Chapter Six
Mason
Before
“Hey, old man, how’s it hanging?” I cradled my phone between my ear and my shoulder as I pulled on a pair of tight, black jeans.
“Thick and hard, punk. Thick and hard.”
I snorted and put my cell on speaker, setting it on the bathroom counter while I started to fix my hair. “How is M Kat? She feeling okay?” She was six months along now and my dad sent me pictures and recordings of the baby’s heartbeat pretty much daily.
“She’s great. She’s here, say hi.”
“Hi, M Kat. Dad treating you well? You need me to come kick his ass for you?” I knew my dad was treating her like a queen. He worshipped that woman, and ever since she’d gotten pregnant, he hadn’t left her side, ready to hop up to fulfill her every want and desire.
“He’s been wonderful.” She laughed quietly at something my father said that was too quiet for me to hear. It was probably about sex, because, horndog. “We were calling to ask you an important question.”
“Oh yeah? What’s up?” I used my fingertips to tussle my hair, making it look just had sex messy. Chicks dug it.
“We were hoping you’d agree to be in the room with us when the baby is born? You’re her brother and her godfather, and we just really want you to be there for everything. Starting from day one.” M Kat paused, she must have known I’d need a minute to let all that sink in.
They wanted me in the delivery room? Wow. That was intense. “Uh, yeah, of course. Whatever you guys want, I’ll be there.” I made a cringy face just thinking about having to witness the miracle of birth.
My dad laughed. “You’re making a face and trying not to gag right now, aren’t you?”
“What? No.” I let the shiver run down my spine and gave myself a mental headshake. “I’m honored.”
“You don’t have to watch, punk. We just want you to be in there, to hear her first cries.”
Well that was sweet as fuck. Especially coming from my dad. You’d think I’d be jealous that my baby sister would get to have him as a real father and not as an older brother type. But I wasn’t. Not at all. I was so damn happy for her, so ready to see him with her. “I’ll be there. I promise.”
“Have you talked to Payton lately?” M Kat chimed in again.
I wrinkled my nose, looking at my reflection in the mirror. I should have never told them that I’d been staying in contact with Payton. Not a phone call went by without M Kat asking about her. I sighed. “I talked to her a few days ago. But things have been crazy around here. She’s usually asleep by the time I can break away and she’s at work when I have free time.”
“I’ve had lunch with her a couple times over the last few weeks. She’s really thriving at the hospital. They love her. Hey, maybe you’ll get to see her when you come for the birth of the baby?” M Kat sounded super hopeful. Like she wanted to secure Payton as her future daughter-in-law.
I had news for her. It wasn’t going to happen. As much as I liked Payton, husband with two kids and a dog wasn’t me. Not yet anyway, and I’d never expect nor ask someone to wait for me. “Yeah, maybe.”
Luckily she let it go. “Talk to you later, Mace. Have fun tonight, love you.”
“Love you too, M Kat.” And I did. I really did.
“All right, punk, go make the ladies scream your name.”
I chuckled. “You know it.”
After we hung up, I finished getting dressed and then headed out of my hotel room. There would be a car waiting downstairs to take me to the stadium. I was in Portland, Oregon, for the next twenty-four hours and then it was off to Colorado. That gig I was pumped for. Smoke a little smoke, drink a little drink…find a hot random chick. That’s a good night right there.
***
Two o’clock in the morning and I was alone in my room. There had been a girl, but she’d pretty much lost her shit when I told her one night was all that was on the table. Usually chicks were fine with it. This one? Wasn’t. I’d had to call security, and when they hauled her away her skirt had ridden up and showed the tattoo of my face on her thigh. People were fucking crazy.
I picked up my phone and shot Payton a text. Sometimes I’d catch her when she was still awake, when she was on call at the hospital.
Me: You awake, you sexy little nurse, you?
I took a small sip from the glass of whiskey that was sitting on my nightstand. No banging? Might as well have myself a little cocktail and chat with one of my favorite people.
Payton: I’m awake. And not feeling very sexy at all. A preemie pooped on me three hours ago and I just now got to take off that scrub top.
Me: So, what you’re sayin’ is, you’re naked.
Payton: No.
Me: Can you just say yes? Just pretend that you are? Hold on, let my close my eyes. I think I can still conjure a pretty good image of you in the pool.
Payton: Stop it.
Me: In the shower.
Payton: Don’t do it.
Me: My bed.
Payton: Why am I the only one-night stand that has continued for ninety odd nights?
I laughed at her response and then hit her name in my favorites list.
“You’re not like other girls, are you?” I spoke as soon as she picked up, smiling through my words.
“What makes you say that?” She sounded like she was lying down. You could always tell that in a girl’s voice. She was probably in the on-call room on a crappy mattress with rough sheets.
“We hook up, you leave even though I ask you to stay. And now, you act like being my friend is a chore, not a privilege. There is no jealousy. Are you immune to the Maxwell charm? That can’t be possible.”
“We hooked up. I agreed to one night, and you gave it to me—”
“Five times.”
“Yes, Mason. Five times.” I knew her eyes were probably rolling. “I like being your friend, way much. But no, you’ll never see me bowing at your feet or begging you to sign my bra. As far as the jealousy? What would be the point?”
“You’re a special girl, Payton.” She didn’t take my shit, and she didn’t give me any either. Some guy was going to win the lottery with that girl.
“Yeah, well, you’re pretty all right yourself.” She sighed. “Speaking of, why are you alone tonight, friend?”
“Oh man, wait until you hear this story.”
I went into detail about the chick that had to be dragged out of my room, and about her creepy tattoo. I told her about talking to M Kat and my dad earlier and how they asked me to be in the delivery room. We talked about her brothers, particularly the one who couldn’t stay faithful. She bashed him and I dubbed him my hero.
By the time we hung up she was falling asleep and my glass had long been empty. I put my hands behind my head and stared at the ceiling. I enjoyed talking to Payton. And even though it’d been months, I could still remember how much I’d enjoyed fucking her too.
One day, too soon, she was going to find a boyfriend who wouldn’t tolerate our middle of the night phone calls. And that day would suck a little.