Page 64 of Trapped for Christmas

“I won’t reveal my sources.”

Zeb laughed. “It’s . . . you’re right . . . it’s new.”

“So, why don’t you look like you’re still in the honeymoon phase?”

“I’m just worried that I’ve caused him problems with the restaurant. He should be there this weekend, and it was my idea to come here because I thought if we were alone something might happen between us. I said I was going to come on my own, knowing he wouldn’t let me do that. Then we get here and it’s amazing, and he’s amazing, and we get snowed in and he can’t get back to the restaurant, and that wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t made us come here. But I don’t feel sorry about it, because I want to stay with him here forever, because when we go back, I think . . . I don’t know . . . I just can’t . . .”

“Breathe, Zeb,” she said, gently putting an arm around his shoulder.

She had been sitting opposite him when he’d started his word vomit. His face heated with the embarrassment of blurting all that out. Was she going to tell Mason? What would he say? Zeb knew Mason would try to reassure him he wasn’t to blame for him missing the biggest weekend of the year for his restaurant, but that was Mason. He had a kind heart. But Zeb had seen the stress in his eyes when he’d seen the second snow dump this morning, and then the confirmation that they might not leave until Sunday, or even early next week if there was more snow. It was Christmas Eve in less than a week. Mason was going to visit his parents in Florida, he knew that. Hunter was going away with Deacon. Paolo would be in London with Max, Charlie, Sebastian, and their other friends. He wasn’t sure what Felix was doing, but knowing Ryder, the guy would probably be tied to the bed for a week and love every minute.

“I’m okay,” he said to Alison, who was stroking his back.

“You’re not, and I’ll not give you meaningless platitudes about how much Mason clearly loves you.”

“I don’t have any doubts about that,” he said firmly.

He’d been told that before by John and Kaden, never Brandon, but it had felt hollow from them, which was probably why he’d had no feeling when he’d said it back. It had just felt like the right thing to do, that by not saying it, he would have appeared ungrateful.

Mason saying it made him feel complete, like he mattered to someone, and it wasn’t just words. He just wasn’t sure how it was going to work practically once they were outside this bubble of Cherry Falls. Their lives were very different. He knew Mason wouldn’t give a fuck about other people’s opinions, but Zeb did, and he couldn’t help it. Ever since his family had rejected him, he’d craved acceptance from everyone, even if they were just a stranger on the street who said thank you if they dropped something and he picked it up for them.

“You’re worried you won’t be able to fit into his world,” said Alison.

“Are you a witch or something?”

She smiled. “After running this place for twenty-five years, you meet many people and get good at reading them.”

“How can you have run this place for twenty-five years? You look younger than Mason.”

“Can I be there when you repeat that in front of him?”

Zeb felt his face heat but couldn’t help smiling.

“I’m fifty-five.”

“I need to know your skincare routine.”

“Not for a couple of decades, and we’re not changing the subject.”

Zeb sighed. “Yes, I can’t help but wonder how I’ll fit into his life when we’re back in New York.”

“Aren’t you his assistant? You’re already in his world.”

“It’s different. Maybe I could look for another job, but then I would see him less. He’s at the restaurant seven days a week.”

“Didn’t he stay home with you after what happened at Thanksgiving?”

Zeb shook his head. “Ryder is a pain in the ass.”

“Who said it was Ryder?”

Zeb narrowed his eyes. “I’d ask who it was, but I know you won’t reveal your sources.”

“Good to know you listen. What I’m saying is, you’re thinking about the Mason he was before he was with you. There’s no way he would ever have come up here in December. If he wanted to, he could have a helicopter flown in to take him back to New York right now. You know that.”

“I hadn’t thought of that,” said Zeb, feeling ashamed.

“Have you told him how you’re feeling?”