“Oh, Mason.”

I saw the sympathy creeping in and shook my head. I didn’t want to see that in her. “Don’t pity me. I’ve got a trust fund in the millions. I’m hoping to go pro football, but if I don’t, I’ll still be fine. I’m best friends with my soul mate and my brother. I’m damn blessed, too. I’m just reminding you that you shouldn’t feel guilty about protecting your family.”

“You’re my—”

She started to reach for my face, and I caught her hands, bringing them to my lap, as I laced our fingers.

“I know. We’re family, but you can have two families. You can enjoy having a mother, too.”

More tears slid down her face, but she only gazed at me. She was sitting sideways, and she rested her head against her seat. “It’s a weird feeling.”

“What is?”

“Healing.”

And right there, that word from her, took my breath away. Fuck the dorm deal. I shoved the other concern away. I’d deal with it on my own terms.

I started the vehicle.

“Where are we going?”

“You’re staying the night.” I flashed her a grin.

She smiled back, and the sight of it was a gut punch. She was damn beautiful. My dick was already hard, and I couldn’t think about all the positions I wanted her in, or I’d be pulling over in some other lot. Instead, as I left the lot, I glanced up where Sam’s room was, and I wasn’t shocked to see the roommate there.

She’d been watching us, but as I met her eyes, she shifted back and let the curtain fall.

Caught you.

SAMANTHA

A cake, balloons, groceries, flowers, and an inflatable chair greeted Summer and me on Friday morning. They were piled in front of our door when Summer got up to leave for the restroom.

“Uh…” She stepped back and cleared her throat. “Sam?”

I had no words. “Um…”

“Oh.” A bright laugh came from the hallway. The inflatable chair was picked up and lifted before Malinda’s flushed face was seen. “Happy parents’ weekend, Samantha!” She shoved the chair behind her and waded through everything else.

Her arm was thrown up, and I had a second’s notice before she crossed the room’s threshold, grabbing me in the tightest bear hug I’d experienced in a long time.

She rocked me back and forth, smoothing a hand down my hair. “You look surprised. Good.” She pulled back and patted me once on both shoulders with her hands. “Mission accomplished. I wanted to have you wake up with a delight. Now,” she leaned forward, took a sniff, and wrinkled her nose, “I see I really did beat you to the punch. You need to brush your teeth, honey.”

“Malinda,” I started.

“Nope. I won’t have it. Mom…” Her voice faded. “Well, maybe Mama Malinda? I don’t want to push you. I’m sorry. Malinda is just fine.”

She was hurt, and I was a dipshit.

“Sorry.” But I couldn’t bring myself to say the mom word.

And Mama Malinda was Logan’s nickname for her. Knowing I couldn’t appease her that way, I hugged her once more. This time, it was me who held her for a moment longer than necessary.

She melted and murmured under her breath, “Oh, sweetie.”

The tears were there. I heard them in her choked voice, but she cleared her throat and stepped back.

Wiping at the corners of her eyes, her smile never wavered. It was from ear to ear. “Thank you for that. I do love you, my new daughter.”

“Should I…” Summer was still studying the pile of gifts in the hallway. She was clutching her shower caddy in one hand, and a robe hung over her other arm.

“You must be Summer?” Malinda didn’t give her any choice.

Summer looked a little alarmed, but Malinda swept her up in a hug similar to mine. She released Summer right away though and started grabbing the items one at a time.

“It’s so nice to meet you. Here. Let me grab all of these and get them out of the way.” She grabbed the flowers first and passed them to me as she said to Summer, “I’m Malinda, by the way. I married Samantha’s father.”

Summer started helping, putting her robe and caboodle down. As I put the flowers on my desk, she brought the balloons over. Malinda passed by her, starting with the bags of groceries.

Summer said, going back to help bring in the rest of the food, “I’m Summer. It’s really nice to meet you.”

“You can call me Mama Malinda.” She paused next to me, her hand resting on my shoulder. The touch was gentle. “That’s what Logan calls me, and it’s stuck. I like the nickname. I even got Mason to call me that one time.”

“You did?” I asked.

She nodded to me. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes gleamed from excitement. “I about choked on my coffee that morning, but I think he wanted to shock me. He did that usual face when he thinks something’s funny, but he doesn’t want to show it.” She mimicked him, standing like a statue, letting the corners of her mouth lift up and drop back down immediately. Her face was stoic before she broke out laughing. “You know how he is. He looks like a pissed off robot half the time.”

Summer was bringing in the last of the groceries, and she burst out a laugh but muffled it, coughing over it. “Wha—never mind.” She gestured to the hallway, reaching for her caboodle again. “I’ll be back in a bit.” She paused, grabbed clothes from her closet, and disappeared, shutting the door behind her.