6. Mason

SIX

Mason

I've checked my phone for a message from Bridget for the fifth time now. Still nothing.

"Ugh, what the hell am I doing?"

My sigh is long and drawn out. I need to get out of my head and stop thinking about how Mia and Bridget are warming up to each other.

I've been way less productive than I need to be. A company can't run itself after all.

I'm sure she's doing an excellent job. Not only do I remember how much Bridget watched kids when we were younger, but I know that she wouldn't shirk her responsibility like that.

In all the years I've known her, Bridget has never been flighty or reckless. She was the least trouble-making one out of the three of us kids, and I doubt that's gone away.

I trust her.

That trust, however, does nothing to make me feel better about not being there. I want to see what they're doing. I want to hear how Bridget talks to Mia.

Because I know that she's changed, and I want to learn about that despite the fact that I've told myself a hundred times over that whatever I felt for Bridget all those years ago doesn't matter.

We've both moved on with our lives, and things are far more complicated than they were when we were young.

"Fucking hell," I grumble under my breath, sipping idly at my coffee before setting it back down on my desk next to the monitor.

I lean back in my office chair, raking a hand through my hair. I know this has everything to do with the burning curiosity I have over Bridget's past, and I also know that it's not serving me at all to dwell on that need for more information.

Still, I can't help but wonder, where has Bridget been these past five years? And whatever happened with Jai? He's clearly out of the picture since she hasn't mentioned him once, and he's nowhere to be seen, but why?

And how recently?

It's so not my business. My business is what's right in front of me, being neglected because I can't stop brooding over the dating history of the first woman I ever had feelings for.

And she seemed so…skittish.

My brain zings with theories, like she might be running from something, and is it Jai? And again, I know I have no time for all this.

Clenching my jaw, my gut tightens. I don't like how nervous Bridget seemed, and the idea that it has something to do with her likely ex-boyfriend, Jai, has my blood boiling.

I never liked Jai, thought he had a mean streak he kept hidden behind his layers of charm and flirtation. And while it would feel vindicating to know I was right about him, I hate to think that Bridget suffered.

I should have stepped up sooner. I should have said something to her about how off the guy felt. I should have…

"Shoulda, woulda, coulda." I scrub my hand over the stubble dusting my chin. "I can sit here and take a not-so-enjoyable walk down memory lane. Or I can get to work."

Shaking myself into action, I refocus on the monitor, going over the emails and new schematics I've been sent for the proposed upgrade to one of the lodges.

My flow starts up again, and I'm barreling through the emails when my cell rings. Seemingly calm mood be damned because I nearly jump out of my skin at the sound, fumbling to answer it.

"Bridget?"

There's a chuckle, and I realize exactly who I'm talking to. "No, but I did call about how this morning went."

I let out a shaky chuckle myself, turning away from the monitor again. "Hi, Hudson. It went fine. Bridget seems more than capable of looking after Mia."

"Well, I told you it would." He replies, and I shake my head. "Still, checking in on the little sis. It's what I do."

The words get my mind churning again, and I can't stop myself from asking the question I know I shouldn't.

"Bridget said that she came back into town for your mom. I'm sorry about that." I suck in a deep breath. "Is it just her?"

There's a short pause, and then Hudson lets out a ruffled sigh, one strained with tension. "Yeah. It's just her. Apparently, that Jai asshole that she'd been seeing was a ‘poor fit.' They broke up like three years ago, I guess, and she's been traveling around, trying to figure out who she is."

"Oh," I offer, my nerves humming beneath my skin. "I didn't…traveling the country? That's a bit surprising for Bridget."

"You're telling me. I'm glad that those two aren't together anymore. I never liked Jai, but I wish that she didn't feel so lost when it was over. She could have come home and talked. He stole more years of her life away than just the two they were together, you know?"

The snort that comes out is all agreement. "Yeah. I hear that. But hey, I need to get back to work so that I can leave the office at a decent time tonight. Talk soon?"

"Sounds good, buddy. Swing by for dinner one of these nights. Or we can grab a drink just us."

I nod to myself. "That sounds like a good idea, Hudson. Text me a good time. Talk later."

"Bye."

Shocked is not how I'd describe my reaction to learning that Jai and Bridget did, in fact, break up. I had a feeling, but what is with this traveling the country to find herself thing?

That doesn't sound like the Bridget I know. She likes to settle into a place and go to her same favorite spots over and over again.

At least…she did.

Stillness fills the office, and I sit there in the quiet for several minutes before my curiosity finally gets the better of me.

Swinging my legs beneath my desk again, I pull up the internet on my computer and navigate to the security system website I use for the house.

It's easy to pull up the feeds of each camera, and I check in the living room first.

Mia and Bridget aren't there, but there are several other places they could be. Not in the kitchen, not in her room…

I stop on the camera to the playroom at the top of the stairs, my chest squeezing as I see them. Bridget and Mia are sitting in the middle of the floor on a blanket that's been spread out, having tea.

Well, fake tea that I hope is actually just water based on how many times Mia has spilled her cup or over-poured from the plastic teapot.

They look like they've found Mia's dress-up box as well, Mia wearing a little crown and Bridget wearing a hat that does not fit her in the slightest.

Mia and Bridget look completely at ease with each other, enjoying their tiny tea party with special clothes and several stuffed animal guests.

I'm warmed through to my core seeing how happy Mia looks, and a gratitude so profound swells through me at how good I can tell Bridget is being with my daughter.

And then there's the inevitable drop.

I'm not there with her. Her mother isn't there with her.

The guilt is familiar but still stings. I know I'm doing everything in my power to give Mia the best life possible and I try to be with her as much as physically possible.

That voice in my head doesn't care, though. It just thinks I'm failing as a father and should have found a way to give Mia a mother.

Useless frustration and anger boil through my blood, remembering how I demanded the doctor do more to save Jess.

But there was nothing to be done. She'd torn internally during the C-section delivery, and the bleeding happened too fast and too severely.

I never saw her out of that hospital room again.

Swallowing hard, I look back at the screen again. Mia is clearly laughing, and Bridget is smiling right back at her. After a moment, Mia thrusts her hand out and pretends to "freeze" Bridget, who acts the part beautifully.

More laughter and spilled plastic tea cups as Mia unfreezes Bridget and then runs off, her new nanny chasing her down the hallway with booming, exaggerated steps.

I laugh at the adorable sight, sighing. "They look so happy."

My emotions rise high, and my brain starts to churn up ideas that are absolutely out of the question. Bridget is the nanny. Nothing more.

But I can't find it in me to close the program. I just watch the two of them play, smiling, until a notification of a new email pops up on my computer.

I'm so fucking distracted by all this, and it's not good.

I know that lines are blurring in my head—and my heart, if I'm honest—and that can't happen.

We're just friends. She's just working with me to help out. That's all. All that other stuff is in the past.

Speaking the reminder again and again to myself, I finally manage to close out the camera app and get back to work.

Still, I know this is going to be a long day—a long few weeks—with Bridget of all people working for me.