Breaking Perfect
“I would have, but there never seemed to be the perfect moment. That would be a long conversation and believe it or not, we have plenty of stuff to keep us busy. I guess it just never came up.”
Sean only half believed him. He wondered if shame was partly to blame for Mase’s secretiveness with his wife.
“Don’t look at me like that, Sean. I was never ashamed of what we had. That was you.”
“Mase—”
Mason held up his hand to halt protests. “Don’t. The past is the past and there is no changing it. We both know why things didn’t work out. Unfortunately, it took thirteen more years of you living with your bigoted old man’s abuse to realize how asinine your stance on the entire situation was. Did you ever get the closure you were searching for?”
A hoarse, “No,” was all he could say.
“Well,” Mase looked at him sadly. “Then I’m sorry for that. I’m sorry for a lot of things.”
“Me too.”
The sound of the door being nudged open stifled any further conversation on the topic as Liberty carried in a tray laden with three Danishes and three cups of steaming coffee.
* * * *
Later that evening, Sean had a life changing experience. He learned what a Lava Cake was. Liberty told him any chocolate lover needed to be well versed in the incredible healing powers of such a dessert and she hadn’t lied.
The piping hot, cake-like brownie sat on top of cold vanilla ice cream and was bathed in hot fudge and covered in crushed nuts. Upon tasting such an orgasmic concoction the first words out of his mouth were, “Oh my God, marry me. Come on, forget Mason, you and I can run away together and live on a lava island and eat nothing but this for the rest of our lives.”
Liberty smiled adorably, her cheeks a deep shade of pink, and Mase protested, “Hey, get your own wife.”
“Quiet, apple pie boy. Libby, go pack your stuff.” Sean ate every last bite and was more than tempted to lick the bowl. By the time he was finished he was falling into a chocolate coma. It was indeed a beautiful thing.
“Have you ever been married?” Liberty asked after dinner when they settled into the living room to loaf and watch some TV.
“Uh, me? No. I don’t think I’m the marrying type.” He only ever loved one person and in that case marriage was out of the question.
She tilted her head, causing her blond ringlets to bounce and settle back into place. “Why’s that?”
“I guess I just have peculiar tastes. I’m very particular about what I want. No one’s ever really suited me enough to make that type of commitment.”
It wasn’t a lie as much as it was an omission of detail. He avoided Mason’s stare. There were other forms of commitment aside from legal marriage. With Mason, it had never been a matter of suiting, but various other obstacles he could not see a way to overcome. And while Mason may not ever see them as valid reasons to end a relationship, they had been as real and valid to Sean as anything ever was or ever had been.
“I believe there’s someone perfect out there for everyone. I mean if I could find Mason…I am sure you’ll someday find a woman who completes you.”
Mason cleared his throat meaningfully. “Lib, don’t pressure him. Not everyone wants a long-term partner in life.”
Thirteen years ago, Sean would have agreed with him. Now, he wasn’t so sure. Lonely was a long road and he’d been on it for a while.
Liberty turned back to him and asked, “Do you date? Mason works with some lovely women. And most of them are doctors, too.”
“Lib,” Mason warned, but Sean smiled, telling him it was all right.
“I’ve dated. Even had some longer relationships. As easygoing as I seem on the outside, I can be quite different when involved with someone intimately. I don’t think I’m an easy person to please.”
“I don’t believe it. I can’t imagine you being anything but easygoing.”
“You’d be surprised,” he muttered, again avoiding Mase’s gaze.
A little later he headed off to bed and it wasn’t long before he heard Mase and Liberty follow. Thankfully he fell asleep before he heard anything else.
* * * *
“Have you asked Sean about staying for the next twelve days?” Liberty asked as Mason removed his clothing and climbed into bed.
“No, but I will tomorrow. He seems to really like you.”
“I’m glad. I like him too. I get the feeling that he’s sad, though. Do you get that feeling? I wonder if it’s because he just lost his father.”
There was something peculiar about Sean. Sometimes she caught such a desperate look of longing in his eyes she wanted to weep. She wondered if he were simply mourning the loss of his father or if it was something more.