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19
RAIN
Rain couldn’t help but preen because the small grin on Mason’s face was due to him, and it matched his own dreamy expression. Like Liam and Ollie, Rain was now stupidly in love and it was wonderful.
Indecision had plagued him all the way to the gallery, so he’d decided to walk in and see what Mason said or did and if he got the sign he was looking for, then he’d risk his heart one last time. But if it was too awkward, he’d leave.
He’d never expected the photos. He had been sure that Mason was going to use a selection from their various modeling sessions, not the candids; however, they couldn’t have been more perfect. Those portraits had spoken for Mason, becoming a blinking neon sign that showed Rain exactly how Mason felt, and Rain’s broken heart had started to mend the moment he’d laid eyes on them. The heartfelt confession under that two-dimensional tree was just icing on the cake, a promise that Rain knew would be kept, and as they walked back into the main room he felt like he was floating.
“Wow.” Mason squeezed Rain’s hand. It had gotten even more crowded but this time the group around Mason’s work was familiar. While Finn and Ollie gawked at the main photo, Liam and Owen studied a portrait of Rain flying the drone, his eyes on the sky. In that one, he looked like a man, not the toddler adult he’d been when Tristan had left, and pride rode shotgun to his joy. It had been a lot of hard work, courage, and heartache, but now he had direction, no toxic mother in his life, friends who were really family, and an actual relationship. While the latter was strange new ground, he and Mason would get it right because there was no alternative. They had to be with each other.
It was kismet.
“Did you remember to take the pill this morning?” Ollie snuck up while Mason thanked Dolores, pitching his voice so only Rain could hear it. “You’ll get pregnant.”
Rain choked, releasing Mason’s hand to give Ollie a faux slap to the shoulder. “Shut up, Ollinator.”
“Welcome to the love club, Rain!” Smirking, Ollie toasted him with his glass. “I never saw it coming but I’m happy for you two. You work.”
Matching Ollie’s energy, Rain pulled out his phone and pretended to scroll through the gallery, winking at Mason.
“Hey, Ollie.” Rain leaned close. “Remember when I said that if I lived with Mason, I’d have a picture of his dick?”
“No.” Ollie shut his eyes, and Rain didn’t select a photo; he just waved his phone in front of Ollie’s face, trolling him and laughing as Ollie continued to protest. “No means no, Drizzle, I don’t want to be scarred for life.”
“Why would you be scarred by a top-tier co- hi, Liam. Owen.” Rain changed tracks flawlessly, pocketing his phone, but by their smiles they’d heard enough. Mason joined their circle and Owen gave him a polite nod.
“Congratulations, Mason.” He cracked a blinding smile. “Your photos are inspired. I have nothing negative to say.”
Liam, Ollie, and Rain all rolled their eyes, holding back giggles as Mason returned the nod, not acknowledging the pun.
“Thank you, Owen.”
“I hear there’s a famous model in these parts?” An arm wrapped around Rain’s shoulders and he looked up to find Tommy next to him, teasing approval in his gaze and a hefty serving of food on his plate.
“Tommy!” Rain hugged him so hard that Ollie had to snatch the appetizers away before they hit the floor.
“So, are you going to introduce me to your main squeeze?” Breaking away from the hug, Tommy extended a hand to Mason, who shook it without hesitating.
“I know who you are,” Mason stated, being as on-brand as possible. “You’re Tommy, Ollie’s brother. You helped him move in and you don’t know how to walk quietly.”
Ollie and Rain burst out laughing.
“It’s true though,” Rain agreed. “You stomp!”
Tommy made a silly face at them. “We’re not talking about my lead feet. We’re talking about how Mason is courting my Rain and I need to know his intentions.”
“I know what his intentions are,” Ollie announced. “To bend Rain over and mmmph! ”
“That’s the second time today, Sunshine.” Finn’s left palm easily covered Ollie’s mouth and he used it to hold Ollie’s head still, kissing him on the cheek. Suddenly, his eyebrows flew up and he snatched the hand away, wiping it on his jeans. “You slobbered all over it!”
“That’s what you get, Just Finn,” Ollie giggled, returning the kiss to Finn’s lips.
“See, this is what I mean, they aren’t normal.” Rain spoke to Tommy in a stage whisper.
“You’re just as bad.” Not even bothering to whisper, Tommy put his hands on his hips, giving Rain a pointed look.
“I am.” Rain said proudly, love bubbling up inside of him as he turned to Mason, but Mason wasn’t returning the sentiment because he was too busy staring at Finn.
As the conversation hit a natural lull, Mason stepped forward, extending his hand to Finn. “I apologize for hitting you on the day of the fire.”
Ollie gasped but stayed silent, watching carefully. Since Mason and Rain hadn’t talked much after that ridiculous day, Rain had heard the entire story from Ollie, and he’d been shocked and smitten that Mason had gone so feral trying to get to him. And now Mason was owning up, something he wouldn’t have done before, showing Rain that he was willing to try and willing to change.
As usual, Finn didn’t have an awkward bone in his body, easily taking Mason’s hand.
“It’s fine, it’s in the past. Besides, if it was Ollie up there? I would’ve done the same thing.”
“Awww,” Ollie crooned, leaning on Finn. “It’s true and - oh no way ! Jaxaphone, you made it!” Attention easily grabbed, Ollie flounced over to a man with bleach-blonde hair and a grimace on his face, and Finn went from cordial to worried.
“You okay, Jax?” Finn asked, hugging him as he came over.
“I’ve been better,” Jax gave him a pinched smile. “I got fired again.”
“Why?” Concern lined Ollie’s brow.
“I got tired of watching the chef-slash-owner grope the waitresses so I groped him instead, asked him how he liked it.” Anger flashed in Jax’s eyes and Rain instantly liked him.
“You are a king,” Tommy declared.
“Naw, I’m just an unemployed cook with rent to pay.” He shifted, cracking his neck and shaking out one leg as if it bothered him, his behavior reminding Rain of Tristan.
“I might be able to help with that.” Frowning a bit in thought, Finn pulled out his phone, texting.
“Really? That would be awesome,” Jax moved closer to the portraits, taking in a few before turning to Rain and Mason. “Hi, I’m Jax. Finn’s brother.”
“The infamous brother!” Rain exclaimed, and handshakes went around again, but Jax lingered on Mason, pumping his arm a few more times.
“Your photos are amazing. I love how you underexposed this one.” He pointed to the portrait beside him and Rain tried not to giggle as Mason puffed up with pride. The tells were subtle; his posture straightened a hair and his eyes glinted, but that was his way of strutting like a peacock.
“Thank you.” The joy on Mason’s face was undeniable. “A lot of photographers fight shadow but I like to harness it-”
“Congratulations, guys!” Angelo boomed as he, Emma, Kate, Marci, and Dylan all stumbled through the crowd like there was a Pointe meeting in front of Rain’s pictures, and loud greetings ensued, the gallery filling with their joyful and boisterous energy.
“Oh, wow!” Kate’s mouth fell open as she noticed the portraits, immediately breaking off to check them out, Angelo quickly following.
“Mason, you’re incredible.” Marci toasted him with her glass of champagne. “I’m glad I have you locked down for my wedding because after this? You’re going to be too busy for brides.”
“For real,” Dylan chimed in, staring at a photo of Rain under the weeping willow a few days before The Pointe’s fire. The angle and the lens made it seem like he had stepped in from another world, and he could see why Mason called him an elfin prince.
Emma stood in front of the main portrait for a while, holding her expression tightly, and then she blinked a few times, wrapping her arm around Rain’s shoulders once he joined her.
“That one’s stunning. He sees you in a way that says you need to keep him.”
“I am,” Rain vowed. After all that despair, being with Mason again felt surreal; he still couldn’t wrap his head around the photos Mason had selected and he’d need a few days for things to truly sink in, but right now his heart was so full he felt heady, and he couldn’t wipe the smile from his face as everyone intermingled, Tommy getting to know his coworkers as well as Jax.
“Is Tristan coming?” Mason asked, never more than a few feet away. For once there were no lines in his forehead and his grin had grown, which meant that he was enjoying himself. Of course he was, people were constantly stopping in front of his section, showering him with impressed stares and compliments.
“He has to work,” Rain replied sadly. After weeks of searching, Tristan had landed a host position at an upscale restaurant and couldn’t get time off for the exhibition, but the photos would be up for a month, so he’d promised to visit on his next day off.
“Were you living with him?” The question had weight, and Rain nodded.
“It was nice but I can’t wait to be back home with you. Mouse will finally stop bothering me at night.”
“She kept you up?” Mason’s eyebrows rose a little.
“Like it’s her job.”
“She missed me.” Lips curling up even more, Mason seemed downright smug.
“She did,” Rain nodded. “And now she won’t have any reason to hassle me.”
A commotion had them looking over as Tommy and Ollie’s sister broke through the crowd, accompanied by her magenta-haired girlfriend Quinn, both of them stopping in front of the main photo.
“Holy shit,” Biz exclaimed after a moment, turning to Rain. “That kitten is cuter than you.” Quinn nodded silently beside her.
“I agree.” Rain gave them both a hug. “And she’s a bigger diva too.”
“I find that hard to believe,” Ollie sidled over, kissing Biz and Quinn on the cheek.
“Says the person who has a doctorate in diva.” Biz’s black lips curved in a smirk. She’d been goth as long as Rain had known her and currently wore a dress that reminded him of Morticia Addams, her hair unnaturally black and crowned with baby bangs. “Anyway, congrats Mason, you take killer photos!”
Mason nodded at her, his grin stretching into a slight smile, making Rain giddy.
The rest of The Pointe’s staff popped back in, all of them tittering with excitement.
“What’s going on?” Rain asked curiously.
“You know how Suzie isn’t coming back?” Marci started, and Rain nodded once.
“Yeah, and I don’t blame her. The place burned down on her surprise first day.”
“That means we’re out a sous chef,” Owen’s blue eyes sparkled. “And guess who just got the job?”
“Jax!” Kate blurted, pointing at him, and Jax gave a short wave.
“I’m gonna be part of this crazy family. I’ve only heard wild things,” he joked.
“Here’s to Jax joining us!” Finn toasted and the group cheered.
“Here, here!” Angelo boomed over them.
“No, really, thanks to Finn for thinking of me and to Marci and Owen for hiring me.” Jax toasted both of them with his soda.
“Wait,” Biz grinned diabolically, looking at Marci, who wore a pretty green dress. “You’re Marci?”
“The one and only,” Marci winked.
“Ollie has told me some stories and I am such a fan of your work,” she gushed and Rain blinked, along with Tommy, Ollie, and Finn, calculating how dangerous those two would be together.
“Thank you,” Marci laughed, shaking her empty champagne glass. “You know what? I could use a refill, let’s go to the bar.”
“Oh no ,” Ollie muttered as Biz, Quinn, and Marci all walked off together, chatting away like old friends.
“Ollie, your sis looks like she could murder me and I’d thank her for it,” Dylan stated, and laughter broke through the shock; even Mason let out one of his trademark huffs.
“Excuse me.” Two women in very expensive clothes stood off to the side, eyeballing Mason’s photos, and the blonde spoke with an affectation that signaled her wealth. “I need you to take my portrait.”
“Can I interview you for my photography blog?” Her friend, who had wonderful gray curls, moved a little too close to Mason and he stiffened up, clearly trying not to balk, so Rain stepped in.
“Hello ladies, my name is Rain Bardot and I’m not just the subject, I’m Mr. Hart’s manager.” He gave them a winning smile. “I’d be more than willing to help with both of your requests.”
Shocked, they looked him up and down, and the blonde nodded in appreciation. “That is you up there!”
Rain pulled a few business cards from the holder by the display. “It is. And I had such fun modeling for Mason.”
“I bet you did.” Ollie chimed in but Rain ignored him, handing out the cards.
“How about I get your information and we can set up a few appointments?” He glanced at Mason, just to be sure, and almost forgot what he was doing because Mason’s stare was full of pride, amazement, and that other mysterious quality that now had a name.
Love.
“You’re my manager?” Mason asked with raised eyebrows, his breath fogging the air as they stood on the street outside the gallery.
Rain smirked. “Do you have a problem with that?”
“No.” It was adorable how Mason answered teasing questions with honesty. “Do you want to be my manager?”
“Kind of.” Trying to ward off the cold, Rain put his hands in his pockets, his heart warming as Mason pulled him close, giving him his body heat. “I liked handling your calls and assisting on shoots, I wouldn’t mind taking that over. But I also want to learn more about drone photography and photography in general. Not because you do it, but because it’s cool.”
Mason gave him a light squeeze.
“I’d like to teach you.”
Rain could tell that something had softened in Mason tonight. Between admitting his love and the popularity of his portraits, he’d been hit with a couple of big things and he was handling it well; in fact, he’d somehow improved his people skills while they’d been apart, easily chatting about his photography with the patrons while Rain had handed out cards and collected numbers.
Since the exhibition was closed for the night, Tommy and Ollie were trying to coordinate an afterparty, and Rain watched as they made their way back from the parking lot.
“Okay so everyone is meeting up at Bar None -” Tommy began but Rain put a hand up, stopping him. Right now, all he wanted was to get Mouse and go back to Mason’s where he belonged. Besides, it was clear that Mason had been working himself to the bone; exhaustion lined his eyes, dulling the sea glass, and he needed to get some rest.
“I think we’ll pass, it’s been a long day,” he said. “I don’t think Mason’s slept in a-”
Rain went cold, his hand dropping as adrenaline shot through his system.
“What’s wrong?” Despite his fatigue, Mason immediately picked up on Rain’s discomfort, following his gaze, and his eyes widened as Ollie cursed.
Standing on the corner in an expensive new coat, expression unwaveringly happy, was Rain’s mother. How long had she been there? And how had she found him? Realizing that he’d noticed her, she waved, acting like their relationship was perfectly normal, as if he hadn’t faced off with her months ago and gone no-contact.
Mason stepped between them, blocking her line of sight.
“What do you want to do?” Worry lined Mason's features and he twitched, obviously wanting to whisk Rain away but he didn’t, and Rain appreciated the space to choose as well as Ollie and Tommy’s quiet patience.
Leaning out, Rain glanced at his mother again, realizing that he was stunned and apprehensive but not frozen in terror. Oddly enough, for the first time in his life he felt safe around her because Mason wouldn’t let anything happen to him and neither would the Clark Brothers.
Rain bit his lip, staring up at Mason. “Come with me?”
Mason’s gaze pried Rain open, reaching inside and holding his heart. “Always.”
With a quick look behind him, Rain set off down the street, hand in hand with Mason, his heart thumping in his ears. Ollie and Tommy followed but kept a respectable distance, available at a second’s notice, and it helped Rain keep his head high as he stopped near the end of the block, leaving a noticeable gap between him and his mother.
“Rainy!” She reached out before he could even say hello but he skittered back, and Mason put an arm between them, giving her a glare that stopped her in her tracks.
“Don’t touch him,” he growled.
“Who the fuck are you?” She tried to glare back, clearly not remembering Mason from the day of the fire, which wasn’t surprising.
“Mason,” he replied blankly, not rising to her bait, his intensity an asset because he continued to stare until she sagged, looking at Rain for help. But why would he help her when she’d never lent a hand to him?
“How did you find me?” he asked quietly, knowing he had a better chance for an answer if he remained calm, and she responded to his attention by lighting up like a Christmas tree.
“I’m meeting Josh for dinner on the next street and I saw you. It’s my lucky day!” Her joy fell flat when no one joined in.
“You were just walking by?” Nobody believed her but it didn’t matter. “Wait, your boss Josh?
He heard Ollie snort behind him.
“Of course! We finally took it out of the office and started living together after Gage got arrested because I had no place to go.” She rolled her eyes, obviously not concerned about Gage, her continuous lack of empathy making her the toddler adult.
At the mention of Gage’s arrest, Mason shifted, and Rain noticed a distinct lack of shock on his face. Did he know? Maybe he’d seen it online…
Or maybe he was behind it.
“Lemme text you Josh’s address.” Taking a brand-new cell phone out of her designer purse, she unlocked the screen. “Don’t worry, Rainy, he’ll take care of us, just come by tomorrow with your things. It’s an hour away but his place is huge like his-”
“No.” He needed to put a stop to her delusions.
Her head snapped up, eyes filling with rage.
“No? What do you mean no?” Her tone was like a siren before an incoming storm but Rain refused to be intimidated, not when he had Mason beside him, reminding him of everything he’d built and everything he’d become.
Standing as tall as he could, Rain took the hand of the man he loved, holding it tightly. “I’m living with Mason now.”
“Him?” She squinted at Mason, scrunching up her face in thought. “Is he the powerlifter?”
“Yeah.” Rain tried not to roll his eyes while Ollie snorted again. Of all the things to remember, she’d honed in on that.
“Isn’t he a little old for you?” she countered, and Rain almost laughed in her face.
“Really? You’re dating your sixty-year-old boss.” They were getting loud but at this late hour there was no one else on the street to witness their fallout.
Her rage spread quickly, twisting her lips. “I’m not asking you, Rain, I’m telling you. Get your things and get your ass to Josh’s place. ”
“Why? You don’t care about me. If Gage hadn’t been arrested, then you’d still be living with him, the guy who tried to break into my room the first night you brought him home.” As expected, she scoffed, crossing her arms, but Rain wanted her to hear it loud and clear so she couldn’t deny anything. “Did you know that he tried to fuck me on your birthday?”
Ollie and Tommy gasped, Mason’s fingers twitched, but his mother only stared, gritting her teeth as her fury built, shaking her until she erupted.
“That’s because you’re a little whore!” she snarled, her breath icing the air.
Anger poured from Mason in waves but Rain was used to her using words as knives, and the time he’d spent away had caused a disconnect in his favor because the things she said didn’t cut anymore. Her blades had gone dull.
“So that’s why your boyfriends started mauling me when I was four? Because I was a whore?” Tilting his head, he challenged her. He couldn’t help himself; this would be the last time they ever spoke and he wanted her to know exactly why he was leaving and that she was a terrible mother. “You always told me that you had me because you wanted a friend. But you don’t treat friends the way you treated me. You knew those men were dangerous, you knew what they did, but you still brought them home. And you’ve never shown any remorse or regret, you’ve never asked me how I am, or how I feel, or if anything is bothering me. You don’t know anything about me, or who I am, because the only person you’re interested in is yourself. You want me to be your puppet or your robot, so you can control me without the emotional investment, but I’m a human being! I have my own wants, my own personality, and my own life . A life that no longer includes you.”
For a few seconds she didn’t speak but her face told him enough. She’d never been good at hiding how she felt, that would require reflection and maturity, both of which she didn’t have.
“I didn’t give birth to you so I could be on my own,” she finally blurted.
“That isn’t my problem anymore.” Those words broke the bond, slicing through the last link of the chain, and everything he felt toward her dissolved. It didn’t matter what she did now because Rain wasn’t giving her any more of his energy, that was reserved for people who cared about him.
He held her stare, looking into eyes that were so much like his own yet so different, and the air grew thick with anticipation. Mason slid a foot out, ready to jump between them again, and Rain could feel the tension coming off the brothers behind him. After what she’d done at The Pointe, she had to know that she was outnumbered, that if she got physical, then this wouldn’t end well for her, and it seemed to sink in as she let out a disgusted huff.
“Fine.” She practically spat the word, giving Mason a death glare. “Stay in this shit town with him. But don’t come crawling to me when this doesn’t work out and you’re alone.”
Rain only nodded, knowing that not reacting was the best way to react. She continued to glare and then spun on her heel and stalked off. They all stared after her until she turned a corner and Rain drooped once she was out of sight, his limbs noodly.
“Are you okay?” Mason put an arm around his waist, supporting him as he nodded.
“Yeah. Actually, I am.” He felt raw and shaky, but cleansed, as if he’d been reborn.
Tommy let out a sob, tears spilling from his eyes.
“I had no idea…” Taking the tissue that Ollie offered, he wiped his face. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Because you and your family were my escape.” Rain patted his shoulder. “I didn’t want you to pity me or see me as a victim.”
“But you’re not a victim,” Ollie stated, his eyes serious. “You’re a survivor.”
Rain thought about everything he’d been through, especially over the last year. He’d weathered Tristan leaving, Gage’s perversion, having to sleep in The Pointe’s storage room, and a broken heart; however, his biggest obstacle had been escaping his mother. He’d fought so hard to pry her tendrils loose, reaching for a future without her in it, and now he had safety, hope, love, and the cutest kitten ever.
“You know what, Ollie?” Rain smiled, proud of who he’d become. “I am.”