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“I did.”

“A nice big house,” Mason added.

Lake frowned. “He wouldn’t want to move in with me.”

“Are you sure about that?”

No, Lake wasn’t. But he lived with Remi and Dom. Friends. Jesse was rich enough to buy the entire neighborhood. Why would he want to live with other people?

“Look.” Mason stopped and held Lake’s arm. “He hasn’t said anything to me and I don’t want to overstep.”

“Okay.”

“But I’m sure you know that Jesse is close with his brother.”

“I’m aware.” Lake didn’t know where this was going.

“He was a mess after Jacob moved to California,” Mason said.

“Jesse told me it was hard.”

“I was really starting to worry about him, then something interesting happened,” Mason explained.

“What?”

“He met you,” Mason said. “The light came back into his eyes and he was a man on a mission. He was immediately smitten.”

Lake grinned. “He told me that too.”

“Good. Just don’t think that how you live would be a deterrent to him. He likes having those he cares about round him.”

Lake got it. What Mason was saying, and he had to agree. It worked for them. The found family, the communal living, all of it. Why would Jesse be any different? Jesse had gone home withhim and loved every minute of it. Even the chaotic breakfast with Dom and Remi.

“Just think about it,” Mason told him.

Lake wouldn’t be able to think of anything else.

Shouting had both of them jerking.

“What the hell?” Mason asked.

Lake didn’t think. He dropped his stuffies, hoodie, and backpack before running for the front. Ezra was out there!

He hit the swinging doors hard, making them slam against the wall as Lake barreled through them.

An older man had Ezra pinned to the wall by his shoulders as an older woman had a finger pointed in his face, yelling awful things.

“Back off!” Lake roared. He raced over and pulled Ezra away from the couple.

“Lake?” Ezra’s voice shook as he sobbed.

Lake pushed Ezra behind him. “Stay away from him!” All Lake could see was red. This had to be Ezra’s parents. No one else would have the nerve to attack Ezra in such a public setting.

“Keep out of this you…weirdo!” the woman screeched at him. She was looking Lake up and down with disdain.

This woman was judging him? Lake would have laughed if the situation wasn’t so serious.

“I demand you move,” the older man said. “That is our son. We have the right to talk to him.”