MASON FINISHED SINGINGhis ridiculous lullaby to Layla and tucked her into her bed. She whimpered and his heart lurched, worried that her head was hurting her, but by the time he got to the door, her breathing had already slowed down.
He stepped into the hall and carefully closed the door behind him, but didn’t move. Leaning against the wall, Mason slid to the carpet. His body was done. He hung his arms over his knees and let his forehead hit the top. His breathing grew ragged and he felt like someone was squeezing his chest, keeping the air from actually reaching his lungs.
Pots and pans clanged in the kitchen, but Crew’s movements weren’t enough to pull Mason from his depression. How was he going to do this? Every single thing he’d done since getting home had reminded him of Harper.
When he’d cooked dinner, he’d wanted Harper next to him, teasing at his elbow. When he’d wiped Layla’s face, he had imagined Harper watching and laughing. When he’d given Layla a bath, he’d remembered Harper singing and making funny faces. Putting Layla in pajamas had only reminded him of Harper’s lessons on getting the zipper up before Layla could climb back out.
He felt torn in two. He needed to take care of Layla, but even more...Mason was beginning to realize he also needed Harper. This wasn’t just about his attraction, or how much she had helped him when he’d been underwater with Layla’s arrival.
He needed Harper like he needed air. He needed to see her face and hear her laugh and touch her skin. She brought out the best in him and helped a man who was already compared to Sasquatch, feel like he was ten feet tall. Harper made him feel like he could accomplish anything and everything, and with a long, difficult future playing out in front of him...he knew he wouldn’t be able to make it without her.
A body slid to the floor beside him. “It’s hitting, isn’t it?”
Mason nodded.
Crew sighed and a thud told Mason his brother’s head hit the wall. “I’m far from an expert on love, but why don’t you just go tell her you made a mistake?”
Mason chuckled, dark and empty. “You didn’t hear what I said to her.” He brought his head up. “There’s no way she’ll forgive me. And I can’t ask her to.”
“All men screw up,” Crew pointed out.
“Not like this.”
Crew rolled his eyes. “How do you know? Do you own the copyright on being an idiot? I’m pretty sure there’s enough of that to go around.”
Mason shook his head. “It wouldn’t be fair to her—”
“Why do you keep saying that?” Crew snapped. “You stayed away from her because it wasn’t fair to ask her to share your time looking for your sister. Then it wasn’t fair to ask her to share time with your niece. Now it’s not fair to ask her to forgive you for being a word Mama would wash my mouth out with soap for.”
Mason sighed and scrubbed his face with his hands. “What do you want from me, Crew? I said some horrible things. Really horrible things. Harper is like a living angel and just kept trying to help until I finally shredded every good part of our relationship, making it sound like it meant nothing to me.” He shook his head. “What woman would forgive that? What woman should forgive that?”
“What woman shouldn’t be given the choice?” Crew shot back. “You don’t give her enough credit. She’s an adult and if she’s as wonderful as you say, then she deserves the right to choose.” He held up his hand before Mason could argue. “If she turns you down, then fine. She turned you down. But it doesn’t really leave you any worse off than you are now.” A half smile tugged at his mouth. “But if she’s willing to overlook your idiocy...well...isn’t that worth the risk?”
Mason let the words ruminate before answering. “She’s worth any risk.”
“Then go get her.”
Mason pulled his phone out of his back pocket. “It’s probably too late tonight. She’ll be asleep.”
“Any woman who likes romance will be fine losing her beauty rest for the right man,” Crew drawled.
“For such a non-love expert, you certainly have a lot of opinions,” Mason muttered.
“Some of us actually go on dates,” Crew replied with a grin.
“And?”
Crew shrugged. “And I have little to show for it, other than experience.”
“That doesn’t make me want to take your advice.”
Crew shoved Mason’s phone in his face. “Call her.”
Mason scowled and pulled the phone away, giving his brother a look before going back to the device. He took a deep breath. Before he could do anything, however, a call came through.
“Uh-oh,” Crew murmured. “That’s not good.”
Mason nodded and climbed to his feet. Probably best to take this one in his office. He clicked to answer. “Hi, Mr. Thomas.”
As much as Mason wanted Crew to be right, it was probably a good thing he hadn’t managed to call Harper yet. This phone call was more than likely not going to be good news and it might go better for everyone involved if he took care of the situation with Layla before trying to win Harper back. Honestly, if he lost Layla, Harper might not want to come back.
He had no idea how much of her attention had been for him or for the child, but until he knew where he was going, he wasn’t going to drag her into it. Crew wouldn’t like it, but Mason’s mind was made up. Fight his mother first, then fight for the woman he loved.