Page 117 of Finding Us
“Mum,” I screech, and I hear Mason bark out a laugh beside me.
“I’ve never had a grandma before,” Blake says, and here come the tears again.
“Well, you do now, sweet boy.”
“I’m Jim,” my dad says, extending his hand to Blake. “I’m Jacinta’s dad.”
“The nice one?”
“Yes, the nice one,” he replies with a chuckle.
“I bet you guys are hungry,” my mum says. “We’ve booked a table at your favourite restaurant for lunch, Jaz.”
“Blake and I are actually heading to a hotel; we don’t want to intrude.”
“Nonsense, you’re staying with us.”
Blake tugs on his dad’s jeans. “I want to have lunch with Grandma and Jazzie.”
“Oh, I could just squish you,” my mother says to Blake, hugging him. “You are the cutest thing ever.”
Mason clears his throat before saying, “I guess we could do lunch, if it’s alright with Jacinta.”
I open my mouth to speak, but my mother gets in first. “You two are family now, and my daughter loves you, so of course it’s alright.”
“Kill me now,” I mumble under my breath.
Mason, however, uses the opportunity to his advantage, throwing his arm over my shoulder and pulling my body against his. He even leans down and places a soft kiss on the top of my head. “The feeling is mutual, Grace, I can assure you.”
Oh. My. God!
Did he just tell me he loved me—in a roundabout-way—for the first time? I mean, he did say it once after we had monkey sex against his front door, but I’m pretty sure that was his dick speaking, not him.
“Look at you two all loved up, you’ve made this mumma one very happy lady.”
Mason’s arm is still wrapped around my shoulder as we wait for the bags, and it’s still there on the walk back to the car. He really is milking this for all that it’s worth.
When we climb into the back seat, I again find myself squished in the middle of Mason and Blake.
Mason leans over, close to my ear. “So, when were you going to tell me you loved me, Red?” he whispers. “I’m a little hurt that I had to hear it for the first time from your mum.”
I elbow him in the ribs, and when he chuckles, I feel his warm breath skate across my skin. “It is wishful thinking on her part, I never told her that.”
“Or that we broke up apparently.”
He reaches for my hand, lacing our fingers together. “What are you doing?” I growl.
“Keeping up appearances, babe.” He pulls our adjoined hands towards his face, placing a lingering kiss on my knuckles. “I’d hate to disappoint your mum.”
“You’re enjoying this aren’t you?”
“Abso-fucking-lutely.”
Mason has spent the afternoon charming my mother, and she’s fallen for it hook, line, and sinker.
“Dinner was delicious, Grace. Thank you.” he says, leaning back in his chair and rubbing his stomach. He looks over at me and winks when I scowl. Ugh, he’s such a suck, and already has my mum wrapped around his little finger.
“Yeah, it was really yummy, Grandma,” Blake adds, and my scowl quickly turns into a smile. I can’t even with this cutie-pie. “Thank you.”
