Chapter 20

"Are you crazy?"My chest tightened at the thought. I could not have heard him correctly. "We can't go out to dinner."

For the last few weeks, we'd spent every night he was in Boston together, but we'd stayed at either his place or mine.

"I'll wear a hat." He shrugged. "No one will recognize us, and as of today, it's been two months since you let me kiss you again. I want to take you somewhere nice. Spoil you."

My heart stuttered, and all my arguments escaped me. I'd had no idea it was a special day, but of course, he did. And I'd never had anyone make a big deal of something as silly as a two-month anniversary of the day he kissed me. Hell, the guy I dated for almost two years forgot our one-year anniversary.

Mason looped his arms around my waist and tucked me into his chest. "What's the point of being a rich baseball player if I can't even spoil my girl with dinner on our anniversary?"

This man. I swallowed back the emotion threatening to overtake me. Because no matter how much I longed to experience life with him outside the walls of our apartments, I couldn't. Not yet. "They see you in a hat all the time," I finally mumbled, because it was the easiest response.

"It sounds strange, but when I'm out in Boston wearing a hat, they don't see Mason Dumpty." He chuckled against my ear. The sound and the way it vibrated through us both sent a shiver down my spine. "So what do you say? Can I take my girl to dinner?"

"Mason." My whole being ached with the urge to say yes. This man made it so hard to say no. "We can't. I'll get fired if they find out. It's my job on the line, not yours."

He slumped in my arms, and with a sigh into my hair, he pressed his lips against my forehead. "Sorry. You're right. I'm not being fair. I'll DoorDash something for dinner."

The way his shoulders sagged with disappointment when he pulled back a little made my heart splinter. More than anything, I wanted to go out to dinner with him. I wanted to do all the things normal couples did. But it wasn't realistic. At least right now.

"It's not that I don't want to…" I ran my fingers down his arm, hoping he sensed my sincerity.

"I know, babe. It's fine." He shrugged.

Banging on the front door had my heart leaping into my throat.

Mason himself practically jumped out of his skin. "Who the fuck is that?" Frowning, he released his hold on me and strode for the door.

He hunched low so he could check the peephole, and when he turned back, his eyes were wide. "It's the guys," he mouthed.

Shit. We'd been so careful to avoid each other at work. And Mason was sure no one suspected anything, but if I didn't get out of here, they'd all know the truth. I spun in a circle, searching for a place to hide.

Mason pushed me toward the coat closet and shoved the coats aside, making room. "Stay here. I'll get rid of them."

I stepped in and shouldered my way between his coats and the wall. When I turned to face Mason, he was frowning. Neither of us spoke, and when his friends pounded on the door again, he shut the door between us, blotting out the light.

My heart sank to my stomach as I rested my head against the cold wooden door. We really couldn't keep doing this. I was an almost thirty-year-old, hiding like a teenager. Maybe it was time to accept that I'd have to give up my job. Although disappointment washed over me every time I considered it, the idea of not being with Mason was so much harsher, like a lancing pain in my chest. I couldn't give him up.

The brush of the weather seal against Mason's wooden floors was barely audible when he finally opened the door to the guys.

"Dude, when did you get so slow?" I was pretty sure that was Emerson.

"It's like he crawls to the door." Hmm, was that Asher Price?

The next comment was likely from Kyle, and it had my stomach twisting. "Bet if it was one of his hookups, he'd get his ass in gear."

Mason growled. "I don't have hookups."

"Exactly. We've left you alone since you've been dealing with the head shit, but it's time to come out and rejoin the land of the living." That was definitely Emerson.

I held my breath as footsteps echoed and the voices moved deeper into the apartment.

"Wren and Jana are coming. Maybe you can finally tap that." That was definitely Kyle. "You've been sniffing around Jana forever."

Uck. The twisting turned to rolling at the image that popped into my head. I had no idea who Jana was, but suddenly, I hated the woman.

A loud bang reverberated through the floor, making me jump. "I have no interest in her."

My lips pulled up in a smile. I couldn't say that didn't make me feel good.

"Stop saying that shit, Streaks. I am never hooking up with anyone again. I've been telling you that for fucking weeks, so back the fuck off."

My heart ached at the anger in Mason's voice, and I wished more than anything that I could be out there with him, soothing his frustration.

"Jeez, dude. Chill out. Between you and Dragon, it's like fire everywhere lately." The chuckle Emerson let out was strained. "Although I wouldn't break shit over it. I'm not looking to hook up either, so let's go out and have fun. Leave it at that."

"Either way, we're not taking no for an answer," Kyle said. "It's our only off night. We need to let off steam."

"No." Mason's tone was clipped. "I'm not feeling it."

"That sounds like bullshit to me. You've been so tense lately. If anyone needs a night out to relax, it's you."

"Why aren't you with your family, Price? Figured you'd spend all the time with them you could before we head out on the road again."

"They're in California, since it's the kids' break from school. Kylie's set on taking up some work again. Apparently, the kids and I aren't enough for her anymore. She needs something to give her fulfillment." Asher Price spent most of his off time with his wife and kids, but his wife was a former Hollywood fixer. She'd handled bad press for the big names until she married Asher. Without seeing him, it was hard to tell whether he was supportive of his wife's decision. Knowing him, though, I was sure he must be a million percent behind her.

A thud and a grunt came from the other side of the door, startling me from my thoughts and putting me on guard.

"Jesus, Bambi. Are you already drunk?" Mason said.

"No, why?"

I bit back a chuckle, but as the doorknob turned, my heart launched itself into my throat. No. No, no, no. This was not happening.

"I'm grabbing your coat, and you're coming out with us for a drink. If you want to leave after one, then fine, but we won't take no for an answer."

"Streaks, don't?—"

The door swung open, and light flooded the space. I blinked, and when my vision came into focus again, all I could see was Kyle's wide-eyed stare.

"Oh, fuck me." His lips turned down into a frown, then he slammed the door, and I was thrown into darkness once again.

"You know what? I bet it's the shoulder again, and he just doesn't want to tell us."

Mason cleared his throat. "Fine. Yeah, it's tight and I'm cranky."

"Aw, do you need a hug?" Emerson asked. "Bring it in."

Price chuckled.

"You know who could help rub that out for you…?" Kyle started.

Wincing, I clutched my hands to my chest.

"Fuck off," Mason growled.

"Want me to call her? I have her number."

Shit. My phone was out there somewhere. If Emerson called, things would get so much worse. Mason and Kyle were close. There was a good chance we could convince him to keep this quiet. But if others found out and word spread? Dammit.

I pulled in a deep breath, waiting for the sound of my ringtone, only to remember that I'd shoved my phone into my pocket. With a relieved exhale, I pulled out the phone to silence it, but as I did, it slipped through my fingers and clattered to the floor.

My heart stopped, along with all sounds on the other side of the door. I swallowed down the tears threatening to take over and wrapped my arms around myself, bracing for another one of his friends to tear open the door and discover me.

"What was that?" Price finally asked.

"Rats," Mason said.

I shut my eyes and breathed through my panic. Not one of them would believe that Mason's high-end penthouse had rats.

"No way you have rats." See? Even Emerson didn't buy it.

"No. Cats," Mason corrected.

"You have a cat?" Price asked.

Kyle only chuckled. At least he wasn't making the situation worse by calling us out.

"No, neighbor's cats. They come through the vents."

Price scoffed. "Why don't you do something about that shit?"

"I love cats. Can I see them?" Emerson's footsteps moved closer at an alarming speed, and my heart rate picked up right along with them.

"No!" Mason called. "They bite. Vicious little things. Don't open the door."

The solid wood door rattled in front of me as something slammed into it.

"You let vicious cats into your apartment?" I could picture Emerson's face at the words. Head cocked to the side, eyes wide.

"That's why I lock them in the closet."

Kyle laughed. "Okay, guys. I think Mason needs some time alone with his…kitten."

Mortified, I dropped my head into my hands and silently whimpered.

"Let's get out of here."

After some grumbling, the front door opened and shut again.

A moment later, the door swung open, and I stepped out. "So Kyle knows."

Mason nodded. "I'm not worried about him. He's not going to tell anyone."

I blew out a breath. "We can't keep doing this."

"I know."

"So what do we do?"

He pulled me into his arms and rested his chin on top of my head. "I don't know, but we'll figure it out."

I sagged against him and gave in to the tears. I wanted so badly to believe him.