Nate smirked at us as we approached the kitchenette and gestured from the coffee maker. "I called in the works. Bagels, omelets, bacon, pancakes. " He held out a cup for me. "And coffee. "
I inhaled the aroma and groaned. "I just cheated on Mason. "
There was a moment of silence before Nate burst out laughing. "Sorry, bud. I think I'm going for your girl. "
Mason flashed him a cocky smile and popped some bacon in his mouth. "No worries. I had her primed before we came out. "
I shot them both a look and sank down in a chair with my coffee. And then I started to take in the scene around us. A few girls sat at the table with their hair pulled up in haphazard ponytails. They were sprawled in chairs with bags under their eyes. One of the girls narrowed her eyes at me, but stopped halfway. She lifted a hand and let it drop down with a loud smack. "Hi. I'm too tired right now. I'm Natalie. "
I nodded and sipped my coffee.
She jerked a thumb beside her. "This is Kate and Parker. We go to school with these dickwads. "
Nate laughed as he lifted one of the girls and took the seat beneath her. He held her on his lap, but she never resisted. The movement had been done with an ease that spoke of its history. He'd done this many times with that girl. She nestled back in his chest and gave me a droopy smile. Her eyes shot over my shoulder. "Logan's missing in action, Mason. We're not sure where he is. "
He had taken a cup of coffee for himself and lounged against the farthest counter. He lowered it from his mouth now. A scowl took form. "Nate?"
"Relax," Nate hissed at him and pointedly looked at the girls. "It's done. "
Mason visibly relaxed. His coffee was lifted again.
And then the door to the suite was thrown open. Logan entered with his arms spread wide and an arrogant smirk on his face. "The deal has been done. "
Natalie lifted haughty eyes. "What's done, Logan?"
He winked at her, but crossed the room and pressed a kiss to my forehead. He whispered to me, "Last night was a show. Did Mason fill you in?"
"A show?" I turned hard eyes towards the kitchenette. "Mason. "
He held my gaze for a minute and looked past my shoulders in a pointed fashion. A sick feeling took root before I turned. Everything seemed in slow motion and I froze at the sight of Miranda Stewart in the doorway. She wore nothing except for a long white buttoned-down shirt that grazed beneath her bottom. Black lacy panties could be seen and she looked back with wide eyes. I gulped as I saw fear in them. That look doubled when she surveyed the room and I turned as well. All three girls had disdain on their faces and each of them didn't contain a smug look.
Miranda's throat jerked up and down as she met my gaze.
A normal girl would've had sympathy for her. Everything went flat inside of me and I stood to stand beside Mason. He lifted his arms over my chest and leaned forward to rest his head on my shoulder. We watched together as Logan motioned for her to come in. As she did, her throat moved up and down again and she dashed for his lap. As soon as she was there, she curled in his arms and turned her back to the table.
Natalie spoke, "Oh. My. Gawd. "
Another started laughing. "Are you serious, Logan?"
The third girl in Nate's arms laughed with her friends, but pressed her face against his arm.
I asked underneath my breath, "What is going on?"
"Logan's got a new girlfriend. That's what's going on. " Mason sounded amused.
I twisted my pinkie to curl around his and leaned all my weight back on him. "Was that his idea or yours?"
"Mine. "
"Does Logan know that?"
His chest moved up and down. There was no response.
"Mason," I prompted. My heart was pounding again. I wasn't sure if I wanted to hear his response.
"No. "
I sighed, "At least you don't sound proud for that fact. "
"Don't tell him. Please. "
I turned around in his arms and looked up. He gazed down and the wall fell aside. It was the guy who was with me in the bedroom, the one who told me he loved me. And my heart broke. I couldn't look away. I couldn't move away. I couldn't tell his secret and when I turned back around to the group I knew everything changed in that moment.
Mason and I were linked together with that one plea. And as a shiver of dark excitement wound through my body, I didn't want to be anywhere else except at his side, no matter where it would take us.
My fingers slid through his and clasped on. Hard.
THE END