Page 29 of Developing Hearts (Pine Point Fixer-Uppers #5)

Chapter twenty-nine

David

“Wait, you had leopard-spotted hair?” David wasn’t quite three sheets to the wind, but he was feeling pretty happy and buzzy.

The vibes in their makeshift room party were…

impeccable, honestly. Maybe it was because they all had the Pine Point connection, maybe it was the liquor, or maybe it was just because they worked well together. It felt natural.

Mason also seemed much more comfortable.

His cheeks were red from the booze this time, not from embarrassment or nerves.

He buried his face in his hands when David brought up the hair, half-shouting into his hands so he could still be heard.

“I will show you the pictures if I can find them, but I don’t want to hear any comments.

It looked amazing for about three days until my hair started to grow out even a little bit.

” He finally looked at David, grinning, and held up his thumb and forefinger practically touching.

“Even that much growth and it suddenly looked like a mistake had been made, but those three days were glorious.”

“I just…doesn’t seem like something you would do. Where does it fit in your spreadsheets?”

To his surprise, Mason actually flipped him off, and David laughed way harder than he might have if he was still sober.

Robinson sighed and spoke while gesturing with his pizza crust. “Mason has hidden depths. And they mostly come out when he’s a little drunk.”

“That’s not true.” Mason rolled his eyes.

“Okay, it’s true that I get a little looser when I get drunk, but that’s not the only time.

” He took a heavy swig from his cup before continuing.

“Besides, Evander was the one who talked me into that hair in the first place. That was those two months that he decided he was destined to become a hairdresser.”

“I did a fantastic job with your hair. You just said it was glorious for three days.” Evander was sprawled against Ozzy in the armchair, drunker than hell and with his shirt mostly unbuttoned.

“I do a fantastic job at everything.” He gestured vaguely in the direction of the bed.

“Ask your new Mr. Sexy…Sex Boy. He thinks I did a fantastic job on his house because I’m amazing . ”

“I guess I need to get new business cards. Mr. Sexy Sex Boy.”

“I’d give you a glowing recommendation.” Mason whispered it to him…or at least seemed to be trying to whisper.

The jeers and shouts that followed implied the others had heard, but Mason didn’t back off.

He twined himself around David and rested a hand on his thigh, as if that wasn’t going to get David hard as fuck and ready to go.

Actually, probably the goal. Don’t need that in front of his friends .

David still had some boundaries…but he also wasn’t interested in moving Mason’s hand.

Not immediately. That simple touch was nothing compared to the knot of limbs that was Ozzy and Evander, so they could get away with it for a bit.

Then Mason got up, taking his hand with him. “Potty break.”

He walked off…and suddenly, all eyes were on David. None of the looks he was getting from around the room were angry or anything like that, but having so many people focused on him all at once, he couldn’t help the slight spike of panic. “Something going on?”

Glances flicked around the room, and eventually, Aras broke the silence.

“No offense to you, but Mason’s had a bad run with guys.

Whatever situation you two have going, just want to make sure you’re totally on the same page with each other.

Otherwise, knock whatever it is off and don’t fucking lead him on. ”

“I wouldn’t.” David tamped down his anger. To suggest he would hurt Mason like that? But he knew they were being good friends. This was inevitable if he wanted to be with Mason for any length of time.

Ozzy untwisted himself from Evander enough to speak clearly.

“He can’t pee forever, so I’m just going to be clear: you seem kind of flighty.

Lots of unfinished projects. Not a lot of follow-through.

Don’t make Mason one of your flights of fancy or whatever, then drop him when you decide you’re actually into otters with tribal tattoos or whatever. ”

David…couldn’t argue. That wasn’t a flattering interpretation of himself, but he could hardly blame them if it was what they’d landed on. “I’m not—”

“I think we’re done drinking.” Mason marched back out and stood by the door to the hotel room, lips pursed and eyes narrowed. “For the record, if you want to accuse my boyfriend of not wanting to actually be with me, send me to get ice. Bathroom walls are not exactly soundproof.”

Jake scrambled to his feet. “Mason—”

“Good night. Get some rest. You’re behind schedule on the bedroom furniture and Evander can’t wrap things up if you don’t get a move on.

” His gaze moved over to Robinson. “You need to double check the fixtures in the kitchen to make sure he doesn’t spring a leak and I’ve been asking about that for two days.

” Then Ozzy. “And you’re ignoring the balcony and putting all your effort into that rooftop deck, so I think you clearly need some private time to brainstorm solutions that are going to work. ”

Ozzy got to his feet as well. “Mason, come on.”

“No. You and Ev especially don’t get to weigh in on anything to do with my relationships.

Your fucking nonsense with each other all those years, and all I ever did was comfort you when you were sad and act like everything was fine you were back together.

” He opened the hotel room door. “Good night. Again. Thanks for dinner.”

Slowly, they all filtered out, no one saying anything until the very end. Bunny was the last to leave, and she paused in the doorway. “You don’t think you’re overreacting?”

Mason shrugged. “I’m allowed to.” She left and he closed the door, then sighed and turned around to David. “I’m sorry. I didn’t expect them to ambush you and accuse you like that. That was absolute BS.”

Except it wasn’t . David was still a little caught in the whirlwind of everything that had just gone down, but that was one of the only things that was clear in his head through it all: their worries made sense, and they were just trying to protect Mason.

The other thing… “You called me your boyfriend?”

Mason’s tension melted away into that broad smile that did stupid things to David’s belly and made his head all fuzzy. “It seemed like the right level of impact. Had to drive the point home. I…it doesn’t have to be true if you don’t want it to be.”

David gripped his cheeks and kissed him.

Mason was a solid anchor in that whirlwind, and he held on tight.

When they parted, he held eye contact, still keeping his hands on either side of Mason’s face.

“I am absolutely fine with it.” All he had to do now was make sure that their fears were allayed.

Mason may not have taken too kindly to what they’d said, but the accusations sank into David.

I’m not letting this one go .