Page 108 of The Defender

“Has she visited you since you moved here?” he asked.

“No, but it’s hard to fly with a toddler.”

“It’s also hard to fly halfway across the world to give moral support. Her husband should be there with her. He’s the dad.”

“He will, but she wants me there too. That’s my mom.” I stopped at a stall to examine a Santa keychain. I wasn’tinterested in buying it, but it gave me an excuse to avoid Vincent’s shrewd gaze. “She’s the center of her world.”

“Sure, but she’s not the center of yours. You don’t have to drop everything and go running every time she calls.”

“Maybe not, but she’s still my mom, and I do miss Charlie. Even if the rest of the trip sucks, it’ll be good to see him.”

Vincent opened his mouth as if to argue more, but he was cut off by a jubilant exclamation.

“Brooklyn?”

We turned at the same time. Vincent’s face hardened into a scowl while I zeroed in on the familiar head of auburn hair bobbing toward us.

“Mason!” My voice lit with surprise. “Hi.”

Our texts had petered out after I turned down his dinner invitation. I thought he might resent me for rejecting him, but he looked genuinely happy to see me.

“Hey.” He grinned. “Fancy seeing you here. You too, Vincent,” he added.

Vincent gave him a tight smile in return.

“How have you been?” I asked, just to be polite. I liked Mason well enough, but I’d rather be alone with Vincent.

While Mason launched into a monologue about his life lately, my gaze latched onto the shopping bag in his hand. It was from a sports memorabilia vendor. A Blackcastle scarf and shirt peeked from a cloud of white tissue paper.

“You got into football after all, huh?” I said after he wrapped up his story about his company’s recent ugly-sweater-themed Christmas party.

“What?” He followed my gaze and blushed. “Oh, yeah, everyone in my office is obsessed with it. I figured I should start watching if I want to fit in.” He fished the shirt out of the bag and thrust it at Vincent. “Actually, I hate to ask this, but do you mindsigning this for me? My boss is a big fan and he’ll flip out. I could really use the goodwill.”

Vincent’s closed-lip smile was even terser the second time around. “Do you have a marker?”

“Yep. One second.” Mason dug a Sharpie from his pocket. “I always carry one on me. Notepad too. Marketing ideas can strike at anytime.”

Vincent scrawled his autograph across the shirt with a little more force than necessary.

“Thanks!” Mason seemed oblivious to my boyfriend’s barely concealed hostility. “I won’t keep you any longer. I have a bunch more shopping to do. It was great seeing you both. Happy holidays.”

I waved goodbye. “Happy holidays.”

“I don’t like him,” Vincent said immediately after Mason was out of earshot.

I stifled a laugh at his grumpy tone. “You’ve told me that already.”

“Well, I’m reiterating my feelings. Ireallydon’t like him.”

“Is this because he asked me out that one time?” I teased.

I meant it as a joke, but dull red washed over Vincent’s cheekbones. “No.”

“Hmm.”

“I’m not that jealous.”

“Okay.”