Liability (Suncoast Society #33)(32)

Trying not to be an *, like his father could be.

Yeah, like Corbin Lange was a paragon of romantic relationship dynamics.

Not.

His father snorted again. “Tryin’ to stay friends with him won’t get you anything but trouble. Trust me on that one.”

Mason was currently ignoring Freddie, though, and hadn’t replied to any of the man’s texts since Saturday. Mason had too much fun with Cole and Kim on Saturday and wanted to focus on his life there in Florida. Reconnecting with old friends, and making new ones.

Fortunately, there’d been nothing from Freddie yesterday, and then this morning the whiny, plaintive tone had started in again. Only three texts today so far, but Mason was still planning on holding off replying to him until at least tomorrow. The last thing he wanted was to get the kid wound up again.

Freddie…well, no, he didn’t want to totally ghost Freddie and be a dick like that, but if the guy couldn’t take a hint and either back off or accept reality, he might have to put his foot down again. Maybe this time Freddie would take the hint without Mason having to resort to the nuclear option of blocking him.

He hoped.

“Why don’t you want to discuss your life with me?” his father asked. “I told you, I’m fine with it.”

“I appreciate that, Dad. I’d tell you if there was anything to tell. I work, I go home. I’m barely settled into my condo, so I haven’t had time for hobbies.” Mason fought aggravation. From one extreme to the other. Freddie, whom he couldn’t share any details with about his life, to his dad, who wanted details he didn’t have to give.

None that he would want to share with him, anyway.

His dad ambled his way toward the front door. “I’m not like your mother. I don’t freak out.”

“Let’s go eat.” Mason didn’t even want to go there with the conversation. If his dad started on a tear about Mason’s mom, that’d be the entire conversational subject of the night, rehashing stories that Mason had heard dozens of times since he hit eighteen and his parents’ unofficial moratorium on going after each other in front of or to him fell by the wayside.

They never should have been married.

They headed to a seafood restaurant that Mason hadn’t been to in years. He was shocked when he moved back to find it was still open. In downtown Sarasota, on 301, it was a mainstay of the area and served delicious food.

At least he hoped it still did.

Once they were there and seated, his dad stared at the menu. “What do you think looks good?” he asked Mason.

Mason sighed. “You know you need new glasses, right?”

“No, I don’t. It’s dark in here and the print is tiny.”

“Okay, Dad. Sure.”

Mason used an exceeding amount of patience to get through the dinner with his dad. He knew he shouldn’t feel like that, because he was lucky his dad was still in relatively decent health. Both his parents were.

Still, it was one more adjustment to make.

Then again, I’ll take dealing with him over dealing with Freddie.





It was nearly nine o’clock by the time Mason returned home. He’d meant to text Cole earlier to check on Kim.

Hopefully it wasn’t too late. He decided to send the text.

Hey, just wanted to make sure Kim’s still doing okay.

He was heading for bed a little later when his phone buzzed with a text. He ignored the notification for a new text from Freddie to read the reply from Cole.

She’s begging me to go to the club again this weekend. :)

Mason sat there on the edge of the bed and contemplated his reply.

Finally, he settled on one he hoped didn’t come off as douchey.

Let me know if you want to meet for dinner and go to the club. I don’t have any plans.

Cole’s reply arrived before Mason could even set his phone down.

I’ll say yes now or Kim will smack me for not confirming. :)

Mason smiled. He wouldn’t call Kim a brat, or even pushy. He could feel the excitement in the couple Saturday night and remembered how good that energy felt.

Eagerness.

A safe eagerness he wouldn’t have to worry about turning into something psychotic.

He hoped.

Then I’ll tell Tilly we’ll have two more for dinner and see you at Sigalo’s at the same time. :)

Another quick reply.

Thank you for all of this. We really appreciate it.

Another thing to make Mason think. How many times in their relationship had Freddie ever said thank you?

Rarely.

You’re welcome. I’m having fun, too.

Speaking of Freddie, he thumbed through the messages. Freddie was now at work and shouldn’t even be on his phone, but that rarely stopped the guy. Freddie had sent him another couple of plaintive, pitiful messages meant to invoke sympathy and hopefully a response.

Mason deleted them.

Freddie could wait another day. Or two.

Or hell, even longer.

Mason plugged in his personal and work cells and crawled under the covers.





Cole stared at his phone, deep in thought.

Kim wasn’t the only one who wanted to go to the club again this weekend. Cole knew he wouldn’t be up to doing a lot of the things he saw, but he knew he could do some of them. And he felt comfortable, both from watching Mason and from talking to others about Mason, about Kim playing with the man.