QUICKIES: Made Up My Mind (PART 2)

Hello darlings~~

Thank God today is over with.  Being my first day back to work since my mini vacay, it felt like a SUPER MONDAY (Super Monday is defined by Night as a day that resembles Monday only multiplied by twenty.  Hair pulling or screaming through your teeth may be involved) or something to that effect.  One of my clients (who is a nurse) said that it was the moon that was influencing people's moods today.  The shift in tides or some such non-sense (which in fact is scientifically sound, i.e. the moon and woman's labor patterns or the rise in crime when the moon is high, google that craziness).  Any ways it was a long day filled with the worst lot of human beings I have ever encountered, who when I think about them even away from work still make me cringe.  No exaggerations here.  *But* I am trying not to end my day on a bad note, so I figured I would cheer myself up and all you other middle of the week slumpers with this second part to Made Up My Mind.  With that, I have nothing else to say except for there is another playlist below that is sure to stir up some memories for you. Enjoy....


XOXOXO NIGHT TEMPEST

Made Up My Mind Part 2 Playlist

Almost Love - A Fine Frenzy

Crooked Teeth - Death Cab For Cutie

Scar Tissue - Red Hot Chili Peppers

Foolish Games - Jewel

Vindicated - Dashboard Confessional

Turn Me On _ Norah Jones

If You Could Only See - Tonic

Say It Ain't So - Weezer

Head Over Feet - Alanis Morissette

Sweetness - Jimmy Eat World

Zombie - The Cranberries

If It Makes You Happy - Sheryl Crow

Take A Picture - Filter

Shine - Collective Soul

The engine slowly quieted and Mason cut the lights, making the barn disappear into the dark. Looking down into his lap, he rolled his eyes and shifted a little but Matt grabbed his knee and held on. “Alright, Jesus I get it.” Mason sighed and put his keys in his shirt pocket.  Reaching over, he undid the passenger door and slowly slid Matt across the seat until his feet hit the bottom step.  “Hold on Every,” Mason grunted as he held the drunk from behind and hit the ground. 

Looking around, Mason didn’t want to wake anyone, so he shuffled towards the barn and cracked the large door open.  Slipping himself and Matt into the dark, he found the small work lamp first and clicked it on.  The barn was illuminated in a soft glow and Mason guided Matt onto the small cot that Noah sometimes used to nap during the day.  Matt’s shoulder length hair spread around his head as he lay down—his dark lashes fluttered a little.

“I’m sorry. So sorry,” Matt mumbled and hid his face in a haze.  He was definitely drunker than a skunk and Mason felt sorry for him.  Why in the hell did he get this wrecked, Mason wondered.  Was it because of him?  With an unsure hand, Mason lowered his fingers to Matt’s frowning face and pushed his long golden locks away. 

“Why are you sorry? I’m the one that done said those things about…you know,” Mason felt like he was talking to himself but it felt good to get it all out.  “I’m sorry Matt.  It ain’t you, it’s me and okay maybe it is partly your fault but I just can’t be…that way with you.” Mason swallowed and knelt next to the cot—his fingers never leaving Matt’s face.  “What do you see in me anyhow?  I ain’t nothin special Every and I also like girls…”

Mason looked down Matt’s body and let out a slow breath as Matt stretched.  The band of his underwear peaked out of his jeans and Matt’s flat stomach showed as his cotton t-shirt rode up on his chest.  Mason licked his lips and leaned forward.  “I know I was planning on maybe giving this a try but what for?  This is your life and it ain’t fair to you to be experimenting when you have to be pining for a relationship like Noah and Jamie got.  I don’t think I can give that to you…but damn Every…” Mason’s hand found Matt’s burning hot skin and his palm sprawled out on Matt’s stomach.  Searing heat and a zippy tingle ran up Mason’s arm and he fought not to startle Matt by pulling away. 

A soft moan left Matt’s lips and his hand covered Mason’s—shocking Pierson into paralysis momentarily.  “Mason,” Matt whispered with his eyes closed and pulled Mason’s hand up his chest.  With wide eyes and almost non-existent breathing, Mason felt every inch of Matt’s chest like a lover would.  It was different than anything he’d ever known.  The skin was flat and a little hairy, solid but still soft for muscle—Matt was definitely not a woman and that scared Mason shitless.  Even scarier to Mason was that he wanted more. 

Bending over Matt—who softly moved under Mason’s hand—Mason brought his face close to Matt’s chest and just explored a little.  What did another man smell like?  Still scared but assured that Matt wouldn’t remember this, Mason inhaled at Matt’s chest and closed his eyes.  Not floral or fruity like Suzanna or the other girls but more like himself—woodsy, sweaty, you could smell the Irish Spring still lingering.  Scenting again, Mason pressed his nose right to Matt’s chest and cupped his hips without realizing it.

“Mason,” Matt slurred and put his hands in Mason’s hair.  He was having the most wonderful dream and it felt so real. His skin was so hot that his fantasy was just that more explosive and he was so hard it hurt.  Dream Mason helped him out of his shirt and the cotton brushed against his flushed face as it made its way off his body.  Relieved at how much cooler he felt, Matt ran his hands down his chest and let himself go back to the peaceful sleep in which Mason was touching him and whispering sweet words.

Almost ready to burst, Mason gawked at Matt’s naked torso and couldn’t believe what he was doing. His hands trailed down Matt’s chest and to the elastic of his underwear before grazing over his belt buckle and back up before things got out of hand.  It had been a long time since he’d dreamt about Matt but with him so close now, it was hard not to escape his straying thoughts.  He was straight, this wasn’t right, he shouldn’t be touching Matt like this.  Yet none of that seemed to stop him as he nudged his knee in between Matt’s legs and bent over the half delirious drunk. 

Smelling the beer on Matt’s lips, Mason wasn’t sure how to do this.  Was it wrong to kiss a half conscious man?  Was it wrong to want to kiss him in the first place?  Was it bad that his hands wanted to run all over Matt’s body? Was it wrong that he was getting hard from just looking at Matt like this? Brushing his lips over another man’s crossed into a territory that Mason wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to come back from.  He could feel Matt’s breath rush into his own mouth gently and their eyelashes painted tingles along each other’s skin as Mason pressed his lips to Matt’s.

Even in his sleep, Matt responded and ground against Mason’s knee—rubbing his half hard length up and down.  His hands pulled Mason down and wrapped around his back.  The door to the barn squeaked on its hinges and Mason stood up so fast he got a head rush.  With a flashlight in hand and a small cooler in the other, Jamie stood in the doorway with a look of panic.  Looking from Matt to Mason, he knew what was going on but what could he say?  Mason was…shit…  “I um just needed to put this away so Noah could…”

“Yeah right, I’m sure that’s what you were doin,” Mason snarled.  Inside he was terrified that Jamie had caught him.  What did he think now?  Would he tell Noah?  Was this assault? Oh God, Mason wanted to throw up but instead he grabbed his fallen keys and rushed past Jamie.  Searching for the right words to call after Mason, Jamie turned and looked at Matt who frowned in his sleep and curled up into a tight ball.  Setting down the cooler, Jamie looked around until he found the small fleece blanket above the metal cabinet and covered Matt with it.  Even in Matt’s sleep, he could tell the body wasn’t Mason’s and he curled away from the other person with sadness. 

“He’ll come around Matt.  Or…I hope so anyways…” Jamie whispered and turned around.

“Why are you whispering to Matt while he’s sleepin?” Noah startled Jamie with a weird look and the blonde shooed him out of the barn—turning off the lamp as he left. 

“I’m not crazy Noah.  Come on, let’s go inside.” Jamie let Noah lead him up the hill into the front yard.

“You gonna tell me what that was about? Or maybe if you’ve seen Mason?  Mama called a little while ago to check up on him but I couldn’t find him.”

“Well that’s what I was going to tell you.  Noah, I think I know why Mason’s been a pain in the ass lately.” Jamie looked around for Mason.

“Did he say something to you?” Noah stopped and put his hands on Jamie’s shoulders.

“No but he didn’t have to. Noah…I think Mason may be…”

~~~~~~~~~

Waking up on the hard surface of the dock was anything but comfortable and Mason sat up only to feel every bone in his body protest with pain.  With a crack of his spine, Mason yawned and looked out over the early morning water with a sigh.  He had to get the fuck out of here and quick before his brother and Jamie got up. Knowing well and good that Jamie hadn’t been spying on him last night, Mason felt guilty about his actions but he didn’t know what to do.  He’d kissed a man, hell he’d gone further than that but thank God Matt wouldn’t remember any of it.  And oh that didn’t make Mason’s conscience feel any better.  In fact, it made him feel lower than low. 

Hurrying to his feet, Mason stretched one more time and then started to jog up the dock and over to the house as fast as he could—taking the back way in lieu of the front in hopes of avoiding everyone altogether.  With heavy feet and this raging need to take a shower, Mason ran across the cement of the back patio and as quietly as he could slid open the sliding door.  There in front of his very eyes was Matt Every leaning over the kitchen counter—a look of death across his face. He looked over at Mason and grabbed his juice before leaving for the living room without a word.

Mason froze, his body locking up at the sight of Matt.  He could still taste the stale beer on his tongue, smell Matt’s sweat like it was still last night, but the guy had all but forgotten him now that it was morning.  The feeling didn’t sit well with Mason. He almost wished Matt had remembered him now and the moans he’d gotten Matt to make for him.  To make for him?  What the hell was he getting into, Mason cringed and tip toed out into the living room.

Matt held his juice like it was the only thing that existed.  His head was on another planet as far as pain was concerned and he had the shakes that came from dehydration.  The fact that Mason was standing there looking at him with that strange face only added to his humiliation. In a nutshell, Matt wanted to crawl under the nearest rock and die.  What the hell had he told these locals and the Olivettes for that matter? He had no idea but he hoped he hadn’t confessed anything too serious because when he’d started yesterday by drinking…it had been all about Mason and how he’d been royally denied.

“Go ahead and say whatever you’re thinking.  Or better yet, I’ll just go outside so you don’t have to waste your breath,” Matt mumbled and tried to blink but that only hurt his eyes.  He hadn’t been this hung over since high school.

“I wasn’t gonna say nothin.” Mason took a step forward and Matt snorted darkly.

“You? With nothing to say? Right and pigs fly.” Turning around, Matt had no desire to continue this conversation.  No amount of sexy country boy bed head would keep him around to be rejected all over again.  It wasn’t worth the heartache or the headache—both of which he already had, so Mason could keep that to himself.

“Hey Matt,” Mason called but got the slam of a screen door instead.  Knowing this was the right thing and that running away from his problems wasn’t going to get him anywhere, Mason took off after Matt.  The glass blower was downing his juice on the porch before he put the cup down and looked out at the rising sun.  The tall grass was silhouetted against the sun making each piece stand out as it danced in the light breeze.  “It’s beautiful isn’t it?” Mason asked as he took a few steps forward.

“It was,” Matt replied dryly without looking at the country boy. 

“Look about yesterday, I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean it and I was just angry about my own self not you.”

“Mason you thought I was coming onto you, that isn’t some magical thought that just popped into your mind.  It’s something that you’ve been thinking about for a while and you just happened to have a Freudian slip.  So I’m gay and you’re scared about that.  Why? I have no idea but that’s your own problem.  How about I stay away from you and you stay away from me?  I’ll be looking for my own place

soon anyways so it won’t be much longer until I’m out of your way.” Matt crossed his arms continuing to look out over the open field.

“You’re taking this way too far Matt.  I said I didn’t mean it and I…I…think…I don’t know how to say it,” Mason whispered.  His hands ached as Matt turned around with screwed up brows.  “You never denied that you wanted me.  Did you?” Mason asked.

Matt fisted his hands at his sides. “Is that how we’re gonna do this?  You want me to tell you how gorgeous I think you are for your own personal reference?  Does it help to affirm your manliness or something?  I had you all wrong Mason.  I got you just all wrong.”

“I asked because I want to know, not because I want to hurt you.  I want to know for sure before I make a fool out of myself.  Before I hurt myself,” Mason’s voice rose a little with emotion and Matt leaned back.

“Hurt yourself?”

“You could hurt me,” Mason confessed and Matt went still.  Did that mean he….was…oh Lord above, Matt shivered.

“Mason, I think you need to talk to Noah or something.  Is that what this is all about?  All of this anger lately?  You think you’re gay don’t you?” Matt took a step forward and Mason shied away.

“I’m not gay, I’m just…” Mason noticed that Matt didn’t say he wanted him and he also noticed how he tried to pawn this conversation off on Noah.  Matt didn’t want him did he?  It was all in his head, Mason realized.

“Just what?  You either like guys or you don’t.  Unless you’re bi which is…” Matt waved his hand and Mason shook with frustration.

“Just shut up, shut up, shut up.  I’m not gay or bi or whatever.  I thought you would tell me…God!  You know what Matt, you’re right.  I don’t wanna be around you.  You always make me feel like I’ve done something wrong, when I haven’t.  You go on ahead and move into my house and live with my family and take right on over because I’m gone,” Mason screamed and leapt down the steps to the yard.

“What is going on out here?” Jamie opened the screen door and Noah pushed past him. 

“Mason? Mason!” Noah yelled but Mason was already in his truck and roaring around the drive.

Sinking down onto the stairs, Matt started to cry.  His heart felt torn in two because he didn’t know how to help Mason who was so confused and angry.  He didn’t know how to help himself either because the object of his heart just drove off with hatred in his eyes.  Matt didn’t know if there was any fixing what had just happened but he prayed to all that was good that he could.

“Matt what the hell is going on?” Noah crouched down in front of Matt and put his hands on Matt’s knees. “What did he say?”

Shaking his head, Matt looked at Noah. “He’s leaving.”

“What?” Noah’s eyes went wide and he looked up at Jamie. “Call mama and Sam and Perry.  I don’t know where Mason’s head is but he ain’t going anywhere.  I’ll have this whole damn town blocking his way if it comes down to it.”

“On it,” Jamie said and rushed into the house. 

“Now why don’t you start by telling me how long you’ve been into my brother?” Noah raised a brow and pulled Matt to his feet.

~~~~~~~~

Slamming the door to his truck, Mason stomped onto the grounds of the lumber yard and headed straight for the office.  Pop Olivette basically lived in this place and his tiny raised metal box of an office sat on two stories worth of stilted metal with a series of grated stairs.  The giant of a man had been his daddy’s best friend and was the closest thing he had left to a father figure.  Even if he just sat in silence with the big man, it was always a comfort and Mason needed as much comfort as he could get.

Pulling off his ball cap, Mason knocked on the door and received a loud bark to enter.  “Pop?” Mason asked as he opened the door to the air conditioned box. 

“Well don’t let all the good air out.  Pay good money for the stuff,” Pop grunted and set his paper down.  The smell of strong black coffee and cheap wood paneling relaxed Mason’s nerves and he stepped inside and shut the door. “Have a seat, you look like shit boy.”

“Been a rough day,” Mason muttered and flopped unceremoniously into the beaten office chair next to him. 

“It ain’t but eight in the morning.” Pop chuckled and his entire body shook.  “Must’ve been some woman to get you this riled up before the high sun.  Whoo I remember my Willa being a handful when we was that young but I never looked like a sack of sad afterwards.”  Pop rubbed his thick beard and leaned back with contemplative eyes.  He’d gotten the call from Noah about fifteen minutes before Mason came traipsing in here.  Already knowing what the boy’s problem was didn’t make the paternal instinct to rush him with a hug any easier to stop neither—Pop had to wait this one out and make Mason feel good about sharing. Or that’s what Noah said.  Speaking of, where the hell was that boy?

“What do you think of Noah and Jamie?” Mason heard himself ask before he looked up at the burly bear behind the tiny desk.  Sam and Perry’s daddy smirked and tapped his fingers on his desk. 

“Why you askin what I think of your brother? Ain’t that obvious?” Gonna get it out of you one way or another boy, Olivette thought with a sip of coffee.

“You don’t think he’s less of a…less of a man for being…like he is?  For lovin another man?” Mason was scared to look up.

“Why you lookin at the floor? It ain’t about to talk to ya, so look here.” Pop leaned forward and put his red University of Louisville mug down. Mason mustered enough courage to look the three hundred pounds of muscle in the eye.  “Do I think Noah Pierson is less of a man for being in love with another man?  Hell no.  Why?  Because it’s hard enough to put up with a woman let alone another man.  I give him credit for being able to handle a mirror image of his self.  That’s a whole lot of stubborn and testosterone goin on in that relationship and any man that can handle that plus his comings and goings is more of a man than I’ll ever be.” Pop shrugged.  “But that ain’t what you really want to know is it?”

“I don’t know what I want,” Mason sighed and put his face in his hands.

“Yes you do but you’re scared to say it.” Olivette paused and grinned. “You want some coffee?” Pop got up with a squeak of his rolling chair.  His steel toed boots clomped over the thin carpet to the small coffee pot.

“If you know me so well, then what do I want?” Mason turned and grunted.

“To be happy but you don’t think you’re worth all that.  You ain’t got no job, no purpose, and you’re living out of your brother’s house.  You don’t think you’re worthy of this other person that’s got you so wrecked you can’t think straight.  Therefore you don’t think you deserve happiness but that’s where you’re wrong. You gotta think you’re deserving before you’re gonna feel it here.” The big man pointed to his chest without looking at Mason.  “So…you up for a little change Mason?” Pop poured his coffee and took a nice long sip.  With a satisfied exhale he eyed the boy that he’d watched grow up before his very eyes.

“Yeah,” Mason met Pop’s eyes.  “I am.”

~~~~~Three Weeks Later~~~~~

This was one of the hottest July’s on record in Shermin Heights and everyone was doing their best to cool off.  Little kids were lying on top of sprinklers instead of jumping through them, the elderly were parked in front of their windowed a/c units, and Noah was signing off on the work done for the central air.  He couldn’t believe the difference the whirring box next to the house made and when he stepped into the cool living room, he sighed in relief—leaving the hundred plus heat outside.

“Nice huh?” Jamie grinned and let Noah pull him close.  “It’s even colder upstairs.”

“It gets colder than this?” Noah’s brows rose and Jamie chuckled.

“Yeah, you wanna come feel for yourself?” Biting his lip, Jamie pulled his shirt off and threw it at Noah’s face. 

“Feel what exactly?” Noah crept forward as Jamie drew back.

“You’ll just have to come find out,” Jamie pulled the drawstring on his shorts and wiggled out of them—only a pair of white cotton briefs against his tan skin. 

“Ah hell Jamie,” Noah groaned and pulled his tank top off before taking off after his love.  A crash and a few laughs later, Matt stared up at the ceiling where the moans were coming from.  With sullen eyes, Matt got off his bed and went to the window like he did every day and closed the curtains.  He hadn’t talked to Mason civilly in almost three weeks and he’d resigned to the fact that he probably never would again.  That didn’t mean that he wasn’t hurting…because he was. 

Every day had become a challenge and a certain twinge of depression had settled into Matt’s heart.  Changing into a tank top and a pair of his work pants, Matt packed a small cooler of water bottles and headed for the shack behind the barn.  He had to get his mind off his latest run in with Mason and maybe get some work done before his date with Todd later.  Mason had been at the Shermin Shack with the Olivette brothers when Matt had walked in two days ago.  The look on Mason’s face was anything but happy when he had locked eyes on Matt.  The awkward turn away, the change in subject, the pitiful looks Sam and Perry had given him—Matt in turn lurked to the back of the restaurant to hide his face. 

Barely leaving the Pierson property for almost a month, Matt had decided that day that it was time he got a little change of scenery and took his mind off his and Noah’s summer project.  Coming to the Shermin Shack was supposed to have been a good thing.  But as Matt watched Mason snake an arm around Suzanna’s waist from the back and cut his eyes to the darkened booth in the corner where he was, he knew then he wasn’t wanted.  Without a word, Matt slipped out of the booth before his waitress even noticed he was there and left the Shack.  He saw Mason’s reflection in the front door as he stood from the table but Matt didn’t want to hear anything else about why his being gay was a problem for Mason. 

That was when the shiny Jeep Cherokee had pulled up to the curb and a beautiful man got out of the driver’s seat.  Golden eyes grinned at Matt and he’d stopped in his tracks. The dark haired man paused and smiled wider.  “I don’t think I’ve seen you before and I know everyone.  I’m Todd, Todd Paola and you are?” The stunning model type stuck his hand out and Matt shook it—a familiar look passing between them.

“Matt Every, I’m over at the Pierson place helping out Noah,” Matt smiled as the guy’s hand lingered a bit over his before pulling away slowly.

“Well is that a fact?  I’m quite friendly with the Pierson brood myself.  You looking to stick around?” Todd leaned against his Jeep and stretched a little.

“Yeah, I think so.  I like it here,” Matt said.

“I thought I did too but there’s more to life than this small town.  But, I will admit it’s a nice place to spend the summer.” Todd dug in his pocket and pulled out a card.  “Why don’t you give me a call?  My parents live here and I’ll be around until the end of the summer.  We can…get a drink or something,” Todd drawled and his eyes narrowed.  There was no mistaking what ‘or something’ meant.  Being denied attention for a very long time, Matt shyly looked at the ground and nodded.

“Sounds good.” He flicked his eyes up. “I’ll call you.”

With a wink, Todd got up onto the sidewalk and quickly caressed Matt’s arm.  “I can’t wait,” he whispered before disappearing into the Shack.  Turning around, Matt saw Mason standing there angry as ever.

“You know who that is?” Mason bit out and Matt sighed.

“Todd?”

“No, he’s a bastard.  That’s who he is,” Mason sneered and Matt threw his hands up.

“You just can’t give up can you?  Am I just supposed to be miserable because you are…whatever Mason.  I haven’t done anything to you, so just leave me alone,” Matt said and turned around to his own dirty Jeep.  Suzanna came outside as he was turning his key but Mason was still looking at him, even as the waitress gave Pierson a slow kiss on the cheek and put an arm around him.  Matt tried to hide the tear that slipped out by reversing onto the street before it got worse. He was done trying to play nice with Mason.  He’d call Todd tonight and see what his plans for the weekend were. It was time for Matt to move on.

Now two days later and a few hours-worth of work had Matt in a tizzy.  He’d thought putting out a couple of big pieces would get his mind off Mason but as he pulled off his gloves and looked at the cooling glass globes on the table, he knew it wasn’t going to happen.  Maybe hanging out with Todd tonight would bring his lighter side around and a smile to his face.  Shit, Matt thought looking at the clock, he only had an hour and he was a mess.  With a rush up to the house, Matt tore into the shower and began to get ready for Todd Paola and what would hopefully be a good night.

~~~~Earlier that morning~~~~

Mason was carrying another piece of lumber to his truck as Sam jogged over to help him tie down his load.  “I’m surprised you’re not chucking that wood through the windshield right now.  That’s good of you though not to let that temper get in the way when he’s going out with Todd.  Gotta show him that you can handle your shit Mase—be the bigger person and all that,” Sam chattered as he looped the strap into place to buckle the wood down.

“What are you talkin about?” Mason looked up with confusion.

Sam put a foot against the truck and pulled with grunt.  “Paola taking Every for a spin tonight, duh.  Everyone’s talkin bout it.  Todd came into the store today to get candles and shit and Clyde had no qualms with askin him what all the fluffy stuff was for.  Then George told Jenna and we know how my girl likes to run her pretty little mouth.  So everyone knows what Matt is in for…” Sam looked at a completely seething Mason. “Everyone but you apparently, ah shit Mase, I’m so sorry…I thought you heard…”

“I told him Todd was a no good rat!  Fuck!” Mason slammed his palm into the stack of wood and howled in pain.

“My God Mason! What in the hell is wrong with you?  You did this to yourself.  We all done told you to go after him weeks ago but no, you gotta be stubborn as a bull.  What did you think was gonna happen?  That he was just gonna wait until you finished rebuilding that shit for bricks house for him that he don’t even know about?  You think he’s gonna wait for someone that he thinks hates him?  No! He ain’t you dumbass.” Sam yelled and the entire lumber yard went silent.  Every man alive within the gates was turned towards the ruckus with trained eyes. 

“Sam!” Mason roared and came around the truck. 

“You wanna fight me boy?  Because you’re too scared to admit that you’re gay?  Ain’t no one here give two shits where you put your dick as long as it don’t involve putting your fist through a damn Ford.  So if that makes you angry enough to hit me, then you go right ahead and put it here,” Sam screamed back and pointed his nose. “Do it.”

With his chest heaving and his fists up, Mason realized this wasn’t right.  He looked at his best friend who didn’t so much as flinch when Mason moved.  Sam Olivette was a good man and when Mason dropped to his knees with a sob, Sam was right there to hold him in front of God and everybody.  Mason was his brother for life and he didn’t care what a pack of old hickerbillies thought.  He knew they didn’t care but even if they did, he’d sooner spit in their faces than see em makes hateful eyes at Mason.

“I want him Sam,” Mason choked.  “I want…another man.”

“It’s about time you said it you dumbass.” Sam laughed and squeezed Mason around the shoulders.  “Now the real question is what are you gonna do about it?”

“Yeah, I wanna know too because I just saw Todd Paola buying chocolates from the bakery.  He’s pullin out all the fancy stops for your boy.  You gonna take that Pierson?” Perry kicked dirt at Mason with a grin. 

With a deep breath, Mason’s heart clicked with his brain for once, and he sat back on his heels.  “I don’t know if I’d be gay for anyone else but Matt Every.  I love him and Todd Paola can’t fuckin have what’s mine.  We don’t take kindly to thievery around here.”

Sam grinned and his dimples added to the plotting behind his eyes.  “No, we don’t. Do we Perry?”

“Nah, I’d sooner whoop your ass than let you steal from me.” Perry crossed his arms smugly.

“Well alright then, it seems boys…we got ourselves a good old fashioned date to plan,” Sam said and clapped Mason on the shoulder. “You in?”

“Yeah, I’m in.” Mason stood and followed his best friends up to Pop’s office.

Four hours later, Mason stood in the old plantation house that used to sit on his family’s property before his daddy had sold it off.  Abandoned for many years, Mason had bought the deed with a bit of his inheritance and a good discount from Henrie.  The faded white, six-bedroom home stood on fifteen acres of land and had a walk around porch that had left Mason with the warm and fuzzies after he’d seen it.  The minute Henrie had suggested the place to Pop, Mason had felt in his heart that this house was where he belonged. 

With the subconscious intention of buying it for someone in particular, Mason had signed on the dotted line and worked on it every day since with the occasional man hour from the boys.  Not even Noah or Jamie knew what he was doing and as far as they knew, Mason was staying with Sam and Perry until he worked his shit out.  But with every coat of paint and every base board that he nailed in, Mason began to really come into his own and realize things about himself that he’d tried to repress.  The main issue being Matt Every and how with every bone in his body….Mason loved him. 

In his head, he’d had this grand scheme of rebuilding this house for Matt and bringing him here when it was all done as some big surprise, but in reality? He’d been too scared to tell him, too chicken shit to apologize and confess, too much of a coward to make Matt happy.  Hell, to make himself happy for that matter.  Now that he was working at the lumber yard part time and he owned his own house, Mason slowly evolved in his own head—feeling better about himself.  Sure it took a screaming match with Sam Olivette to get him to say it out loud but in truth, Mason had known since the minute he met Matt Every that he wanted him.  And he’d been fighting it every minute of every day ever since.  But not anymore, Mason looked down the large drive that was canopied with willow trees.

The old rotary phone rang in the hallway and Mason rushed to grab it. “Hello?” He gasped.

“If I get arrested for this, you’re bailing me out understood?” Sam chuckled and Mason grinned.

“Got it.”

“Then get ready blue eyes, because your little lover boy is gonna be right pissed at you,” Perry leaned in and added as the sound of a revving engine could be heard over the phone.

“Good, I like em angry,” Mason smiled and narrowed his eyes at the driveway in anticipation. With a little hope and a lot of help, Mason Pierson really had made up his mind this time. Matt Every was it for him.

TO BE CONTINUED…..