Pretend

Page 71

He sure as hell hoped so, because despite the fact that he actually enjoyed what he was doing here in Durango, there was one thing he missed, one person he was still sure about. Gavin. The man was his, and Mason wanted him back.
Still, he couldn’t walk away from his responsibility here.
***
“I want to buy the house. I’ll understand if you don’t want to sell. I can look around for something else, but—”
“Yes.” Wes grinned.
“Hey!” Braden crossed his arms. “Who said you can sell my house, Wesley?”
Wes rolled his eyes. “Will you stop giving Gavin shit? You and I both know we’ve talked about selling it. We both know it makes you happy that Gavin will be the one to live in it, because then, for the rest of his life, you can claim responsibility for bringing him to Blackcreek.”
Wes knew his husband well. “Should I leave you two alone?” Gavin teased.
“No. We can wait until you leave. As long as it’s within five minutes. But yeah, my husband is right.” Braden looked at Wes. “Don’t get used to it, you’re not right often enough for that.”
Gavin took a step backward. “You’re getting yourself in trouble, Braden. He looks like he wants to kill you.”
Braden winked. “It’s more fun that way.”
Yeah, definitely time to go. “I’ll leave you two to it. We’ll talk more, but I really appreciate it, man.”
“I’ll be back.” Braden kissed Wes and then followed Gavin to the door. “Have you and Mason talked?” It had been six weeks since he left, and they hadn’t spoken a word to each other.
“No, but I could call him just as easily. I’m working on me right now.” For once.
“Good for you. It’s good to see you happy. You deserve it. You played the part well before, but you were never really happy, were you? Not even when we were together.”
“No.” He knew his answer wouldn’t hurt his friend’s feelings. He hadn’t been happy. Not totally. In certain aspects of his life, yes, but he deserved the whole package, didn’t he? Everyone did.
“Wow…” Braden crossed his arms.
“What?”
“I think that’s the first time I haven’t made someone happy.”
“You’re fucking crazy.” He shook his head at his friend, who laughed. “Go inside and see your husband. I have some things to take care of.”
“I think you’re underestimating my shock right now.”
“Good bye, Braden.”
Gavin jogged to his car and left.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Mason loved Fall in Colorado. It was his favorite time of the year—the leaves changing, knowing that the snow would soon come, saying goodbye to summer. It always felt like the beginning of something, and hell, maybe that’s what it was.
After knocking on the door, he pushed his hands into his pockets. Maybe it made him an asshole that he came here without calling first. It would serve him right if another man answered the door, and then he’d likely commit murder and end up in prison.
So yes, he definitely should have called first—or at least asked around.
But he hadn’t. He was back in Blackcreek, and there was one place he wanted to be more than anywhere else.
The door pulled open and Gavin stood there. Christ, he was even sexier than Mason remembered. And he was wearing… “Slacks and a button-up? You look like a teacher.”
Gavin scratched his earlobe. “I am a teacher.”
That made Mason smile. Good. He was glad about that. Gavin deserved to have the career he loved so much. “A teacher who could have possibly had another man answer the door right now?”
“Is that really one of the first things you’re going to say to me?”
“You have to admit, it’s an important one.”
Gavin sighed, held the door open, and Mason walked in. The house was decorated completely different than it had been when he left. He had no doubt the navy blue furniture and records on the walls were Gavin’s things. Braden’s old furniture was gone.
His eyes caught something in the corner of the room and he smiled. “You kept it.”
“Free piano. Why wouldn’t I?” Gavin closed the door. “And there’s not another man, but I’m a teacher who everyone knows might have a man in his life.”
So he hadn’t been playing things the way he had been before. He wasn’t living two lives. Knowing that filled Mason with warmth. “Good, on both accounts. I was afraid I’d have to hurt someone when I got here. I’m not really sure how well I’d do in prison, so I guess I better count my blessings.”