Page 54 of Meant to be Falling
At Brew, Q ’n Boogie for starters…
Turning my face, I stare at the profile of the man who’d given me so much more than just a great day today. It is a gentle reminder that sunrise balloon festivals and tailgating breakfasts might be the perfect weekend adventure.
“You’re staring, Dream Girl,” he says playfully, his chiseled jaw and high cheekbones making him look like he could be a model rather than just a landscaper in nowhere Tennessee.
But Mason Amato isn’tjustanything.
He’s an incredibly hard worker, selfless and thoughtful, a passionate lover, great friend, loving brother,and I think I’m falling for him.
I shake the thought from my head because even if it’s true, it’s too soon and I just want to enjoy every second of this time before we try and complicate things.
Because nothing is easy, not for long.
22
MASON
Nearly a month had flown by and with it, a million little things that had brought us all closer. Beck was over the moon his father was signing him up for the most prestigious football camp this side of Tennessee, and we’d made a habit of throwing the ball around as often as possible.
Jacob had been surprisingly quiet which, in my experience, wasn’t a good sign. There was no way he magically would approve of me being with Lana, and if it weren’t for Beck and Holland, I wouldn’t give a shit.
But I’d seen the bond Otto had formed with his wife’s ex-husband, the lot of them coparenting in harmony and matching shirts. I didn’t need that, but civility would make everything a lot easier.
I saw the strain his actions put on Lana. It wasn’t fair to her, and given the chance, I’d knock some sense into him for being such an asshole to the family he didn’t deserve.
For now, I check the time on my phoneagain. Lana had to take Beck to a doctor’s appointment, and I’d gotten out of work early to get Holland off the bus. It feels like a big step in our relationship. The fact that she trusts me to get her daughter andkeep her safe until she gets home warms my heart more than a little.
The bus groans as it comes to a stop in front of the house, and the doors are barely open before Holland comes barreling down the steps, running across the grass and into my arms.
“Mason!” she yells as she jumps, the force making me stagger back with a laugh.
“Hey kiddo, how was your day?”
The girl barely takes a breath as I follow her inside, telling me about her classes and an art project she’s been working hard on and a dozen other little things that had crossed her mind today.
Dutifully, she empties her backpack as we negotiate an after-school snack consisting of a sliced apple with peanut butter and one of the chocolate candies in the dish on the counter.
It is one of the more stressful things I’ve had to do recently, mainly because I know we’llbothget in trouble with Lana if I screw up.
And I sure as hell don’t want that.
Setting her now washed lunch container in the drying rack, I’m almost ready to grab a snack of my own when something catches my eye.
“Hey, what’s that?” I ask as I pull the brightly colored sheet of paper from the stack Holland placed on the counter.
She looks at it and then up at me. “It’s nothing.”
The tone of her voice tells me it’s definitelysomething,and I have to tread lightly.
My eyes track over the words,Father-Daughter Dance being held at Blackstone Falls Elementary School.
“It’s stupid,” Holland remarks, dropping her backpack onto the floor and huffing.
“Do you want to talk about it?” I ask, picking up her backpack and placing it on the hook. She wants to talk; I can tell. I just need to give her time.
“Emma at school said that her dad is wearin’ a tie that matches her dress.” Holland worries her bottom lip with her teeth. “My dad would never go. I mean, he didn’t even take Mommy out except for work.” She sighs and it damn near breaks my heart. “No way he’d take me out like that.” Her eyes linger on the paper before she snatches it off the counter and tosses it in the garbage.
“Did you talk to your mom about it?” I ask, but Holland just shakes her head.
