Fallen Crest Home(85)

“Mason wants to protect him.”

“Yeah.” Nate shifted, lounging back against the pew and stretching his legs out. “I know what you mean, but it sucks being on the outside.”

I glanced at him.

He didn’t look at me, but he spoke as if feeling my gaze. “It was hard when I first came back in high school. Mason had been my best friend. I came back, and you and Logan had replaced me. It took me a long time to get back in.” The lines around his mouth strained. “I messed up a few times, but I’m in again. I won’t do anything to mess that up. I’m just saying, I feel for Matteo.”

There was nothing I could say. I knew how close Mason and Logan were, but I wasn’t around when it’d been Nate and Mason, not Logan and Mason. And he was right, I remembered the times when Nate hadn’t seemed to like me, when he’d looked at me like I was the enemy. But I knew he didn’t mean it. He came back around. He’d always come back. He loved Mason, just like the rest of us.

I nudged him with my shoulder. “Don’t be leaving us when you find your girl, okay?”

I felt his surprise. “What do you mean?”

I shrugged. “Mason and me. Heather and Channing. Logan and Taylor. Even Becky and Adam. Everyone’s found their person. Don’t leave us when you find yours. Deal?”

There was a hint of a grin on his face. “Deal.” Then he added, “Should we pinkie promise like Logan made me do one time?”

“Logan made you pinkie promise something?”

He nodded. “I can’t tell you what. I made a promise.” He was so solemn.

I cracked a grin. “I understand. I won’t push you.”

“So are we done then?”

Logan’s voice drew our attention to the front of the church, and the pastor turned to him. “Yes, I believe so. We’ve already had you guys practice coming in once. Everything should be set.” He gestured to Analise and James. “If you two could stay behind, we’ll get the marriage certificate signed tonight.”

Mason and Logan came down the side aisle toward us just as a man walked inside. He wore a three-piece suit and had slicked back hair, cologne that threatened to suffocate me, and a whole greasy vibe to him.

He boomed out, “James!”

James looked back and grinned. “Peter.” A transformation took place. Gone was the guy trying to make sense of the pastor’s instructions, the guy who’d been holding Analise’s hand a moment earlier, and even the loving guy who’d kept rubbing her back before they held hands. Instead, a businessman took his place. I felt transported into a conference room.

Mason and Logan paused when they saw the guy, then slowly resumed their trek to us. Logan hopped into the pew in front of us, and Mason went to the back, resting his hands behind my shoulders. If I tipped my head back, I could look right up at him.

Nate half-turned to face Mason and me, but he was also able to see Logan. “Who’s that guy? Do you know?” he asked.

Logan spared the guy a second look, disgust coming to his face. “It’s the mayor,” he sneered.

“The mayor?” Nate looked to Mason.

Mason watched the mayor shake James’ hand, then be introduced to Analise. “That’s the one thing our dad wanted,” he said. “And he came out on top.” He shot Logan a look, talking to the rest of us. “He wanted back in.”

“He got back in,” Logan confirmed. “Sure is helpful that Steven Quinn’s been removed from his CEO position.”

Nate asked. “Does that mean Adam took his place?”

Mason shrugged, folding his arms over his chest. “The hotel’s opening was postponed. Adam and I are off the project, so I don’t know. I’d assume, unless someone else moved in.” He touched the back of my shoulder. “Come on. We don’t have to stick around for the dinner.”

I stood.

Nate did as well. “I thought that was the whole reason you called me here,” he said to Logan, who smirked.

“Yeah, it’s all set up,” Logan assured him. “We’re going to stop there on the way home.”

We headed toward the doors.

Logan and Nate went out first. Mason held the door for me and was waiting outside when I heard my name called.

I looked back. Maybe I’d expected my mother, and when I saw she wasn’t standing there, I felt a pang of disappointment. I frowned, shoving that away. I looked out to the parking lot and saw Becky. She was standing to the side, her hands twisted together in front of her. She eyed Logan and Nate, who had paused on the sidewalk as they waited for us.

Mason let go of the door behind me, and her gaze jumped to his face. Her mouth opened in a silent gasp. Most of his bruising had faded, but I understood. It was still shocking. She looked back to Logan and Nate. I could only imagine how all three of them looked to someone else.