When the front door came open, I jerked hard in surprise, making the baby inside me start too.
"Reese?" The worry in Mason's voice was evident as he shut the door. "What's wrong?"
I scooted sideways on the floor just enough to peek around the corner of the hall and into the kitchen. Mason fell to his knees in front of Reese and gathered her hands into his, pressing them against his mouth.
Fresh tears welled in her eyes. "What do you mean, what's wrong? You . . . you left."
Air whooshed from his lungs and his mouth fell open. Shaking his head adamantly, he said, "No. No, I didn't leave you. I would never leave you. Christ, Reese. I'm sorry." He scooped her into his arms and hauled into his lap so he could cradle her close. She burrowed against him and buried her face into his shoulder as he kissed her hair.
"I didn't mean to upset you. I just . . . I was so mad I couldn't see straight. If I'd stuck around a second longer, I would've said something to her, and I knew that would upset you. I was actually trying not to distress you."
She nodded her head against him but didn't look up as she sobbed. "I didn't . . . I didn't know if you were ever coming back."
"Sweet Pea." He tucked her even closer and pressed his cheek against her temple. "I would never leave you," he repeated. "I was coming back. I was always coming back. I just needed to cool off. I love you, Reese. You're everything to me. I'm sorry."
"Don't ever leave like that again."
"Okay." He kissed her temple, then her cheek, working his way to her mouth. "I promise. Never again."
I inched away to give them some privacy, but also because it was just too sweet, too heartbreaking for anything I was used to watching. Closing my eyes, I pressed the back of my head against the wall and listened to them continue to make up.
"She just, when she said that—"
"I know," Reese murmured. "I'm sorry. I—"
"No, you didn't do anything wrong. And neither did Eva, really."
My eyes sprang open. Say what? Of course I'd done something wrong. I'd been the catalyst for their entire fight.
"I mean, she didn't say anything we all weren't thinking anyway, right? Why doesn't Mason just go back to doing what he was doing before? We wouldn't have money problems then."
Wait, I totally hadn't said that. I hadn't even thought it. Why had he assumed I'd suggest such a thing? Crap. Probably because I was me, and I usually said whatever I thought would hurt a person most.
Hurt them before they hurt me.
He sounded so forlorn and upset, I put my knuckles to my mouth and bit down hard. Damn, I'd only been trying to unleash his inner jerk; I hadn't actually intended to hurt him.
"I never once thought that," Reese said. "My God, Mason. Were you . . . were you actually considering it?"
"No," he mumbled. "I would never do that to you, but the thought was there. I could probably solve all our problems in one night. I could take care of you and . . . and it seems to be the only thing I'm good for, because I freaking suck as a bartender. If they don't give me more hours at the club, I'm going to have to find something else, except the only thing I've ever done that pays better than working there is—"
"Stop," Reese commanded, her voice soft yet firm. "Just stop thinking this way. Right now. There is so much that you're good for, Mason Lowe. What happened to you back in Waterford does not define you. You're an amazing, wonderful man, and I feel lucky to wake up every morning wrapped in your arms. Now just admit you're amazing, damn it. Because you are. I wish you could see you the way I see you. That bitch, Mrs. Garrison, brainwashed you into thinking you were only good for one thing when she violated you and forced you into becoming something you hated."
My eyes popped open as Reese's words echoed through my head. Violated you. Forced you into becoming something you hated.
I sucked in a silent breath as it hit me. He had been violated by the woman who'd blackmailed him into having sex with her. And he had turned into something he hated because of it. Just as I had. We were like two peas in a pod. Well, except for the fact I'd turned into a pretentious bitch that acted like I was better than everyone else so I could conceal my dirty, dark secrets, and he remained a nice guy. But, whatever. We'd both suffered from a similar kind of abuse.
Tears rolled down my cheeks. Holy shit, Mason Lowe really wasn't a bastard. I didn't even know how to process that. All these months I'd been waiting for him to show his true colors, and he'd been showing them the entire time.
In the kitchen, the sound of kissing paused just before Reese quietly asked, "Do you want me to send her away?"
My insides coiled tight, and fear seized my throat when I realized she was talking about me.
"What?" Mason sounded clueless, though.