Page 100 of Hidden Resolution

“Come here.”

With a sniff, she dove into his waiting arms, giving in to her pathetic need to be held.

“My brother has made you a hot mess, hasn’t he?” he murmured.

“Can we act like you are an only child for a while?”

His chuckle warmed her. “Sure thing, babe. So does that mean we can make out?”

Shonda punched his chest lightly, laughing as he’d meant for her to do.

29

“For years, I convinced myself that once you found the right girl, you’d settle down. You’d get over what Melanie had done and wise up. But I was wrong,” Connie said. Disappointment weighed heavily on her face as she stepped closer to Mason’s bed. “Maybe it’s the combination of being left by your father and thrown over by Melanie, causing you to be heartless. But it kills me to see you throw away the best thing that’s ever happened to you. And Shonda was the very best thing in a long while.”

“She’s a cheater like everyone else. It took her all of a minute before she was kissing Dane,” he retorted. “And Bucky told me she was collecting phone numbers at the police station like candy on Halloween.”

“Watch your tone, young man. I didn’t raise you to be disrespectful,” Connie scolded. “And Dane kissedher. Not the other way around. I told him to.”

“Youwhat?”

“I only told him to kiss her if he found you flirting with the coffee-cart woman,” she stated matter-of-factly.

“I wasn’t flirting.”

“No? Hm, that’s not what your brother said. Are you intending to lie to me and say you didn’t accept the barista’s number?”

His face grew warm. “Okay, yes. I got her number.”

Connie smacked him on the side of the head. “Hypocrite!”

“Jesus, Ma. I wasn’t going to do anything with it.”

The phone number had been for show. To dissuade Shonda from any further relationship expectations. Admittedly, anyone but her turned him off these days.

But he’d get over it. He had to.

“Don’t try to kid a kidder, Mason. If you took the woman’s number, you intended to have sex with her. I don’t understand how you could be so cruel.”

“I threw it away,” he confessed.

“Good,” Connie said. After straightening his blanket, she caressed his cheek. “Shonda loves you. We all see it.”

“I don’t want her to.”

“You’ve made it abundantly clear to everyone, especially her. Well done.”

He hated disappointing his mom, but he’d be damned if he would defend himself.

“I’m tired, Ma.” He didn’t need to fake a yawn. “Do you mind if I get some sleep, please?”

“So that’s the way of it, huh?”

“I’m not doing this with you,” he said tiredly. “You can’t make me want marriage and rugrats. Please let it go.”

Alone was better. He knew how to navigate being by himself.

The next two weeks were spent in a flurry of packing for the move. Shonda’s goodbye to Erica was the hardest thing she’dever done. Leaving her old life behind was like cutting off a limb. And damned if Erica wasn’t understanding and supportive of Shonda’s decision. Her compassion made everything more difficult.