SOMEONE NEEDED TO HOLDMason back. In a minute, he was going to rush across the room and grab Harper, kissing her until she didn’t know up from down, and then he was going to beg her for forgiveness until her muddled brain accepted him into her life once more.
“Easy,” Crew muttered out of the corner of his mouth. “There’ll be time for that later.”
Mason started. “Please tell me I didn’t say any of that out loud,” he whispered back.
Crew quietly snorted. “No, but the look on your face isn’t lost on me.”
Mason tried to force his emotions into compliance, but it was a losing battle. Why had Harper come? Why had she been willing to drive all the way up here and spend her day testifying on his behalf when he’d done nothing to earn her loyalty?
Because she’s an angel.
It seemed like every time he saw her, the term angel became more and more relevant. He had no idea what was going to happen with Layla and the custody of her, but Mason knew one thing for sure. Layla or no Layla, he couldn’t let Harper go. He’d thought he could do it. He’d thought losing Layla would take away his chance for happiness with the beautiful artist, but seeing her again brought all his feelings back to life.
She’s worth fighting for.
She sounded so confident, so put together and honest as she spoke of his virtues. By the time Mr. Thomas finished, the very air in the courtroom had changed.
“Mr. Thornbull?” the judge asked.
For the first time since the defense began, the lawyer stood. “Yes, I do have a few questions,” he said with a tight smile.
Mr. Thomas walked away and sat down next to Mason. “I don’t know why you let her go, but I hope you know that I think you’re an idiot.”
“I am,” Mason admitted. “And I’m hoping she likes idiots.”
“She’s still in love with you,” Crew said from his other side. “Any fool can see that.”
Hope surged forward, but Mason held it in check. He wouldn’t put the cart before the horse this time. Too often in the past, he’d decided Harper’s response before giving her a chance to give her own. He’d controlled his future by simply holding back and he wasn’t going to do that anymore. This was exactly what Crew had been talking about. There was every chance that Harper wouldn’t take him back, and in all honesty, he wouldn’t blame her.
His words at the hospital had been aimed to hurt. It was the only way he knew to get the always-helping Harper to leave. Small excuses would only have given her more of an opportunity to serve. He’d had to cut the ties completely and his words had been nothing but lies.
How could he ever regret his time with her? His dreams weren’t filled with diapers and crashing toddlers... They were full of a stunning artist who was one of the best things to ever happen in his life.
How he had overlooked her for so long while they were merely friends, he couldn’t begin to understand, but he was willing to make up for lost time now...as long as Harper was willing to let him.
“Thank you, Ms. Woodson,” the judge said. “You may go.”
Mason sat up straighter. His wandering mind had missed the whole conversation between her and Mr. Thornbull. Looking over, Mason noticed that the lawyer didn’t seem quite as smug as before and he prayed it was because Harper’s testimony had gone in Mason’s favor.
Mr. Thomas patted his back before standing. “Thank you, Ms. Woodson. We appreciate your time.”
Harper nodded, and then she gave a small smile to the judge, Crew and the boys in the back, but not once did her eyes meet his.
Crew chuckled softly. “You’ve got your work cut out for you.”
“That’s the understatement of the century,” Mason grumbled. He sighed. He deserved that. He actually deserved a lot more than being ignored, but in the least, he deserved her disdain.
“We will take a short recess where I will look over the evidence presented,” the judge said. “When I have made my decision, we will come back and settle the matter.” The room stood and the judge left in a door through the back.
Mason watched him go, knowing half of his future went with the old man.
“Nothing to do now but wait,” Crew muttered.
Their parents walked by and Mason noted that his mother ignored him even more studiously than Harper did. His father, however, paused. “Mason,” he began.
Mason raised an eyebrow. “Dad.”
Timothy Turley hesitated, then shrugged. “You know how your mother gets.”
Mason nodded. “I do. But also know that you don’t have to agree with her.”
“I don’t agree with this,” his dad said with a huff. “Having Aimee and your mother fight for eighteen years was bad enough. I’m not ready for another two decades of it.”
“Then why didn’t you stop her?” Crew asked, stepping up to Mason’s shoulder. “Being here means you’re supporting her.” He shook his head in disgust. “You do realize any relationship you had with us is over, right?”
Their dad’s face fell. “I’m not trying to choose sides.”
“You already have,” Mason said in a low tone. “And in a family matter like this, you can’t not choose sides. There are only two choices for Layla. With you or with me. One side or the other.”
Their dad sighed and rubbed his forehead, looking older than he had only a few minutes before. “I tried to stop her, but she wouldn’t listen.” He splayed his hands. “She’s my wife.”
“Yeah...and Layla’s your granddaughter,” Mason shot back.
“And Mason’s your son,” Crew added.
Their dad nodded sadly and walked away.
Somehow, it felt more final than it should have. A little voice in the back of his head told Mason that this courtroom would determine whether or not he ever saw his father again, but the notion felt ridiculous.
A low whistle caught his attention and he turned to see his friends waiting. “And I thought Aspen brought drama into the family,” Jayden said with a half smile. He reached out and shook Mason’s hand. “I’m sorry about all this, man. It stinks.”
Mason nodded. “It does, but I’m grateful you’re here. Thanks for taking the time to speak on my behalf.”
“Not sure why we even came,” Gavin said with a grin. Of all their friends, he was the closest in size to Mason, being a firefighter who enjoyed staying in shape between runs on the truck. “Harper put all our testimonies to shame.” He leaned in. “Was I hearing things, or did she say she was your ex-girlfriend?”
“You heard right,” Mason admitted, rubbing the back of his neck.
“When the heck did that happen?” Ethan jumped in. “You were together the night we all met Layla, right?”
Mason nodded. “It’s...a long story.”
Ethan’s right eyebrow rose high. “From your tone, I doubt it’s a happy one.”
“No...it’s a story of how stupid I am.”
Jayden chuckled, then shrugged. “Sorry. But I think every guy in existence has a story like that.”
“Mason!” Mr. Thomas came rushing back into the room. “He’s ready.”
“Wait...what? Who? The judge?”
Mr. Thomas nodded and settled himself, standing at the table while Mason’s parents and their lawyer came back in as well. “Get read,y men, your fate is being decided now.”