“Why didn’t you tell me about the nightmares?” he asked as he unfolded his arms and his face relaxed into worry.
“I didn’t think there was anything that could be done.”
He dropped to his knees and hugged me. “It’s about that night, isn’t it?”
I nodded and felt tears pool in my eyes. He rubbed my back softly. “Okay, I’ll go relieve him since he was only doing what he was supposed to, but from now on you ask me first. Understand?”
I nodded again and rubbed my face against his shoulder. “Yes. I’m sorry.”
He kissed my forehead and smiled. “It’ll be alright. We’ll get the mark removed and things will go back to normal.”
I smirked. “Our family has never been normal.”
He laughed. “Very true. Now go with Mason to town. I’ll go talk with Nick and keep him here, so you can have time away.”
“Thanks, Dad.” I walked out of the study and waved at Mason. “Come on, buddy.”
Mason jogged over. “Yes! I love road trips!”
I laughed and linked arms with him. “If you’re good, I’ll even let you hang your head out the window.”
He snarled at me, but I just laughed, knowing he wasn’t serious. We climbed into Nick’s truck, and I took the keys out of the visor and handed them to Mason so he could drive. He had his own car, but it was in the shop since he’d ripped his door off one day in a fit of rage.
“How are you feeling?” Mason asked.
“Fine, why?”
He shrugged. “We know Nick was in your room…and I heard you crying, so I figured you weren’t feeling well.”
“You don’t think Nick and I did anything?”
Mason laughed. “I know you two better than that. Plus, I know that you’re still trying to fool yourself into believing that you don’t have feelings for him and he’s, well he’s being Nick.”
“I’m not trying to fool myself. I love Nick as a friend and I might have discovered that I have some more than friendly feelings for him, but he hasn’t shown any towards me. He just asked me out.”
“He asked you out?” Mason asked, eyes wide.
I smirked. “So, the all-knowing-Mason didn’t know that?”
“I just didn’t think he’d actually do it. He told me he was planning to, but then he’s been so crabby the past week, I thought he chickened out.”
“He said that Tom interrupted him the first time he was trying to ask me out and then when Tom asked me to go out again on Monday, Nick told him that I couldn’t.”
“So, he didn’t actually ask you out?”
“Yeah, he did, after Tom left.”
“So, you went from being single to having three guys dating you. How does that make you feel?”
”Confused,” I said.
Mason laughed and patted my leg. “Don’t worry, it just means that you’ll be able to tell which one you really like by dating the others.”
“That’s so not comforting Mason.”
He smiled and then pulled over in front of Biscuits, the best diner ever. We sat at an open table, and I stared at the menu. The diner was small, played non-stop country music, and had stereotypical country people as servers. I loved it.
“So, who are you buying a present for?” Mason asked.
I looked up at him with wide eyes. “Don’t tell me you forgot?”
He frowned. “Forgot what?”
“Your best friend’s birthday!” I said. “Mason, how could you forget that Nick’s birthday is in one week?”
He slapped his forehead. “Oh god! Well, it’s good I came with you since I need to get a present too.”
“What’ll you have, darlin’?” asked the old woman who owned the diner.
“Two scrambled eggs and a blueberry bagel, please.”
“You want something to drink?”
“Hot chocolate,” I said and gave her a big smile.
“How about you, handsome?” the woman asked, giving him a cheesy grin.
He smiled seductively at her. “I’ll have a hot chocolate too, beautiful.”
She laughed and walked away. I lifted a brow at him. “Since when did you become the charmer?”
He shrugged. “You’re just blinded by your brotherly love for me. I’ve always been a charmer.”
I laughed. “Well don’t give her a heart attack, okay?”
He laughed at me and then stared at his hands a moment. “Has anyone told you what the decision is?”
“No, everyone said they can’t tell me yet, that I’d find out next year.”
He nodded. “Good. That’s how it should be.”
I groaned. “Mason, you can’t do that to me.”
He smiled. “Sorry, but rules are rules.”
The waitress brought out our drinks and winked at Mason before walking away. I sipped my hot chocolate and moaned in pleasure. “This tastes great.”
“It sure does. Do you know what they have to do to remove the mark from you?”
I shook my head. “No, Dad didn’t tell me.”
He frowned and scooped up a bit of whipped cream. “I hope it’s not anything crazy.”
“Me, too.” We sat in silence a moment in our own thoughts, and then I asked, “So what are you going to get Nick?”
He leaned back in his chair and groaned. “I don’t know. You?”
“I have no clue, but I usually find stuff that just screams at me to get him.”
“Like that kitten stuffed animal you got him?” Mason asked.
I smiled at the memory. “It was a joke,” I said.
Mason shrugged and then leaned towards me and whispered conspiratorially, “Did you know he’s kept it on his bed since you gave it to him?”
My mouth dropped open. “No, he hasn’t.”
He nodded and leaned back. “He does. I’ve even caught him sleeping with it.”
“You’re lying.”
He spread his arms wide. “I swear! What will you give me if I get proof?”
“What do you want?” I asked.
“You to promise to never go on a date with Gary after tonight again,” he said with venom in his voice.
“Why?” I asked. I knew they didn’t get along, but they were pack.
“Because he doesn’t deserve to be dating you.”
“Are you jealous?” I asked curiously.
Mason laughed so hard tears came to his eyes. “Wow. Come on, Sis, you know me better than that.”
“Then why?”
His smile slowly withered and he said, “Because I know it would kill Nick to see you end up with Gary. Whether you and Nick date and decide you can’t continue for whatever reasons, he would still die a little inside to see you with Gary.”
“They hate each other that much?”
Mason shrugged. “We don’t hate each other in the pack, but there is bad blood between them. Let’s just say that if Gary wasn’t pack, we would have killed him when he was twelve.”
“Why? Nick won’t tell me what happened between them. He just said that Gary did something when you were twelve. It was when I was with Thornton, clothes shopping, and no one would tell me what happened when I got back.”