Grace’s cheeks pinked, and she yanked her eyes toward Courtney. The back of her neck was reddening too.
Matteo grinned over at us. “Thanks for bringing your friends, Sam.”
Mason laughed, moving out again and adjusting the machine for me. “Yeah.” He rested a hand on the frame as I sat down. “That’s what my girlfriend is: your personal pimp.”
“Works for me.”
I did my rep and then stood, standing close to Mason for a second. “Girlfriend?” I cocked my head to the side in a teasing manner.
His eyes darkened. He knew what I meant. I wasn’t just his girlfriend. I was more now.
His hand grazed mine. “You know what I mean.”
We hadn’t talked much about the engagement in weeks. There’d been other issues on our radar. He was still supposed to ask again with the ring, and in the meantime I was becoming more and more okay with the idea of getting married.
I was not Analise.
He was not James.
We were a completely different couple.
As we moved to another machine, I watched Taylor continue to fight with Matteo. By now, it was mostly in jest. She’d caught on that he was more interested in hanging out with Grace than fighting to get to the machine.
After one more machine, she admitted defeat. Taylor held her hands in the air and told Grace, “Go with Matteo. I think he’ll help you better than me.”
Grace’s entire face was beet red, but we could hear her giggling the rest of the time we were there.
Courtney and Taylor stayed with Mason and me. Courtney seemed a little quiet around Mason. She watched him as he moved around, and I thought I caught a twinge of jealousy in her eyes, but it was always gone by the time she looked over at me. I wasn’t insecure. It was the opposite with Mason, but I was more on edge because of the way girls reacted to me because of him. I didn’t want another Kate situation, but that wasn’t Courtney. If that were going to be anyone, it would be Faith.
A little while later, when we were done and walking back out to the parking lot, I saw Faith getting into a Yukon.
Speak of the devil.
Taylor stopped next to me. “I really hate that girl.”
I grinned. “Is there another weight room on campus?”
Courtney was on my other side. “There’s a VIP room that only some of the star players get to use.” She frowned at me. “You should have access to that, actually. You and your boyfriend.”
Mason came up behind us, and I turned toward him. “Do you have access to a VIP weight room?”
He paused. “Yeah.”
“Could you have taken me to the other room?”
“You, yeah.” He glanced to the others, and I got his drift. The others couldn’t have gone, and he didn’t bring it up because he knew I wouldn’t have left them.
I frowned. “That’s not fair.”
“It’s for the players who need more attention,” Taylor said. “If someone is rehabbing, they get to use it too. But yes, it’s generally for the star athletes—the ones who bring in boosters and more money. It’s exclusive, but it kind of does make sense.”
“You knew about it too?”
She gave me a look like I’d grown two heads. “My dad is Broozer. Yeah, I knew.”
“Oh.”
Mason unlocked his Escalade and stored his bag inside. He shut the door, waiting for me. I glanced to Taylor. “What are you doing now?”
“I’ve got this guy I’m dating. I haven’t seen him all day, and I thought maybe I’d check in with him. Maybe give him a smooch or two.” She grinned at me.
I arched an eyebrow. “Logan’s sarcasm is infectious. Who knew?”
She laughed. “He’s at your place. I was hoping to hitch a ride since he brought me this morning.” We glanced over to Courtney. Grace and Matteo were coming out of the building and heading our way.
“What about you two?” Taylor called over. “I bet I can get Chef Logan to make an appearance. He can cook for all of us.”
“I’m down.” Matteo gave her a nod, his eyes skirting to Grace beside him.
Taylor touched Courtney’s arm. “You and Grace want to come over?”
“Uh.” Courtney turned around to look at me. I’d migrated over to Mason by his Escalade. “Is that okay with you?”
I shrugged. “Why wouldn’t it be? But to be honest, I think if Logan found out we didn’t invite you at this point, he’d be chewing my ass within seconds.” I grinned, sinking into Mason’s side. I noted how Grace was touching her hair and grimacing. “If you guys want to go shower and change, just head over when you’re done. You know where we live.”
“Okay. Sounds like a plan.”
Mason’s arm came down around my shoulders. “Matteo, are you coming over right now?”
“Yes. If that’s okay?”
Grace and Courtney took off for their vehicles, their heads bent together. It was obvious the topic of conversation. Grace kept looking back at Matteo, and he seemed receptive.
He turned toward Taylor once the two girls got into a car.
“Can I give you a ride to your man?” he asked. “I have questions to ask. You have answers to give.”
“Really? Do I?” Her eyes rounded. “I’m just kidding. I’ll take the ride, but I’m not divulging any secrets Grace might’ve confided in me.” She looked over to me. “See you guys there?”
I nodded, but once Mason and I were in his Escalade, he said, “No, she won’t.”
“What do you mean?”
He started the Escalade and pulled out of the parking lot. “I’m going to be selfish. I want alone time with you. Being in our bedroom when the house is full doesn’t cut it for me sometimes.”
I leaned back in my seat, grinning at him.
That sounded more than all right to me.
I wondered where Mason was going to take me. I assumed a hotel. We’d get a suite, have some hot and rough sex . . . when he pulled up to a construction site and hopped out to open a gate, it was the last place I expected to be.
Well, to be honest, I wasn’t sure where we were.
He got back in and pulled the Escalade inside before parking and closing the gate behind us again.
I started to get out, but he waved me back. “I gotta drive a little bit still.”
There were buildings and walls all over the place, along with construction trucks and machines.
“What is this place?” I asked, as he went down a small trail.
“You remember hearing about that old amusement park Logan took Taylor to last year?”
I nodded. “This is it?”
“This is it while it’s being torn down and turned into a big resort kind of thing. James bought it, and I came across some of the plans they have for it this summer. I did a little more digging and found out some of what’s already done.” He grinned. “I swiped the access code, and I know they’re not building tonight or tomorrow. They have those days off for some reason, so it’s ours.”
“Oh.” I laid my hand on his arm. “You’re so sweet. A construction site. It’s where every girl dreams of being ravished.”
His grin only deepened. “Joke will be on you when you see where I’m taking you.”
I laughed, leaning my head against the headrest again. “I was teasing, but I do mean it. I appreciate the gesture for some time alone.”
“I’m going to miss Logan when he goes to law school, and I know Nate will be moving out eventually, but we do have a full house.”
I agreed. It seemed to be getting fuller every year.
“We’re here,” he announced.
Mason parked outside of a large building. As I got out and he took my hand, I tried to guess what we were stepping into, but nothing could’ve prepared me.
“Mason!”
It wasn’t just a pool; it was one of those you find at water parks. There were slides and a kiddie pool. There was a large butterfly statue in the middle of one section, off to the side, and it looked like a real oasis. The wings were made of material that shimmered all different colors. Just watching it a moment, it was blue, green, orange, and a stunning teal color. The whole place looked almost like a fairytale.