Page 78 of Fun and Games

Lucky came over to the sofa and nuzzled at my feet, having finished with his dinner. He chewed at the toes of my socks, gnawing with his tiny puppy teeth. I bent down to pick him up and settle him on the sofa between me and Mason.

"That's a cute new collar I see on you," I said, talking to the dog, but side-eyeing Mason. "Is your owner still spoiling you?"

"I'll have you know, I only went to the pet store three more times for new toys and accessories," Mason said, puffing his chest out in feigned pride.

"I bet the staff there already know your name by now, huh?" I asked.

"Did you know they have a membership club?" Mason asked. "It gives you discounts and access to special workshops and stuff."

"And you've already joined it, I suppose?" I asked.

"How could I say no to discounts?" he countered with a grin.

I picked up Lucky and brought him snout-to-face with me.

"Do I even want to know how much money your owner has spent on you?" I asked the puppy.

Lucky licked my nose and barked once, wagging his tail rapidly back and forth.

I laughed and swiped at my face with my sleeve to get rid of the doggy slobber. Mason took Lucky from me and cuddled him to his chest.

"It's about time for his walk," Mason said. "Want to come with us?"

"I'd love to," I said.

Mason held out a hand to help me stand from the sofa with a soft smile. My heart swelled.

I was surprised I had managed to get through this whole thing without crying. I was proud of myself, even. Maybe what I said was right. Just talking about it helped.

And having someone like Mason by my side to listen was more than I could have asked for.

Thirty

"I thoughtyou'd had enough of IKEA?" I asked Mason. "Besides, aren't IKEA dates practically a cliché at this point?"

I bit my tongue as I realized I'd used the worddate,but Mason simply grinned.

"I'm craving Swedish meatballs," was his only explanation.

I shook my head at him, but returned the grin as we both walked hand in hand into the massive, multi-story IKEA showroom.

"You're not actually buying anything here, are you?" I asked. "This isn't a trick to go and buy Lucky some dog furniture or something, is it? Because I think that dog is more pampered than a princess at this point."

"No tricks," he said. "I just wanted to go somewhere fun with you."

My stomach fluttered as butterflies took wing.

Mason and I still hadn't had The Talk yet. I didn't know where we stood, what exactly this relationship between us was. But I didn't need to know. I was enjoying spending time with him, and that was all that mattered. We didn't need to define things.

Not yet, anyway.

Mason snagged a map and unfolded it, holding it out with both hands to examine the layout of the building.

"I wonder if we can get away with making out in one of the bedrooms?" he asked.

"Gross." I swatted him in the chest. "No PDA. I don't want to traumatize the poor shoppers."

"What if we find a secret, out of the way corner where no one will see us?" he asked with a sly lift of his eyebrow.