Page 38 of Developing Hearts (Pine Point Fixer-Uppers #5)

Chapter thirty-eight

David

David never expected to be so excited for the rooftop, but after everything he’d seen in the condo proper, he was riding high.

His place had never really come together.

Not until Mason walked in that damn door and took charge of the job.

Now, as Robinson led him upstairs, David just wanted to see the end result.

I bet this is what Mason was feeling like, getting to see the sketchbook all done and dusted.

He could find out when this was all done, because he felt the breeze on his face and heard a smattering of voices from up above. He didn’t let himself run up any faster, no matter how much he wanted to. It wasn’t that long anyway.

Robinson stopped just before they could actually see out the door and smiled at David. “You ready? We’ll all get out of your hair after this.”

“Well I hope not. Pretty sure you’re all a package deal with Mason, and I don’t plan on letting him go any time soon.”

Robinson’s smile softened, turning more natural. “I don’t think he has any intention of going anywhere. Surprised you still want us around after everything.”

It hardly seemed like the right time for this, but David leaned back against the railing, shutting out the sounds from upstairs. “I appreciated the kick in the ass even if Mason didn’t. Not like I can get mad at you guys for assuming I might be…fickle.”

Robinson’s lips curled in for a moment. “We weren’t trying to be mean about it.”

“And you weren’t. I know that I got lucky with mason, and if that means I have to be a little more cognizant of my own shortcomings, that’s hardly a bad thing.

” David clapped Robinson on both shoulders.

“I’m happy to have you over for a longer talk, but I think there’s a camera crew waiting and we only have so much more daylight left.

” He hesitated a moment, then turned the shoulder grab into a hug.

Robinson squeezed him back. Not super hard, but tight enough to make it clear this was okay. And intentional. “All right. Let’s go see what Ozzy’s been cooking up here. I haven’t even seen it.”

They released the hug and Robinson headed up the stairs first. David was pretty certain that wouldn’t be the last heart-to-heart he needed to have with the Pine Point guys. But hell, how many folks got to hang out with their teenage parasocial faves?

The light was red and dim, which made it a much easier to transition out of the stairwell. It wasn’t the whole building up there, thank God, maybe two dozen, plus the camera crew and the actual Pine Point folks.

And then David stopped focusing on the people at all. He took in the pergolas, strung with lights. The planters festooned with bright flowers and deep green leaves. Fire pits crackling merrily. And Ozzy and Mason standing front and center to show him around.

Mason took his hand, and…well, David was pretty sure he did a decent job of acting, but he wasn’t really listening to the explanation.

Not only was this not his to manage—the building would take care of the plants and everything—but he was holding Mason’s hand.

That was worth paying attention to, there in the sunset, overlooking the bay.

The cameras and the people and the rooftop garden melted away, and as soon as he picked up on a lull, he pulled in closer to Mason. He made eye contact and, silently, asked the question.

Mason’s answer came as a kiss. He leaned in, his arms wrapping around David and pulling him in.

Then the jeers and hoots and hollers finally broke through and David was back in the real world. He looked around. Most of the fuss was coming from the Pine Point crew, but there were at least some of his neighbors either celebrating or just getting caught up in the moment.

So David kissed him again. Fully there. Fully in the moment. Fully committed.

He only pulled out of the kiss when Aras shoved a plastic champagne flute into his hand and leaned in to whisper, “You’ll have plenty of time for that.

Don’t scare the straights.” He poured what was clearly not enough champagne into the flute and winked.

“We redid your whole house so you’d have a place to bone, so make use of it. ”

“ Goodbye, Aras.” Mason waved him along, then locked eyes with David.

“Not that I disagree with him.” He ran his free hand up and down David’s arm, not even trying to put any distance between them.

“You know, I really feel like…I don’t know.

Is it wrong to call this kismet? It’s a tie back to my hometown, to our past. The crossovers are just too much to ignore.

” He shook his head and rolled his eyes.

“I don’t know. I can’t believe that I’m the one standing here talking about this like the universe has some kind of plan or whatever, but—”

“Maybe it is the universe. Maybe it’s just that you did good work and got a show and I happened to apply.” David leaned in so their foreheads were pressed together. “I don’t care how it happened. I’m just glad it did.”

They pecked lips, and then everyone was gathered up. The rest of the building residents were clustered off to the side, but when David moved to join them, Mason didn’t let him leave. He was kept in the circle, and once they got the nod from Vince, all of them raised their glasses in a toast.

The sunset played through the cheap plastic, and David couldn’t think of a better wrap to filming.