Fandom (Famous #3) - Eden Finley Page 0,90
reason, I picture him out there raising a whole bunch of Groot trees that give him attitude.
I lean against the kitchen counter with my coffee and eye Mrs. Nash. “I’m thinking of telling him to stay for a bit longer.”
“It would be good for him, but I’m not sure how much without you here with him.” Okay, now she’s staring at me with the same wariness in her gaze.
“I’m sure he’ll be fine.” I sip from my cup and avoid eye contact.
She stands and approaches me. “Mason took his father’s death hard, and with Cameron, he’s going through it all over again. He needs some time. What about you? How are you dealing?”
I shrug, but it’s stiff. “Is it possible to become desensitized to loss? I’ve never really had anyone in my life permanently. I’m sad and I miss him, definitely, but … life goes on. I have no family—”
She reaches for me, wrapping her thin fingers around my arm. “That’s where you’re wrong. Mason is your family, and so am I. You’re always welcome here, and who knows, maybe one day you’ll be comfortable enough to call me Mom.”
I suck in a sharp breath because I don’t understand. Is she saying she knows about Mason and me, or is she being the doting mother hen she has always been—to all of us in Eleven. She might not have been around much, but when she was, she fussed over us like we were her own.
“I see the way Mason looks at you. I saw how miserable he was when you two had your falling-out. I’m not blind.”
“Oh.”
“Not to mention I clean this house. You’re either less messy than you used to be or you’re sleeping in my son’s bed.”
Is it suddenly hot in here? I tug at the collar of my shirt.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to put you on the spot.” There she goes with that mothering tone again, and tears sting my eyes, but I try to hold them back. I don’t know what I want more, for her to accept me and Mason as a couple or to be considered part of her family no matter what.
“I’ve been in love with Mason for years,” I admit.
“And he’s been in love with you too. He just hasn’t known it. But he knows it now, doesn’t he?”
I nod, but it’s subtle.
She wraps her small arms around me just as the back door opens and Mason steps through. Shit. I wipe at my eyes when she pulls away.
Mason frowns. “What’s wrong?” He doesn’t hesitate to come to my side.
“Your mom knows. I didn’t tell her. She knew.”
He blinks.
His mom puts her hands on her narrow hips and cocks an eyebrow. “And when were you going to tell me that you found a person you can be truly serious about?”
“Now?” Mason squeaks.
“Were you worried I wouldn’t approve?”
“No, no, not that. I was scared you’d worry. We’re already ridiculed in the media, and you hate it. This—”
“Is nobody else’s business, just like all the other bullshit in your industry. Here should be your escape from all that, and I don’t want you to be uncomfortable in your own home or feel you need to keep secrets.”
“It’s not that.”
“Good. Now give me a hug, and then I’m going to leave you boys to it.”
Mason holds her. “We’ll come by tonight before leaving for the airport. Ria said she’d drop us off.”
His mom glances at me, and I don’t have to read her mind to know what she’s thinking. He needs more time here.
When she’s gone, Mason pulls me to him. “Well, that was an easy coming out.”
“If all of them would be like that, I’m sure Harley and Ryder would’ve done it years ago.”
“Probably,” he murmurs into my neck and then kisses me there.
I’m going to miss this affection—the softer side of him that’s really starting to come through now he’s more relaxed and at peace. He’s well on his way to being his old self, the guy I looked up to. I don’t want to ruin that. It’s why I have to tell him to stay.
“So, I’ve been thinking …” I hedge.
“Don’t do that.”
“Think?”
“Thinking only leads to trouble.”
“Mase …”
He pulls back. “That’s your serious tone.”
“You know I love you, right?”
“And now you’re freaking me out.”
“I … I think you should stay here longer.”
“What?”
“If I didn’t have to go back, I’d stay with you, but I’m under contract.”
“So am I. I never ended up calling and getting out of the Fandom finale.” He