Liability (Suncoast Society #33)(79)

“Thank you. That means a lot to me.”

“Softy.”

They both looked. Mason’s eyes were open, that lopsided smile on his face. He was staring at his father.

“Well, there you are. Sleeping your life away.” He sat up and pointed at Kim. “That poor thing there, crying her eyes out over your ass. You need to hurry up and get better.”

Mason’s smile widened. “Love you, Dad.”

“Yeah, well, love you, too. Even though you scared years off me and the cunt’s lives.”

“Dad.”

He grinned. “Aw, come on. She calls me *.”

It sounded like Mason sighed. Then his gaze focused on Kim.

And he rolled his eyes.

She burst out laughing, not realizing she was crying until Corbin had shoved tissues into her hands and draped an arm around her shoulders. He’d stood and made her take the recliner.

“You’ve got a shitload of friends,” Corbin said, now dabbing at his own eyes. But he wore a smile. “Glad to see that.”

“Behave, Dad.”

“I am. Hey, I even called the cunt this morning before they moved you and told her you’re awake. They’ll be back sometime this afternoon.”

Mason looked at Kim. “Sorry.”

“For what?”

He pointed the fingers of his right hand, which had been freed, at his father.

His father laughed. “Yeah, well, another reason to hurry up and get better, so they don’t have to put up with me anymore.”





On day sixteen, a Monday, Cole took another family leave day to spend it with Mason. He was in Mason’s room when Mason’s boss showed up.

“Hi. Sorry, didn’t know you had company.” He’d come to visit Mason a couple of times, both before Mason woke up and once he’d been moved to a regular room. Cole had texted Mason’s coworker every day with updates as to his condition.

“Hey, come on in.” Mason hit mute on the TV remote. He was still having headaches and pretty bad dizzy spells, but they’d removed his catheter and as long as he had help and used the walker they’d provided, Mason was allowed to get up and go use the bathroom and even walk around some.

It was a slow process, but Mason had insisted on pushing himself, trying to work his way to getting released directly home and not to a rehab center. He still had some balance issues the doctors weren’t sure would get better or not, but he was coming a long way from where he’d started. He had just been changed over from a bland diet to a normal diet two days earlier.

The guy eyed Cole. “I, uh, can come back later. I have some work stuff I need to talk to you about.”

Apparently, Mason picked up on the guy’s nerves the way Cole had. “Don’t worry,” Mason said. “This is my boyfriend, Cole.”

“Um, okay.” The guy pulled up a chair. “Look, there’s no easy way to say this but to say it. Unfortunately, you’re going to be out of work for a while. And considering the…circumstances of the case, the higher-ups determined this is a liability for the company, and—”

“Wait,” Mason said. “What?”

The guy sighed. “They’re invoking the six-month probation clause. That you can be dismissed without cause. But, they also said they’re going to give you six months’ severance pay. And you can keep getting insurance, but you’d have to pay for it all yourself.”

Cole wanted to punch the guy. When he started to stand, Mason reached out with his right hand and touched Cole’s arm. “It’s okay, buddy,” he softly said.

After staring at the guy for a moment, Mason spoke. “Six months, huh? A liability. Gee, thanks. I did more in the months I’ve been at the company than anyone else before me.”

“They know. That’s why they’re offering a generous sev—”

“Yeah, I get it. I’ll make sure to turn in my badge, phone, and laptop.”

“They said once you’re all healed up, you can apply again if we have vacant positions.”

“But I’m a ‘liability,’” Mason said.

The guy had no reply.

He finally stood. “HR will contact you by next week to go over everything. And they’re also not marking you as terminated for another three weeks, so they can give you the paid vacation time and salary.”

“How generous of them,” Cole snarked.

“I’m sorry. This wasn’t my decision. I tried to get them to change their minds, but…” He sighed. “Apparently one of the major stockholders is some really religious guy and pushed the CEO to replace you when he found out you’re gay.”

“That’s actionable,” Cole said.

“No, it’s not.” Mason sounded resigned. “The contract I signed had a ‘no cause’ probationary period. They literally can just say I’m fired and give me no reason.”

“But he just gave you a reason.”

“Doesn’t matter. I don’t have the energy to fight it. I’d rather take the severance package and go if they don’t want me there. Fuck it.”

“Sorry,” the guy said. “I’ll make sure I bring all your personal stuff from your cubicle.”

“Thanks.”