Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 73094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Mason’s expression finally softened. “I trust him, too.”
Kane looked down at the ground, pulling in a long breath. “I don’t like it. I don’t like the idea of it, the reality of it, or the implications of it.”
“But it’s not your decision,” I said, taking a step forward.
Kane gave me a serious look. “But I’ve also never seen Jesse as happy as he is when he’s around you, Mason. Jesse, I haven’t seen you smile like you were when I just walked in… for years.”
My heart was pounding faster. “I really haven’t been this happy in years.”
“And even the other day after being fucking socked in the face by the prick, son of a bitch asshole Elliot, all you could do when you woke up was ask for Mason.”
“That’s right,” I said. “Well, I don’t remember much of what I said, but I’ve been told.”
Kane shook his head, finally uncrossing his arms. “If either of you ever hurt each other, I’ll make your lives a living hell. I need you both in my life, okay?”
I exhaled, leaning over to wrap my arms around Kane in a tight hug.
“I need you in my life, too, K.”
He hugged me close. “You can tell me things again. I can’t even think about the last two years without a pit of regret in my stomach. Hell, even if Mason fucks around on you and you drop out of college, I’m not going to stop talking to you again, J.”
I let out a laugh. “I’m not dropping out of college, to say the least.”
“Kane,” Mason said, stepping up to hug him. “I’ll never hurt him. Never.”
“You better mean that,” he said. “Going to watch you like a motherfucking eagle.”
I lifted my eyebrows. “No you’re not. Because you’re going to let us live our own lives,” I reminded him.
“Yes, yes, I am,” Kane said. “But I’m not going to stop being a stubborn grump just because you two twirl around on the ice like two goddamn butterflies.”
I dropped my jaw. “He finally admits it. You’re the stubborn grump of Bestens, Tennessee—”
“Jesse, for fuck’s sake—”
“And we all love you for it,” I finally said.
“Well, I love you, too. Both of you,” Kane said. “But I’m still going to have to go pour bleach in my eyes every time I see you two kiss.”
“Give me a break,” I said. “Mason, Kane will get used to it by the end of the week. I promise.”
Kane clicked his tongue, but I could tell that even he was holding back a smile. He reached in his pocket, brought out a phone charger, and dropped it onto the bench.
“See you two crazy fucks around,” he said, walking off. He paused a moment later, though, turning back to both of us. “What the fuck, though? Jesse, I’ve never known anyone to hate other people as much as you. You are the most introverted athlete I think I’ve ever known, and Mason… you’re like a goddamned pig in shit whenever there’s a party! You can’t survive one day without being around people. Are you two stupid?”
I was smiling again. “Yeah. I think we might be.”
“Jesse likes people,” Mason said. “If they’re the right people, at least. And it’s not like I hate being alone that badly.”
Kane let out a full, resonant laugh at that. “Can’t bullshit me, Minton.”
“Okay. Fine. I’m an extrovert. But I like Jesse’s lone wolf mode, too.”
“You two are going to be the death of me,” Kane said. “Love makes people nuts.”
As Kane walked off, his words hung in the air between me and Mason.
Love.
For God’s sake, Mason and I weren’t even technically boyfriends yet, and here my brother was, talking about love.
But if what I feel for Mason isn’t rapidly turning into love, I don’t know what love is.
The thought made me feel a little fucked in the head, actually. I wanted all of this to be real. Wanted it more than I’d ever wanted anything with my ex, that was for damn sure.
Well, maybe we should make our own damn rules.
Maybe that’s what we’ve been doing the whole time.
“Mason,” I said, before he could say anything about Kane. “I want to be your boyfriend.”
He went wide-eyed, smiling and sitting back down on the bench before he responded. “Swear to God, I’m going to pass out. Is this just how the Sanocki guys operate? You toss out big things like they’re a lit match into a fire, and then just… see what happens?”
I bit the inside of my cheek, then nodded. “Yeah. That is kind of how we do it.”
“God, come here,” Mason said, tugging on the front of my shirt and pulling me down to kiss him. “I swear I’ve wanted to be your boyfriend probably since the week I met you, and I don’t care if that sounds crazy.”