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They look like father and son.
The thought splinters through me, shattering the shell of respite I’d built back up.
With jerky movements, I push the seat forward and begin to pull my baby from his arms.
Mason’s grip tightens around Deaton at first, his eyes snapping open with a glare, but the moment he realizes it’s just me, his hold eases, and I swiftly take my son back. Silently, I climb into the back seat, buckling him back into his car seat.
Just as I get settled, Chase reappears. He sees Mason in his spot and goes around to the other side.
“Here.” He grins, passing back a cream soda and a pack of cheese crackers.
A small chuckle leaves me at the sight, my muscles locking when, in my periphery, Mason’s body shifts this way, but I don’t look at him.
I thank Chase and sit back, hiding my own snack in my bag so he won’t feel bad, and cover my head with a blanket to pretend I want to try and get some sleep.
Yes, it’s a coward’s move, especially when I know I won’t be able to sleep for several more hours.
Still, I sit there silently, breathing through a mask of fleece until the car rolls to a stop and my brother announces we’ve arrived.
That’s when I learn about the sleeping arrangements.
If I thought this trip was going to be tense before…
It just went into overdrive.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Mason
Now,September
“Ninety-seven, ninety-eight, ninety-nine…”I reach my goal, then do two more. I quickly pop up from the push-ups and jog in place for thirty seconds. My shoulders ache, my core muscles pulsing, but I drop back down again, this time into a five-finger plank.
The burn in my abdomen is intense, but I breathe through it, counting down from forty-five, then hold a little longer before collapsing on the mat.
“You’ve been in here for almost three hours.”
I push up onto my ass, folding my arms over my bent knees, and look toward the door.
Chase shoves off the frame, slowly stepping into the garage of the Airbnb we rented. He glances around, noting an elliptical, a treadmill, and a station of free weights. “So this is thehome gym included, huh?” he says quoting the ad.
I scoff, nodding toward the bucket in the corner. “At least they have mats to put down. Saw a couple of jump ropes in there, too.”
Chase nods, moving over to the treadmill and climbing on. He ties his hoodie up over his head and starts with a slow jog. “You skipped breakfast.”
“I had a protein shake.”
“You went to bed without talking to anyone last night.”
“I was tired. Why you so worried about me?” I snap, shoving off the ground and pulling my shirt over my head. I use it to wipe the sweat from my face.
“Because I see what’s going on.” When I say nothing, he adds, “You didn’t come to class on Thursday. We had a test.”
I look away, wrapping my T-shirt around my neck, and move for the door.
“We’re here to relax and hang out with our friends a couple of days, Mason.”
“I’m aware.”
