“Oh, Gabi Rae, good for you! I like that boy.”
She did too. A little too much if she was honest with herself.
“Is he treating you right?”
“Of course,” she answered honestly. He really was genuinely wonderful to her. He never made her feel silly or stupid or as if she was a bother. In fact, she had a feeling he enjoyed being around her. It was a new experience, to say the least.
“Well, he’d better, or I’m coming after him.”
She laughed. “How’s St. Louis, have you worked off all that Chicago pizza?”
“Ugh, I don’t think that’s ever coming off, but I don’t mind. Speaking of Chicago, though, I did call to talk to you about something.”
“Okaaay,” she said slowly, gripping the phone harder. Her mind raced through all the horrible things he could be about to say. He was sick, she knew it. Hospital scenes and cancer treatments flitted through her brain like old grainy film.
“Now, don’t get excited, I’ve just put in an inquiry.” He stopped.
She waited.
“Dad,” she complained when he didn’t go on. “What? Just tell me.”
“Well, the truth is, Gabi, ever since I came home from Chicago, St. Louis just hasn’t felt the same.”
She held her breath.
“And I realized that my home is where you are, so yesterday I put in an inquiry for a transfer to Chicago.”
She shot off the bed, the joy bubbling out of every pore. “Oh my God, really?”
He laughed at the excitement in her voice. “Really, but like I said, I’m not guaranteed anything. I just thought I’d give it a shot.”
“So you’re moving here?” Her voice kept climbing pitches and she started walking circles around her bedroom. Her dad was coming! She would have burst from joy were it possible.
He chuckled. “Well, if I do get the transfer to Chicago and I don’t move, the commute is going to be hell.”
“Oh my God. Dad! I’m so excited, there’s so much to do, so much to plan.” She let out a squeal that probably killed whatever hearing he may have had in that ear. She had to tell Mason and Kylie.
Her desire to tell Mason first made her pause, but she recovered with a shake of her head.
“Don’t get ahead of yourself,” he told her. “It could be that they don’t have space for me up there.”
“Oh, they will,” she declared. “I’ll bust in there and tell them they have to make room for you.”
He laughed. “I’m glad you’re excited about it. I was a little worried you wouldn’t like me interfering in your new life. I know it’s going well.”
“Don’t you dare even think that,” she said. “Of course I want you here. I miss you every day.”
“I miss you too, Gabs. We’ll both keep our fingers crossed then, okay?”
“All of them,” she promised.
“I’ll let you know as soon as I find out and, in the meantime, have fun with that Mason fellow.”
“I will,” she said.
“Good girl, love you, ladybug.”
“Love you too, Dad.”
She let out another squeal, threw her phone on the bed, and proceeded to dance her way to Kylie’s where she reacted to the news in exactly the same way.
“Oh, I’m so glad we’ll have the family back together,” Kylie said as they collapsed onto her sofa.
“Me. Too,” she answered, still shocked that he was considering moving. She had been so sure he’d never do it. Christ, it made her happy.
“So,” she said, pulling herself up to look at her friend, “I want all the details about tonight with Cruz.”
Kylie’s whole face brightened in a way she had never seen before. She was breathtaking. “I’m so excited,” she said, clapping her hands together. “He’s picking me up at seven and we’re going to Sullivans!” She grinned like a schoolgirl. “Then afterwards, he promised me he’d teach me how to salsa dance.”
“Oh, Ky,” Gabi breathed, “that sounds amazing.” As handsome as Cruz was, she imagined he’d be devastating on the dance floor. And Kylie was a goner already.
“I never thought I’d ever get to go to Sullivans, but I’ve always dreamt of it.” She smiled again and did another little dance. “And dancing? I just can’t wait.”
They squealed for a few more minutes and then set about the chore of choosing the perfect dress for the occasion.
Two hours and about thirty-three dresses later, they found the perfect little black dress. It hugged every one of Kylie’s curves as if it was sewn onto her. Cruz was a lucky, lucky man.
Mason
That afternoon, Mason was busy making sure all the reservations were in place for the bachelor party. He was excited. Excited to celebrate his brother and to celebrate his future with Lula.
He had felt very differently about this process just a few weeks ago. He saw the wedding as an ending, but not anymore. It was Gabi. He didn’t know how or why, but she was slowly changing him, and it was equal parts thrilling and terrifying.
He missed her when he wasn’t with her, and though he knew he’d see her after the party, he was still counting down the hours like a lovesick middle-schooler.
Old Mason would have made fun of New Mason.
She texted him right as he was getting dressed for the party, and the sight of her name across his phone screen made him smile as usual.
GABI: Have fun tonight, handsome.
His heart skittered as he read it. She didn’t normally text him at all unless it had to do with coming over or sexting as a lead up to it. Was she thinking about him more too? Both his smile and his hopes brightened.
MASON: Thank you, gorgeous. I’m looking forward to it. How has your day been?
GABI: Pretty good. I had an early AND late morning workout with this really sexy guy I know.
He grinned from ear to ear. That’s right, she did.
MASON: He sounds nice, anyone I know?
GABI: Probably, he’s in the furniture business.
He laughed.
MASON: Any chance you’ll see him again?
GABI: Chances are good, I’m loving the workouts. Very thorough.
He fist-bumped the air and gave himself a mental high-five.
MASON: I’m glad to hear that.
GABI: But also, I had THE BEST news today, my dad is thinking of moving here. I’m so excited! I didn’t think he’d ever leave St. Louis.
Mason felt his heart pump oddly, and he had to sit on the edge of his bed. It was such a normal text, but it seemed immensely important. She had never shared anything like this with him before, and it felt so goddamn wonderful to be the man she wanted to tell her good news to, that he felt tears in his eyes. What the fuck was he turning into?
MASON: That’s awesome, gorgeous! Your dad is amazing.
GABI: He is. You know, he saw right through that stunt you played at the Cubs game.
MASON: I thought he might have, but he didn’t seem to mind.
GABI: Not a bit in fact he told me that I should take a chance on you.
Well damn, he was going to have to buy this man a drink. One thousand drinks.
MASON: He’s a smart guy.
GABI: Remains to be proven. Have fun tonight and don’t be afraid to wake me up.
He smiled.
MASON: Oh babe, I don’t think it’s possible to keep my hands off you.
GABI: Then don’t. ;)
Oh for the love of God, what was he going to do with this woman? How was he going to be able to push through this party now?
Luckily, once the party was in full swing and they were at the dinner venue, there was no lack of distraction. Dom’s friends were pretty great, if a little on the intellectual side, and he had Seb there too, at least until he drank himself under a mountain of beer and whiskey.
Mason had to grab him by the back of the neck and stuff him in a cab against his will. He was furious with his brother but decided to take the issue up with him the next day and let Dom enjoy his
night. The less he knew the better. The stress of the wedding was enough for now.
But aside from that, the night was a success. Dom had requested a tame bachelor party, dinner, bars, just fun with guys. No strip clubs, no strippers. And that’s exactly what Mason provided, much to Seb’s initial whining.
A month ago, he agreed with Seb and was dead-set on having at least one stripper for a private dance, but he understood now. Now that he had Gabi in his life, it suddenly made sense that Dom wouldn’t be interested in just any woman. The most shocking part of all was that it didn’t bother him in the least.
“Thank you, man,” Dom told him as he drove him home that night. “That was exactly what I wanted.”
He smiled. “You’re welcome, I’m glad you enjoyed it.”
Dom laughed and rolled his head back against the headrest. He was toasted, and for the first time in his life, Mason was glad he was the designated driver. “I really thought you were going to have a stripper. I actually bet Chaz twenty dollars that you would. I kept looking for one. Now I’m out twenty dollars.”
Mason chuckled. “I’ll be honest, man, I was going to, but ... I kinda figured out why you might not want one.”
Dom looked at him with a knowing smile. “What’s her name?”
“Who?”
“Whoever you met that changed your mind.”
“Gabi,” he answered after a long pause. Saying her name made him smile, and he wished he had caught it before Dom did.
His brother let out a disbelieving laugh. “Wow, I really never thought I’d see the day.”
Mason didn’t answer. There were too many things battling in his brain. She wasn’t even really his.
“Well, I’m happy for you,” Dom told him. “I can’t wait to meet her.”
“She’s coming to the wedding; Lula made sure of it.”
“That’s my girl,” Dom said, his head falling back again. “I miss her. Are we home yet? I want to kiss my girl.”
“Couple minutes,” he answered. He knew how he felt. His own mind was in a warm bed with a complicated redhead.
He was worried his heart was too.
Chapter 22
Mason
“You know you could have invited her,” his mother told him, adjusting his tie as the family gathered at the wedding rehearsal dinner two weeks later.
He laughed. “Believe me, it was hard enough to get her to say yes to be my date to the wedding. There was no chance she’d say yes to dinner too.”
His mother grinned. “Must be a special lady to turn down my handsome son and still keep him hanging on.”
“Well, she is that,” he assured her.
“I can’t wait to meet her.”
He couldn’t wait for her to meet her either. Which was another new feeling. He had never introduced his mother to any girl. It had always seemed so needlessly complicated. Now he just wanted to show her off to whoever would pay attention. He’d march her down the aisle at Home Depot if she would let him.
“I think you’ll like her,” he said.
“I’ve always said you have the best eye in the family.” She referred to his design sense. “So I have no doubt.”
“And I’ve got the best looks,” Seb said, bursting into their conversation, a hand on Mason’s shoulder. “What does that leave Dom?”
“Brains,” their mother answered easily and sauntered away to greet said son, who had just arrived with a beaming Lula on his arm.
Mason smiled and waved at the couple, then turned to Seb with a hard look. He already smelled like beer. “Come on, are you already drinking?”
“Jesus, man, not this again.” Seb shook his head.
They had been through this after the bachelor party, and it had not gone well. Seb hadn’t wanted to hear any of it, but it hadn’t stopped Mason from telling him exactly what he thought about his behavior. And though he’d agreed to do this with Dom, he felt like he needed to confront Seb now before he ruined the wedding. “Well, have you?”
“I’ve had one beer,” he said, putting his hands up. “One. I wouldn’t exactly say I’m stumbling drunk. You can lay off.”
He straightened. “I could, but I’m not. This is Dom’s moment, and I’ll be damned if you make a fool out of yourself like you did at the bachelor party.”
“That was a bachelor party,” he argued. “That’s what you’re supposed to do. Get drunk, have fun. I can’t help that I was the only one that had fun.”
“That wasn’t fun, Seb, that was sad. You’re lucky I sent your ass home.”
“You act like I have some sort of problem,” he grumbled, keeping his voice down. “I don’t, it’s under control.”
Mason squared up on him. “I’m trying to make sure you don’t, Seb, this is me worrying about you, trying to do something before it gets out of control.”
“Well, I don’t need your fucking help.” He was talking through a clenched jaw, and his color was quickly rising.
“You don’t get to choose,” he fired back. “And you can guarantee I’m watching your ass tonight and tomorrow night because you don’t get to screw this up for Dom and Lula.”
He stepped forward and squared his shoulders to match. “What are you going to do, hit me?”
Mason stretched his neck to the side. He could level Seb with one punch. He had done it a hundred times. “Only if you make it necessary.”
Seb was about to launch into another tirade when Steve wandered up to them and slapped them both on the back. “Hey, boys,” he said in an over-bright tone that told them he knew exactly what they were about to start. “Don’t you think it’s about time you join the family at the table?”
Mason clenched his jaw but let the tension in his shoulders relax. Seb let out a long breath.
“Good,” Steve said, “because I’ll knock you both out if you cause any more stress for your mother.”
What the? Mason looked at Steve with a mixture of surprise and respect. The man clearly meant it, and there weren’t many men that threatened Mason. Ever.
Seb just grunted and walked over to the table like an oversized twelve-year-old.
“You’re doing the right thing,” Steve told him as they made their way over as well. “But maybe this isn’t the time or place.”
“Right,” he answered. “Sorry and ... thanks.”
Steve laughed. “Oh, that was my pleasure.”
Mason laughed. Maybe he could cut him some slack. A little, teeny bit wouldn’t hurt.
Gabi
“Hey, handsome,” Gabi whispered as she felt Mason crawl into the bed next to her and pull her body into his arms. There was nothing like the feeling of his solid, warm body enveloping hers. She melted into him. “How was the dinner?”
“Good,” he said, pressing kisses into the back of her neck. “But it would have been better with you there.”
Smiling, she flipped over and kissed him on the lips. “Miss me, did you?”
“Maybe a little,” he answered, drawing a finger down the side of her face. It made her feel so adored, so singularly special. “Or a lot.”
She had missed him too, but she didn’t say it. It felt too private. Instead, she smiled and kissed him again.
“I almost got in a fight with Seb though,” he mentioned between kisses.
“What?” She propped herself up on her elbows and looked down at him. “Why?”
He sighed and curled over so his head was against her shoulder. “I’m worried his drinking is getting out of control.”
“Oh, Mason, I’m so sorry.” He looked so sweet and vulnerable that she couldn’t keep from running her hand down the side of his face. “What happened?”
He kissed her fingers. “He got sloppy drunk at the bachelor party and we had it out the next day.”
She ran her fingers through his hair and let him talk, feeling profoundly pleased that he felt he could open his heart to her.
“Dom and I have been worried for a while. I think all his touring with the band has him trappe
d in this downward spiral that he can’t see a way out of. And I’m worried that if he stays on this road, he’ll be in rehab by the end of the year.”
“What does he say?”
Mason let out a dry laugh and looked up at her. “That I’m an asshole and should mind my own business. He says he has everything under control, that I’m jumping to conclusions.”
He searched her eyes for a moment and she could see all the worries jumbled up in his.
“Am I being an asshole? I just want to protect Dom and Lula right now.”
“You probably are being an asshole,” she told him with a grin. He pinched her lightly in response and she added, “But you’re not wrong. Seb won’t see it until he’s on the other side, so I can’t imagine he’ll forgive you anytime soon. But he doesn’t need you to be nice; he needs you to be an asshole whether he likes it or not.”
Mason thought about what she said for a moment and then finally grinned. He slid a hand up her neck and pulled her down for a sultry kiss. “You know, you’re pretty smart,” he told her.
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah.” He kissed her again. “And so fucking sexy.”
Her entire body thrilled as he slid his hand from her neck and down to her stomach. “Is that so?” she asked coyly.
“Yes, ma’am.” He kissed her neck. “And I’m going to spend the rest of the night showing you just how sexy you are.”
And before she knew what was happening, he slid down beneath the sheets and buried his tongue inside her.
Chapter 23
Gabi
Gabi stood in front of her mirror the next night fully dressed and ready for Dom and Lula’s wedding. She had her hair swept up into barrel rolls, her make-up professionally done, and the deep-blue satin sheath Kylie had helped her find looked, if she did say so herself, stunning.
She was glowing. She wasn’t sure if it was the skilled hand of the make-up artist or the fact that she was going to be on Mason’s arm tonight for the first time. She had thought she’d be terrified, have second thoughts, but she felt nothing but excitement.
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