“Did I come at a bad time?” Mason asked, taking a few steps back.
“No!” Braxton said, at the same time as I snapped out, “Yes.”
“I can come back or…um…”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “You’re the guy who’s buying the house? I can’t believe this.”
Mason pushed his hand through his hair as he said, “This makes so much sense now.”
“What does that mean?” I asked.
His eyes looked glazed, and for a moment it appeared as if he’d forgotten I was there.
“Your sister…I, um, I think she knew where I was talking about when I said I was going to buy this house. And Alice and Doug said… It doesn’t matter. You live here?”
I dropped my hands to the side of my body, suddenly feeling so tired. Tired of fighting my feelings for the man standing in front of me. Tired of the way everyone felt like they had a say in my life. Tired of feeling…lost.
Our eyes met, and I couldn’t ignore the way my body heated simply from his gaze on mine.
“Palmer? Are you going to answer Mason?” Brax smirked.
I shot my brother a dirty look. “Will you please go eat your spaghetti, Brax!” Turning back to Mason, I replied, “Yes, I live here. Are you really buying the house?”
He nodded, and my stomach dropped.
“Will you be…will you want me to move out?”
“No,” he said, a little too quickly. I could hear Braxton chuckle, but I ignored him. “I mean, I thought maybe I could use it for…”
His words trailed off.
“Use it for what?” I asked.
“Nothing. You don’t have to worry about moving, Palmer. I can promise you that.”
A sense of relief instantly washed over me, and I had to blink a few times to hold back the tears. Was I really on the verge of crying? For goodness’ sake, what was wrong with me?
“Thank you, Mason. I really do enjoy living here, and I was heartbroken at the idea of having to leave.”
He smiled, and I felt my stomach flutter.
Looking past me, he said, “I’ll let you two get back to eating. I’m sorry I interrupted you. Alice told to come by and speak with you.”
“I told her I could buy the carriage house, if you wanted to sell it.”
“Sell it?”
I nodded. “Or I thought maybe Alice and Doug would like to sell it first. I wasn’t sure—I just knew I really didn’t want to leave.”
Mason smiled once again. “I plan on buying the house, and the carriage house is part of the deal. It was one of the main reasons I was interested.”
“Oh?” I asked with raised brows.
“Did you know Palmer lived here?” Braxton called out from the kitchen with a mouthful of food.
I wanted to die of embarrassment right there on the spot. I was going to kill my brother.
Mason shook his head. “No, I didn’t know at all. I’m pretty sure Alice and Doug thought I knew, but I wasn’t aware of it.”
I swallowed as I instantly realized the reason he wanted the carriage house. He was, after all, still looking for someone to watch Charlie.
He focused on me. “Like I said, you don’t have to worry, Palmer. I have no intention of making you move. You’re more than welcome to live here for as long as you want.”
I chewed on my lip for a few moments before I asked, “So you’re for sure buying the property?”
A wickedly handsome smile grew over his face as he replied, “I most certainly am.” He looked past me to Braxton. “Enjoy your evening, Braxton.” Glancing at me, he added, “Palmer.”
Then, as if my world hadn’t been turned upside down, he walked back toward the main house. I could feel my brother walk up behind me.
“I cannot wait for Ms. Seaside to find out about this.”
I jerked my head to the right and stared up at him. “Who?”
“Ms. Seaside. That’s what everyone’s calling the person who writes the gossip column now.”
“What if it’s a guy?” I asked.
Braxton shrugged before heading back over to the table. “Are you going to eat your dinner?”
I stared at Mason’s back as he retreated down the long driveway. Sighing, I said, “You can have it.”
* * *
THE SEASIDE CHRONICLES
December 1, 2022
IT’S ALL ABOUT THAT BASS.
Seasiders,
Word on the docks is that Palmer Bradley has a new landlord. That’s right, Seaside’s newest Zaddy, Dr. Mason Bryan, is the proud owner of 505 Bay Street. That includes the carriage house where Palmer herself lives.
I’m not sure if you fishes remember, but Dr. Zaddy was hoping Palmer would become his new nanny. Not for him, for his five-year-old son, Charlie. One must wonder if Dr. Zaddy went to the extreme of buying the house she lives in, since Palmer wasn’t ready to hang up her pooper scooper for a new career just yet.
I’ve got my ear to the pier, my fishes, and will keep everyone updated.
Fair winds and following seas!
Ms. Seaside
* * *
Harlee sat across from me in the booth at my folks’ restaurant as she read the latest gossip column.
She looked up with her brows pulled down and asked, “What the hell is a Zaddy?”
I groaned and buried my hands in my face while Sutton answered. “I had to look it up. It’s a hot dad with swagger. Hence, a Zaddy.”
I dropped my hands to my lap, watching Harlee blink a few times. “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. I get a DILF, I mean that he is, but a Zaddy? This only confirms the writer has to be old or a man.”
“Why does that confirm it?” I asked. “If anything, they’d have to be younger to know that term. We didn’t even know it!”
Harlee looked at me like I’d grown two heads.
“Again,” Sutton started, “how does everyone in this town think you’re such a sweet, innocent, caring do-gooder with you calling Mason a DILF?”
Harlee winked. “I am all of those things, with a little bit of spice sprinkled in.”
Sutton let out a pfft as I grabbed the newspaper. “This is serious, you guys!” I said. “I’m a target now. They won’t stop until they get their meat. And they’ve dragged Mason and Charlie into it this time.”
“Their meat?” Sutton and Harlee both asked.
“Yes. The gossip on me and Mason. The meat.”
Harlee leaned in. “Wait, is there gossip about you and Mason?”
“No! Of course not.”
“Can he even buy the house that fast?” Sutton asked.
I sighed once again and leaned back in the booth. “He paid cash and waived an inspection as he expedited the closing process. And the title company got it through fast. He’s officially the new owner. He even sent over a new lease for me to sign. The crazy part is, Addie said that when he told her about buying the house, he had every intention of letting the person in the carriage house out of their lease so he could hire a nanny and have them live there.”