Page 101 of Hidden Resolution

As expected, Mason didn’t call. The delusional half of her longed for him to beg her to stay. The realistic half smacked the deluded part upside the head.

Dane had popped over on her last day in Stonebrooke to help carry her boxes down the three flights of stairs and load them into her vehicle.

“That’s the last of it,” she said, sighing and shoving her overnight case to the back, then slamming the trunk.

“Thank God. It is downright embarrassing that an owner of a gym should be so winded, lugging boxes up and down stairs.”

“Just down,” she said dryly.

“Hush. I can change the story to make myself look better if I want.”

The teasing turned serious.

“I think I’m going to miss you most of all,” she said tearfully.

“Don’t do that. Don’t cry. You’ll make me get all weepy, too. How would that look to your neighbors? I’ll have to leave town because of all the razzing.”

“Shut up, you ass. I don’t know what it is about the men in your family, but every single one of you has to ruin a perfectly good sentimental moment.”

“It’s a gift.”

She rolled her eyes and went in for one last hug.

“Take care of yourself, babe. Shoot me a text whenever you stop for the night and then again when you get going in the morning. I want to know when you arrive safely.”

“Yes, Dad.” Grinning, she kissed him on the cheek.

“It’s all fun and games until you’re kidnapped by a highwayman and taken to his lair, where he satisfies your every sexual fantasy.”

“On that note, I’d better get going so I don’t miss him,” she quipped.

“Yeah, maybe I didn’t think that one through all the way.”

“Nerd.”

His teasing did what he intended, shifting her mood back toward an upbeat one.

“The moving van comes tomorrow,” she informed him. “Erica said she’d be here for it, but knowing her, she’ll try to help haul boxes. If you’re available, will you make sure she takes it easy?”

“Of course. Or I may make Zack do it. She might be more inclined to listen to him.”

“Don’t count on it.”

They shared one last hug before Shonda climbed into her car to start her journey to Colorado and her new life.

In the days following his release, Mason limped around his home, lashing out at anyone who disturbed his peace or brought up Shonda’s name. Not dissimilar to an animal in pain.

And he was.

When he could take no more of his own mood, he grabbed his keys and headed for her apartment.

His fist connected with the door twice before it was jerked open by an exceedingly irritated Erica. Frowning, he pushed past her—careful of her newly pregnant state—and charged into the living room.

The labeled boxes kicked his pulse up.

“Shonda!”

Silence.