Page 24 of Coastal Rewind

He had a good reputation in the league and he was one of Nolan’s best friends, so I didn’t think he’d be an asshole, but it’s just really rare to see a professional athlete who is at the peak of his career not being a constant menace to society and womanizer.

I leaned back on my palms and took a minute to think about what he was asking me.

I really didn’t have solid plans for the summer and this would give me a chance to spend more time with my family. I’d potentially be here for when Keegan gave birth and I wouldn’t miss Sunday dinners at my dad’s. These all seemed like positives, but the little feeling in the back of my head said it was a bad idea. I’d get too used to it—the stability, the love.

Maybe Owen was right, maybe it was time to try out the idea of staying where I was. At the end of the summer, I was going to be committing my life to one of solitude anyway, so why not just enjoy the time while I had it?

I finally met Mason’s eyes. He looked like he was going to vomit if I didn’t speak in the next thirty seconds.

“Never mind.” He shook his head. “It was too big of an ask.”

“I’ll do it,” I said, causing his head to snap up.

“You will?” His expression softened into a look of pure relief.

“Sure.” I shrugged. “MJ is awesome, and I’m not really doing anything else.”

“I think you are my favorite person on earth,” he said with a beaming smile.

I laughed and tried to hide the fact that his smile was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. Like the man’s usual serious expression was hot, but his smile? That shit could make any woman melt.

“Okay, so how does this work?”

“We leave again in two days. I’ll give you the season schedule so you know when I’ll be gone and when I’ll be home.”

I took another sip from my beer before asking, “So, obviously I’ll stay at your house when you’re gone, but do you want me to come back and forth when you’re home?”

“Uh, well, usually that’s what I plan for, but it hasn’t worked out well in the past when I’m late at practice or get home from trips at night. If you want to, you could just move into the guest room for the summer.”

My jaw went slack. “Move in with you?”

He nodded. “You’ll have your own space and bathroom. Complete access to the entire house. Obviously, if I’m home, you aren’t expected to be working and could come and go as you please.”

I mulled it over. It would be nice to not be up Aiden and Rori’s ass all summer. They were great, but I’d already walked into them mauling each other in the kitchen one too many times for my liking.

“Okay, yeah. I’ll move in.”

“Perfect. Want to bring your stuff by tomorrow? We can go over everything and get you set up before I leave Tuesday afternoon.”

“Sure.” I should have felt weird or panicked, but knowing I was going to be staying in one place made me feel almost at peace. A peace I had been chasing but hadn’t been able to find.

A loud splash and the feeling of cold water hitting my chest drew my attention back to the pool as I gasped. Nolan popped out of the water at my legs with a shit eating grin.

“So, what’s the verdict?”

“She said yes,” Mason said, looking equally as happy.

“She said yes!” Nolan shouted as he jumped up with his fists in the air.

“You’re staying?” Keegan shouted from the other side of the patio.

Did everyone know he was going to ask? See, this is what I meant about secrets not staying secrets. Once one person in the family knew something, it spread like wild fire.

I nodded at my sister and she broke into a run in my direction.

“Hey! No running!” Luke shouted after her.

“You’re not my father!” she shouted back without looking at him.