything to do with my daughter or me.”

Understanding flashes across her face. “And that man was Mason Williamson.”

“Yes,” I say quietly.

I don’t know how to explain it exactly, but it almost feels like a relief to have someone who is outside of either of our circles know about our daughter.

“You know she was just being hateful, right? We’ve all seen the way Mason looks at you when you aren’t paying attention.”

I want to believe her, but my heart was already battered, and it now feels like it’s been sliced too.

I shake my head. “No, it’s not like that between us. We’re just co-parenting.”

Tristen smiles ruefully. “Not for the lack of trying on his end, though, right?”

I feel my cheeks heat. Has Mason been that obvious even here? I mean, Mason has made his intentions clear to me, but I didn’t think everyone knew.

Am I the only one too blind to see it?

“See, you know it too,” she teases. “There’s no use in denying it. We’ve all seen the way he looks at you when you aren’t paying attention. The man is smitten. I didn’t realize he was the father of your kid. That was a plot twist, but we all know he wants to date you.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lie.

“How does it feel to be in denial?”

I roll my eyes. “Can we get back to work now?”

“Sure, but let me say one more thing.”

I sigh. “Go for it.”

Tristen becomes serious. “I’ve worked here for several years, and during that time, Mason hasn’t spent a lot of time here until recently, but when he was here, he was always kind and respectful. He never hit on the staff or made anyone feel uncomfortable. He never took anyone up to a hotel room or anything. So if that man is giving you his time, it means something.”

“I know,” I say quietly.

“Good, and if I were you, I wouldn’t leave that man waiting long. Who knows, if you wait too long, a woman like Victoria might just swoop in and make her his.” Tristen turns and gets back to work while her words gut me.

The idea of Mason being with another woman makes me sick. If he was with someone else, he wouldn’t spend his time with us. He wouldn’t be picking out family costumes for us to wear, or if he did, I wouldn’t be included.

An image of him, Arianna, and a faceless woman pops into my head, making me feel irrationally angry.

No.

I won’t share my daughter or Mason with another woman.

I just won’t.

They’re mine, whether his mother likes it or not.

Time to stake my claim.

MASON

Max bursts into my office with a panicked look on his face.

“What’s wrong?” I demand as Istand.

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