Page 28 of Developing Hearts (Pine Point Fixer-Uppers #5)
Chapter twenty-eight
Mason
It was the first time he and David had decided to drink together.
Mason was hardly a lush—not anymore anyway—but he enjoyed a little buzz.
Sometimes more than a little buzz. And the fact he felt comfortable enough to do that with David simply reinforced the conclusion he’d already begun to land on: they worked.
If nothing else, this was a relationship that had enough legs that he could try it.
And Mason also thanked whatever fate or probability had given him someone who lived close enough to make a relationship easier.
The other guys, save for Ozzy and Ev, had found happy relationships, but they were longer distance.
Maybe somebody would move. Maybe they would just work things out without any moving.
Honestly, if they managed to get the show renewed, all of them could probably live wherever they wanted and just come together when it was time to film a new season.
That scratched at Mason’s middle. They’d been distant for so long, and had finally come back together and were actually getting along.
Mason had been looking forward to hanging out again, at least some of the time.
Chilling in Ozzy’s yard. Visiting with Bunny and her family.
Beers with Robinson and Jake. They even had a standing invitation that, at some point, Aras would be having them over.
He’d said as much a few weeks ago, and Mason had noted it down, fully intent on holding him to that.
If they all scattered to the wind, would even the job be able to keep them bound together?
Mason shoved that down and focused on the moment. He couldn’t deal with all of it at once. So he swigged back a mouthful of his screwdriver, feeling the icy burn in his throat from the vodka, and turned his attention back to David.
He was actually nose-deep in his sketchbook again, only glancing up again after making a big slash across the page. Then he smiled. “Sorry. Much as I hate to admit it, it is nice to keep working on this.” He lifted his own screwdriver. “Cheers.”
“Well, much as I hate to distract the artist at his work, pay attention to me, now.” Mason patted the bed and David walked over to sit next to him. Right next to him. Thigh to thigh, hip to hip, side to side, no space at all.
Then his fingers feathered over Mason’s chest and abdomen.
The first half-second, Mason’s heart raced and his throat tightened.
He doesn’t care. He’s not leaving. It was getting easier and easier to knock those voices back, but his gut instinct was still to worry and panic any time David drew even the slightest attention to Mason’s body.
He didn’t know how long that would last, or if it would ever stop, but he would take the win for what it was: a win.
He could talk himself back from the edge, which was a new thing for him.
Mason let his hand rest on David’s thigh, stopping just short of creeping up to his junk.
Knock knock knock.
“Open up!” Aras’s voice came through the door. “I’ve got arms full of pizza and a plumber who’s pretending he’s not about to piss himself!”
“Aras, shut it.” Robinson’s voice was quieter, but still audible.
The relationship with Chuck had done him some noticeable good: Robinson talked a lot more.
Still not a lot, but he was more willing to voice his opinions.
And voice them he did, raising his voice just enough. “He’s not wrong, though.”
Mason looked at David. “I was going to avoid this until we were ready. We can come up with a cover story—”
“Let the man in to pee.” David smiled and spread his arms wide. “I’m not embarrassed, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
A slight tension released from Mason’s chest and he jumped up and went to the door.
Aras was there with three pizzas, and Robinson thrust a bag of clinking bottles into Mason’s arms, then darted into the bathroom.
He went so fast, he didn’t quite get the door shut and Mason had to pull it closed after him.
That’s when he saw it wasn’t just Aras and Robinson. It wasn’t the entire crew, since Jake wasn’t in sight, but he was the only one, so Mason had every reason to believe that he would show up sooner rather than later. But Bunny, Evander, and Ozzy came in as well.
Aras was apparently feeling very sociable, since he pushed in and took over explaining. “Sorry we didn’t call, but I figured you wouldn’t kick us out on the street if we came with food and drinks.” He turned around, walking backwards. “And if you do, I’ll just make a scene.”
“Aras. Doll.” Bunny stepped up, her voice quiet. “You might want to shut the hell up and look around for half a second.”
His entirely too normal frown of derision returned. “I’m trying to have a good time and relax for a second. Thought you’d appreciate my charming demeanor.”
Mason’s eyebrows raised when he saw David standing up…then he decided to let it play out. Besides, Robinson walked out of the bathroom before he could get a word out anyway.
Then David piped up. “I can’t speak for anyone else, Aras, but I enjoyed your charming personality.”
Aras actually jumped in place and slapped a hand down on the stack of pizza boxes to keep them from tumbling over. “Jesus fuck, where did you come from?”
“My house. Same as you.” David crossed his arms over his chest and flopped back down onto the bed.
Aras looked at him, blinked, set the pizzas down, then turned to Mason. “Okay? I don’t like feeling like a fucking moron.”
“Well, like Bunny said, you should pay more attention.” Mason waved everyone inside, and just as he was getting ready to swing the door shut, Jake popped up, carrying a large, pale blue box that looked suspiciously like it had a cake inside. The right size anyway.
When Jake got in and Mason finally closed the door, Jake almost tripped when his gaze landed on David. “Hey. Wow, okay. Didn’t know the invite was quite so wide.”
“It wasn’t.” Ozzy walked straight through all of them and sat down on top of the AC unit under the window.
It was designed to look a little bit nicer, so it was all hidden under a faux-stone bench, which made it a great place for extra seating.
“David just happened to be here.” He grinned at Mason and shook his head.
“I knew you were fucking bubbly, you asshole.”
“Love you too, Ozzy.” Mason figured that was enough letting them adjust. He walked over and sat next to David. “Go ahead and get on with your commentary.”
David slung his arm around Mason and pulled him in close. “I look forward to the valuable critique you can provide.”
“No critique from my quarter.” Ozzy waved his hand lackadaisically toward the pizza. “You got something spicy, right? Pizza me before it gets cold.”
“Get your ass up and pizza yourself.” Aras spread the boxes out and opened all of them, then grabbed a piece of sausage and mushroom for himself.
“Well, since we’re here, grill us for information.
” Aras rolled over the office chair and sat in front of David.
“We basically know every embarrassing thing your new boy toy has ever done.”
Mason popped up, grabbed Aras’s chair, and wheeled him over to the corner. “Time out until you learn to keep your mouth shut.”
But Mason couldn’t deny a bit of a spark of warmth. It hadn’t been how he intended to break this to everyone, but the moment presented itself, and everyone took it well.
So far so good .