Page 91 of Hidden Resolution

“Good grief. Please, don’t let’s rehash this.” Her weariness tugged his last remaining heartstring. Her eyes were dull, practically lifeless, as she said, “I’m truly fine, but it’s annoying to hear you protest so loudly whenever everyone’s around.” She jerked open the car door. “It’s humiliating because you make it sound as if I’m throwing myself at you at every opportunity. And I’m not. You know that.”

“Shonda—”

“The situation is shitty, and unfortunately, our worlds are overlapping because of Erica. Otherwise, you’d get out clean. I swear.”

“Shon—” He surged forward.

“Keep your platitudes, Mason. We both know there’s nothing more to say, don’t we?” She cast him a sad smile of goodbye. “Please tell Erica’s parents I’ll give them a call tonight to find out what they’ve planned for services.”

Anxiety and guilt converged in his chest, suffocating him.

She really intended to walk away!

Her finality cut him in ways he could never express aloud.

“Erica’s not dead,” he blurted. “They haven’t found her, but the DNA of the body in the morgue wasn’t hers.”

He was in deep shit for revealing the news, but his mother was right. Leaving her in the dark, regardless of police logic and his agreement two minutes ago, was wrong.

“And Jacob?” she asked.

“They’ve come to gather Zack’s DNA sample to compare with the child’s body. We’re hopeful it’s not him either.”

She nodded and offered a tight smile. “Thanks for telling me. Have Zack or Dane text me when they hear anything more.”

“Shonda,” he called as she was about to duck into the driver’s seat. “You’re welcome to stay.”

A long beat passed. “No, Mason, I don’t think I am.”

“You’re exhausted and upset. Let me drive you home.”

What the hell was wrong with him? Good Christ, could he be any more wishy-washy? No wonder she was confused. He didn’t know what he truly wanted either.

Not sparing him another glance, she drove away.

It stung.

As Mason stalked back to the house, Dane stepped into view. His censure and disappointment were stamped heavily on his visage.

“Not a fucking word,” Mason snarled as he shoved by him.

“Asshole.”

He heard, but pretended he didn’t.

Hewasan asshole. Worse.

Shonda wasn’t shy about calling him out. Yet, coming from her, it almost always seemed like an endearment. And wasn’t that the crux of the matter? Whenever she busted him on his bullshit, he adored her all the more for it.

Inside, his mother had whipped up a spread to feed an army. On any given day, Mason would be the first to do it justice. But not today. He couldn’t force a single bite past his lips, not when his stomach churned.

And it was all because Shonda had called it quits. She’d given in and accepted what they’d had was casual.

But it wasn’t. Not by a long shot.

As much as he tried to tell himself he could walk away, he always ended up back at her door. She was right. His constant return was always under the guise of making sure she was okay. But because of him, she was a hot mess.

Shonda loved him, and it was hard to wrap his feelings around the fact. Under no delusions, he realized he wasopinionated, domineering, and demanding. A few nicer qualities could be sprinkled in here and there, but overall, he was no prize.