Page 27

One week later…

W e almost missed Brighton’s wedding. Not because we weren’t getting a million messages a day from Kenzie’s mom—we were—but because when Kenzie was supposed to be lining up to walk down the aisle, she was bent over a table in a random storage room coming all over my cock.

Her in the one-shoulder dress proved too much for my will power, and I talked her into a quickie. The storage room was the first we found with a lock, and I wasn’t taking the chance on one of her family members walking in on us.

When Kenzie rushed into the waiting room with disheveled hair and an unstoppable grin, her sister raised a brow at me before slamming the door in my face. Completely worth it.

We were able to mark “walk down the aisle with cum dripping down her thighs” off her list. It wasn’t on there before the morning of the wedding, but I added it at the last second.

She looked beautiful—joyful and glowing—and her family didn’t once mention Kane despite his parents being in attendance. Her mom even came over to ask me about my season. I considered it an olive branch after everything that had happened and tried to answer her questions without holding back.

To her credit, she didn’t suddenly get nicer when she found out who my family was, but she did end the conversation saying she hadn’t seen Kenzie this happy in years. I counted it as a win.

The traffic coming back from Dallas was horrific, and all I imagined doing was curling up with Kenzie and the damn cat in front of a mindless movie. We’d moved most of her stuff into the house last week. Finals were over, Kenzie was officially no longer on probation, we had a week off from games for Christmas, and I wanted to relax.

Of course, Cole cornered us as we walked in. “We have a problem.”

Kenzie frowned, probably imagining some other nefarious scheme put in motion by Kane before he left town. “What problem?”

Cole glanced at me, his face drawn. “Mase spent the last three nights on the couch, and his truck was gone this morning.”

Everything stilled. “You think it’s like last time?”

He rubbed a hand over his mouth. “Yeah.”

“Gavin?”

“He’s on his way.”

“I thought he was in Denver this weekend.”

“He was. He flew back. Eva picked him up from the airport, and they’re driving straight here.”

I shoved my hair away from my face. “Fuck. Did you track his phone?”

Cole held up Mase’s newest purchase. “He left it here. Any ideas where he’d go when he’s sleep-deprived and running from his demons?”

“No idea, though after this, I’m putting a tracker in his neck.”

Eva burst through the door, followed by Gavin hefting their duck in her travel carrier. He set the carrier down and let her out, where she fluffed her feathers and pointedly ignored him. Cole crouched down to croon at her until she calmed down.

“Have you heard anything?” I asked them.

“No, I was hoping you had and we could all have a good laugh about this. What’s your usual next step?”

Cole, Gavin, and I exchanged a worried look, and Gavin answered her.

“He’s never left before. Usually, when he reaches the end of his rope, he gets destructive then passes out.”

She propped her hands on her hips. “Right. Since we’re all standing around here, I assume no one has any idea where he’d go. I’ll make some calls. We need to split up and drive around. Addison isn’t that big, and Mase is too well known to hide. Does he have his coat? It’s cold as balls outside.”

Cole shook his head. “I think he’s in his TU hoodie. He’s been wearing it nonstop the last few days.”

I turned to Kenzie, who’d been silent during the whole exchange. “I’m sorry—” I started, but she shook her head.

“Go. I’ll watch the ducks.”

I framed her face and kissed her hard. “I love you. You’re perfect. Call me if Mase comes home.”

“Love you too. Be careful.”

I ran upstairs to change out of my suit from the wedding, and Eva texted me the route she wanted me to take. Her powers of organization were scary sometimes. By the time I returned from my room, everyone else had left, and Kenzie was snuggled up on the couch with all three animals.

“You’ll find him,” she assured me.

I nodded, but I didn’t have her confidence. Mase had these episodes sometimes, and it was impossible to tell when something would set him off. Stupidly, I’d assumed everything was fine because I was focused on Kenzie and the wedding. I’d finished my circle of campus when my phone rang with an unknown number.

“Hello,” I answered, my heart pounding.

A throaty female voice responded. “Hi, do you know a big guy in a Teagan University hoodie who drives an old blue truck?”

“Yes,” I nearly shouted. “Where is he?”

“He drove his truck into a ditch out on Lakeview Parkway, just past Rocco’s. I stopped to help, and he growled this number at me.”

“Is he okay?”

“Physically, he’s got a little cut on his temple, but the bleeding stopped. Mentally, I have no idea. He won’t let me touch him to clean him up, and I’m not sure he’s fully aware of his surroundings. Is he on something?”

Relief flowed through me, cooling the panic. “No, it’s exhaustion. He hasn’t slept in a couple of days. Just stay out of reach and keep an eye on him if you don’t mind.”

“Sure,” she deadpanned. “I had nothing else to do today.”

“Thanks.” I hung up and relayed the information to Cole and Gavin. We’d need all of us to get Mase home.

When we pulled up, a woman about our age leaned with her hip against the open driver door of Mase’s truck while she scrolled through her phone. She was bombshell curvy in leggings and a cropped long-sleeve top. Tattoos peeked out from where she’d pushed her sleeves up her forearms, and in the sun, the ends of her dark hair shone purple.

She pushed away when I got out of the truck to approach us. “I hope you’re his friends. Otherwise, I have a black belt in Krav Maga and pepper spray ready to go.”

I smiled at her fearless tone. “I’m Reece, and yeah, we’re his friends.”

“Taryn. Nice to meet you.” She didn’t offer to shake, and I respected her decision to stay well out of my reach. Her gaze traveled past me to the others getting out of their cars. “Looks like you’ve got the muscle handled. He’s still sitting in his truck. Good luck.”

After a bunch of arguing, and Gavin having to pull out his captain voice, we got Mase lying down sideways in the backseat of Cole’s car. He was asleep in seconds. Taryn surprised the shit out of me by laying a fuzzy black blanket over him.

She met my eyes and shrugged. “We’re all fighting battles no one else can understand.”

Without saying goodbye, she got in a classic VW bug and drove off. Eva took over Mase’s truck, thankfully still operable, and the rest of us caravaned home.

When we got back, Kenzie had hot chocolate waiting. “Is he okay?”

I took the mug from her and pulled her into a hug. “He’s fine. Passed out in Cole’s car, which we put in the garage because none of us want to try to carry an unconscious Mase into the house.”

Eva, Gavin, and Cole all collapsed onto the couch with their cups. Gavin pinched the bridge of his nose. “I swear you guys are going to be the death of me.”

Eva patted his arm as Henry squeezed between them. “At least you had a good reason for avoiding the presser.”

“True,” he muttered, then clinked his mug to Eva’s. “Cheers.”

Cole downed his hot chocolate, and Sunny curled up in his lap. “I’m getting too old for this shit. Wake me up when Mase is conscious again so I can kill him.”

“Get in line,” growled Gavin.

I chuckled, and as much as I’d like to hang out with Gavin on one of his rare visits, I wanted Kenzie more. “We’re going upstairs. Enjoy your couch time.”

Eva waved in our direction. “Thanks for the cocoa, Kenzie.”

The guys echoed her sentiment, and Kenzie called her kitten as we retreated to our room. Boo came running up the stairs at full speed, missed his turn into the room, and collided with the doorway.

Kenzie giggled as she helped him into the bedroom, but she sobered when the door closed. “How often does Mase do this?”

I leaned back, letting my head hit the wall. “It’s impossible to tell. He’s gone years without an incident, but we knew something was off the last few months. I wish I’d been paying more attention.”

She cupped my face, forcing me to look at her. “It’s not your fault. You guys sprang into action as soon as you knew he was gone, and Mase is home with very little damage. He doesn’t want us involved in whatever is haunting him, so the only thing we can do is respect his wishes and keep an eye on him.”

“Are you sure you’re up for this? Moving in means babysitting a duck, a kitten, and a grown-ass man.”

Kenzie scoffed. “I think you mean two grown-ass men, but yes. I like taking care of people. I’m ready and willing to jump in when Mase needs help. Now stop trying to find reasons I might leave.”

She opened the nightstand on her side of the bed and pulled out a small gold box. “I was going to give this to you at the wedding, but I decided I’d rather not explain it to my family.”

I opened the box and laughed at the key nestled in the tissue paper inside it. “Deacon’s key?”

“I thought you could give it back since you don’t need it anymore.”

I picked it up and stared at it for a long moment. “I haven’t needed it since the night I met you. You’re it for me, little thief.”

She wrapped her arms around me, and I kissed her for a long time, content to have her there in my room after everything we’d gone through.

I eased away. “You’re still not getting your panties back.”

“I’m willing to trade the panties if I get to keep you.”

“You’re never getting rid of me,” I whispered, kissing her again. Always. Forever.