Page 48 of Untroubled Heart

He stares at me, unblinking, his eyebrows pinched. “Do you want it to?”

“Pffft.” A series of huffs and random noises spill from my mouth, but no actual words to disagree.

“Mase, she’s your assistant. I mean, you can do what you want, but that feels messy. That’s not your style.”

“I know.”

“And she has a newborn.”

“She’s five months old. Calm down.”

“Calm d—” Tristan looks around, then leans his head in. “Mase… what are you doing?”

I groan and fall back against the floor. “I have no clue.”

“Is this like wanting something more cos you can’t have it, or are you actually crushing on her?”

“I think it started as the first thing, but now…” Who am I kidding? It was always the latter.

“Oh, shit.” Tristan chuckles. “You’re in deep already.”

“Am I?” I run a hand through my hair, pushing the damp strands off my forehead as a shadow falls over my face.

“Hi, Mason.” Emilia’s voice is sweet and fake, like fingernails running down a chalkboard.

I sit up, get back on my feet. “Hey, Emilia. You remember my friend, Tristan?”

“Thanks,” Tristan scoffs under his breath.

“Sure.” She smiles, running her eyes all over my friend, but then she steps closer to me. “You two always come together.”

I don’t miss the suggestion in her tone, and neither does Tristan as he looks at me from over her shoulder, eyes wide as he slowly shakes his head.

“Well, it’s harder to play tennis without a partner.” I try to pretend I don’t understand her insinuation. I didn’t hook up with Emilia for her subtlety. She never wanted me for anything other than to say she’d been with me, so I guess we’re even.

“Some things are just better with other people.” She runs a finger down my chest, and it feels like my heart is physically recoiling.

“And sometimes three’s a crowd.” I gently push her hand away. “We were just about to head out. See you around, Emilia.”

Those kinds of interactions with women are a dime a dozen for me, but they’ve never outright pissed me off. Okay, I used them straight back, but I was still respectful of the time they gave me, ensuring they felt desired in the moment, without promising anything more. Emilia just makes it sound like she’s bored and wants to be entertained.

I push Tristan over to our bags so we can hurry up and get the fuck out of here.

“In regards to your earlier question,” Tristan says, looking back at Emilia, who watches us walk away. “Yeah, I think you’re already in deep.”

Fuck.

Chapter eighteen

“He wasn’t even married until after you were born.” Mum’s defeated voice fills my car speakers. I can tell she’s trying to be strong—it’s something I’ve never heard in her over the years my dad disappointed her and led her on.

“Do you think she knows about us?” I can’t help but ask. It’s not just Mum’s life that has been rocked by his lies, it’s mine and Caspian’s too.

Mum sighs before answering. “I’d like to hope she doesn’t, that she wouldn’t knowingly be with someone who was essentially living a double life. At the same time, I know now how manipulative your father is truly capable of being. Perhaps she was convincing herself she was seeing something that wasn’t there, too.”

“I’m so sorry, Mum.” My heart aches for her. I’d already given up on my dad, but Mum never did.

“I’m sorry too, sweetheart. Sorry I wasn’t… braver.” Her voice cracks.