Exhausted, he rolled over and pulled off the condom. He probably should go to the bathroom and clean up, but he didn’t want to leave Tessa. She stirred and sleepily reached for him. He took her hand, kissed it, and snuggled against her. “I’m here.” And he was never leaving her side.
“Can’t we just serve chips and pretzels? You don’t need to make anything.” Mason closed the lid on the grill. It’s only Lucas and Sindy.”
Tessa rushed onto the balcony, several strands of her dark hair flying free from the pony tail tied at the back of her neck. She looked frazzled, totally opposite of her usual take-charge, I-got-everything-under-control composure. They were going to surprise Lucas and Sindy with the news of their relationship, and, at the last minute, Tessa decided to whip up some awesome little croquettes, because homemade croquettes was something a person made on the spur of the moment, along with freshly made tortilla chips and a corn and cotija cheese dip.
She stood with her hands on her hips. “Did you just suggest that I serve pretzels and chips? When have I ever served something out of a snack bag?” Her lips spread into a what-am-I-going-to-do-with-you smile and she wiped her hands on the apron tied around her waist. This one said, “This is How I Roll” above a photo of a rolling pin. She was so damn cute. He cupped her face in his hands and gave her a small kiss.
She pushed him away and waggled her finger at him. “No fooling around. Lucas and Sindy are on their way up. My croquetas de jamón are ready, and I just pulled the tortilla chips out of the fryer. I need the corn for my queso dip.” She lifted the lid to the barbecue and her jaw dropped when she saw the barely seared vegetables. “You just put them on? What were you doing?”
“Watching my hot girlfriend in the kitchen.”
She smiled. “I might let you off the hook for that remark. This time.” She turned up the flame. “No wonder they’re not done. The flame was too low. You’re a dude. You’re supposed to know how to use the grill.”
She had a smart mouth, and he loved her attitude. As he grabbed her around the waist to pull her in for a kiss, he hit her tickle spot and she shrieked. She jumped and hit the tray of utensils, causing the spatula to fall to the concrete floor with a clank. When she bent down to pick it up, he couldn’t resist pinching her cute little bottom.
Mason!” She shot straight up, a happy smile on her face, and swiped at him playfully with the spatula.
He pulled it out of her hand, grinned, and dropped it again. “Oops.”
She let out a beautiful light laugh. “Very funny.”
This time, when she bent over he grabbed her by her hips, jutted his pelvis forward and rubbed against her.
“Stop it.” She smacked him on the leg with the spatula and chuckled. When she turned around to check on the barbecue, he slid his hands over the globes of her adorable little ass. “Behave,” she warned, or I’m gonna hit you with the spatula again.
“Hey! What the fuck are you doing to my sister?” Lucas yelled from inside the living room. “Get your fucking hands off her!”
Mason barely had a chance to turn his head before Lucas sprinted to the balcony and had him by the front of his shirt. The cold hard stare and hot fire behind Lucas’ deep blue eyes took Mason by complete surprise and unnerved him. “Calm down.”
“Don’t fucking tell me to calm down.” He spun Mason around and pushed him against the concrete wall. “You’re outta line. How dare you disrespect my little sister like that? Apologize. Right fucking now.”
“Whoa, man.” This is the exact reaction Mason had feared, but he needed to explain to his best friend that he wasn’t groping his little sister. They were in love. “It’s not what you think. Give me a chance to explain.”
Tessa huffed, rolled her eyes and pawed at Lucas’ arms. “Let go of him. What’s wrong with you?”
Lucas turned to his sister, eyes bulging. “What’s wrong with me? He has no right to touch you like that!”
She yanked Lucas’ hands free and pulled Mason to her side. “We have something to tell you. Just don’t be a dumb ass about it.” She calmly slipped her hand into Mason’s. “We’re together.”
“We weren’t hiding it, man,” Mason quickly clarified. “Or sneaking around. This is brand new. We invited you guys over to tell you about it.”
Lucas jerked his head back, brows furrowed. “Is this a joke?”
“No,” Mason and Tessa replied at the same time, then looked at each other and shared a smile.
Lucas pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head to clear it. “You two are together, like a couple?”
Mason put his arm around Tessa’s shoulder. “Yup. I’m in love with her, man.”
“Love?” Lucas’ jaw fell open, then he slowly turned his head toward Tessa. “And you’re in love with him, too?”
She smiled and nodded. “Since I was five years old.”
Lucas had a bewildered look on his face, still trying to comprehend what they’d just told him. He looked from Tessa to Mason and back again, then looked into the living room through the sliding glass doors. “Sindy! Get out here.” There was an uneasy quiet for a few seconds before Lucas called into the living room again. “Sindy!”
“I’ll be right there,” she called from inside the apartment. “I’m looking for wine glasses.”
“Forget about the wine glasses. Did you know about this?”
Mason and Tessa exchanged uneasy glances, worried about Lucas’ reaction, while they continued to receive a questioning glare. The sound of Sindy’s footsteps grew steadily louder in the awkward silence that surrounded them, until she finally joined them on the balcony.
“Know about what?” She eyed Tessa and Mason with their arms around one another and squealed. “Oh my God! I’m so happy for you!” She hugged Tessa and then swatted Mason on the arm. “You finally came to your senses. What the hell took you so long?”
“You knew?” Lucas asked with surprise. “And you didn’t tell me?”
“Only since yesterday. And I don’t have to tell you everything. You’re not my lord and keeper.”
Lucas rolled his eyes at her.
“Don’t fight it, bro,” Mason said with a small laugh, trying to lighten the tension, or at least bring a smile to Lucas’ face. “It’s a losing battle. You can’t argue with the women in this family.”
Lucas didn’t react. His eyes kept ping-ponging between Mason and Tessa while he still tried to comprehend everything. He had this dazed and disoriented look on his face. “You’ve really been in love with Mason since you were five years old?” he asked Tessa. “Why didn’t you say anything before? Why did you wait so long?”
“Because,” Tessa answered, as if she couldn’t understand why no one figured it out. “Everything had to go according to the plan. The band needed to come first. You know that.”
“Nothing gets in the way of the band,” Mason teased, which earned him a smile from his girlfriend. His girlfriend. He still wasn’t used to referring to her that way. It sounded both foreign and natural at the same time. He shook his head with disbelief and realized how crazy this must be for Lucas.
“It’s true,” Tessa declared. “Everything in our lives led up to Prodigy going mainstream. That was the number one goal that we all shared. Now that’s been accomplished and we’ve achieved fame and success, I’m ready to take the next step in my life. Everything is checked off my list.” She gazed lovingly at Mason. “Mason was the final countdown. I had to tell him how I felt. It’s our time. He just needed a little while to get used to the idea.”
Mason let Tessa do most of the talking because she had a way of smoothing out a situation and not letting it get out of hand. She took control, but Mason needed to make one thing clear to his best friend. “I know this is a shock, man. I know your best friend’s little sister is supposed to be off limits. And I’m really sorry, but this isn’t a fling. I’m in love with her and I really want this to work out. I want you to know that I respect your feelings about it, though. I hope you don�
�t have a problem with us being together. Because if you do, tough fucking shit.”
Lucas finally relaxed and let out a laugh. He pushed his fingers through his long hair and held onto the roots for a moment. “This is just such a shock.” He dropped his hands to his sides and paused while thoughts danced behind his eyes. After several seconds, he nodded, and when he spoke, his voice was low and sincere. “This is actually really cool. I’m happy.” He gave Mason a bear hug and a few pats on the back. “I’m happy for you guys.” Lucas stepped back and narrowed his eyes, his face suddenly turning serious. He pointed his finger at Mason and poked him in the chest. “Just remember, if you break my sister’s heart I’m gonna kick your ass.” Then he put Tessa in a headlock and gave her a noogie like she was 12. “And you, try not to put my best friend through the wringer.”
Mason stood at the railing at the edge of the rooftop and took in the view of the Atlantic Ocean. The private section that belonged to the condominium complex offered them seclusion and privacy, but sometimes attracted fans and paparazzi at the outer edges of the public portion of the beach. He preferred the serenity of the rooftop, and wished Tessa’s apartment, which he could see parallel to Lucas’ building, had the same amenity. It didn’t really matter since they bounced back and forth between the two complexes, an advantage of having his best friend living across the street from his girlfriend.
They’d told their collective group of parents about their relationship the day after telling Lucas and Sindy, and their reactions were pretty anti-climactic. They’d all been overjoyed, but no one seemed surprised. Lucas had been the only one floored at the announcement. Everyone else seemed to have been waiting for Mason and Tessa to get together for years, even Aunt Mary, who seemed happiest of all.
Mason turned away from the beach in front of him and lounged in a cushioned chaise, sunglasses covering his eyes. The sun was hot at this height, and he pulled off his shirt. Might as well work on his tan. It was the one thing living in New York City didn’t offer him. The balcony at his apartment only had a short window of direct sunshine during the day. He couldn’t walk around town shirtless. The last time he tried that a frenzied group of female fans had literally darted across Fifth Avenue and caused a pile up.
The sound of a cap twisting off a bottle got his attention, and he opened his eyes just as an ice cold Budweiser landed in his cup holder, curtesy of his best friend. He picked it up and gave Lucas a wide smile. “Thanks, man.”
Lucas sat in the chaise next to Mason, brought a bottle to his lips and stared up at the sky. This guy worshiped the sun and had a golden tan to prove it, which contrasted nicely with his pale blond hair. Sometimes Mason thought Lucas looked more like a surfer dude than a rock star from New York. Mason loved tattoos and his chest and arms were covered, but his best friend was unmarked. Over the years, they’d spent countless hours at the gigantic guitar-shaped inground pool at the Blade-Garcia mansion, sitting side by side just like this. They still used it, but not as much since Lucas and Tessa had moved out. “Do you miss the pool at your parents’ house?”
“Yeah. But I got the ocean right outside my door.” Lucas looked around the rooftop deck, took off his Metallica tee and wiped his brow, then stuck the balled up shirt under his head. “You OK with the heat? I got a mister. I could turn it on if you want.”
Mason popped his head up. “A what?”
“A misting station. Like they have in Vegas.” He jumped up and turned a knob on something that looked like a lamppost and a fine spray of water delicately tickled the air.
Mason looked at the glow on his arms. It was just enough to cool his skin, but not enough to really get him wet. He flashed a smile and chuckled. “I guess you know you’ve made it when you can afford your own mist.”
Lucas took a long sip of beer and exhaled a refreshing, “Ahh.” He leaned on the arm of his lounger and turned to look at Mason. “So. You and my sister.”
It wasn’t a question. Just a statement from an older brother to his little sister’s new boyfriend, and Mason readied himself for the customary grilling. He nodded once. “Me and Tessa.” He could practically see the thoughts swirling inside Lucas’ head. Even though Lucas had known about the relationship for a week, this was the first time he’d brought it up. It wasn’t the first time they were alone, so there had been ample opportunity. But Lucas probably had to analyze the situation, just like his big brain always did with every situation, and he had stockpiled the questions.
“Let me ask you something,” Lucas said, pale brows drawn together over his baby blues. “What was going on that night after the show in Cincinnati?”
Mason had expected questions like, did you have feelings for my sister when we were kids? Or, did anything ever go on between you two while we were growing up? Mason knew exactly how to answer those questions, but he wasn’t prepared to tell Lucas how he broke his sister’s heart. “It’s not a big deal, man.” He tried to sound unfazed by the question as he crossed his ankles and laced his fingers behind his head.
“It is a big deal. I didn’t think anything about it at the time, because I know Tessa can be a drama queen, but now that I’ve been thinking about that night, it’s clear that she was upset. And it wasn’t because you went over time at the show.”
Mason tipped back his beer while he thought about an answer. He wasn’t about to lie, but he wasn’t going to leak personal conversations between himself and Tessa either.
“You’re my brother, Mase,” Lucas said, adamantly. “But she’s my little sister. And I get the feeling that you said something to upset her.”
When Mason didn’t respond, Lucas threw his legs over the side of the chaise and sat with his elbows on his knees. “I expected her to light up the party. Talk everyone’s ear off. Hog the camera. But she ditched the party, and us, and stayed in her room for the rest of the night. I saw you pounding on her hotel room door.” Lucas focused on his beer cap as he flipped it through his fingers. “What happened that night?”
Lucas may as well have socked Mason in the gut, because he felt as if his insides plummeted. Thoughts of sweet Tessa, hurt and crying hysterically, all because he rejected her, slashed at his heart. He needed to be honest, though. “She told me how she felt. She told me she loved me, and to tell you the truth, I was shocked. Man, she took me totally by surprise.” He hung his head, reliving the horrid moment he broke Tessa’s heart. “I told her I didn’t feel the same way. I guess I did. I just never realized it. Maybe that’s why I never settled into a serious relationship. I think I knew, deep down, that it was Tessa who I held on a pedestal. No one stood up to her. She’s light years ahead of everyone else. I don’t have to tell you how awesome your sister is. You already know it.”
Lucas slowly nodded. “She is something else. I gotta admit that. So, what made you realize you loved her? Did a light switch just flip inside your head?”
Mason looked up to the sky and mulled over those first few days after they got back from the tour. After the initial shock had worn off, he began to look at Tessa differently. She was no longer Lucas’ little sister or the baby who always crashed his jam sessions with Lucas. She was a woman who ran the band like a business. Someone who pushed all of them to be better musicians. Someone who never settled for anything less than perfection in everything she did. Singer. Bass player. Songwriter. Frontwoman. Chef. Entrepreneur. She was bilingual. She had been volunteering at soup kitchens since she was ten. Her talents were limitless and her heart was huge. “Yeah. It was as if something hit me over the head. But I kept thinking, this is crazy! Lucas would beat my ass if I touched his little sister.”
“I almost did.”
Mason laughed when Lucas playfully punched him in the arm. “I don’t care, man. She’s worth it. Besides, I knew you’d be OK with it once you realized we were in love.”
“Yeah. You love her. I can see that. And I can see she’s nuts about you. I honestly don’t know how she kept it to herself all these years. It must have been killing her bec
ause she’s never held anything back. If there’s one thing everyone knows about Tessa, it’s that she has no filter. She tells it like it is.” Lucas stared at Mason for a moment. “Truth, bro. You’re the only one good enough for her.”
“Thanks, man.” It meant the world to him that Lucas viewed him as worthy of his little sister’s affection.
Lucas’ phone buzzed, and he read the screen. “We got company. Immortal Angel is here.”
“My pops? He didn’t tell me he was coming to Long Island.”
After Lucas spoke to the building concierge and gave the OK to let the crew up to the rooftop, he said, “My dad and my papi have something for me.”
Knowing Angel’s extravagance, it could be anything from a new grill to a new car. The elevator doors that led to the rooftop slid open and Mason’s dad and Tommy walked onto the roof carrying a freestanding basketball hoop with an acrylic backboard painted with an American flag. “Oh, man,” Mason exclaimed. “That’s so cool.”
“Wow,” Lucas eyed the gift enthusiastically. “Thanks. I haven’t played in a long time.”
“I know,” Tommy told his son. “We used to play when you were a kid all the time. I thought we could get a game together.”
A basketball bounced across the rooftop deck, courtesy of a six-foot punk rocker with a giant blue Mohawk. Damien palmed the ball. “Set it up right there,” he told Tommy, pointing to a spot on the deck.
“Papi, are you gonna join us for a game of B Ball?” Lucas asked Angel, who was the last to enter the rooftop.
“God, no,” Angel replied. “I packed a lunch.”
Mason laughed. “Cool. I’m hungry.” He went to his dad and they exchanged a hug. “So how should we do this?” Mason asked. “Young guns against the old dudes? Or the Wilders against the Blades and we flip a coin for Damien?”
MASON WILDER: Radical Rock Stars Next Generation Duet Book 2 Page 11