How did he tell his mom that wasn’t it? That they were friends and had great sex and staying together had been easy, more than anything? They knew what each other liked and didn’t have to worry about the other getting upset when they spent too much time at work. Mason didn’t want the same things anymore.

“He misses you,” his mom added.

Mason tried not to get frustrated. “I know you mean well, but I’m too old to have my mother play matchmaker. I’m a big boy, and so is Isaac. People break up all the time.”

“I know that. I just…”

She didn’t have to finish for him to know what she meant. She felt bad and she wanted to make up for it. Trying to get him back together with Isaac couldn’t do that, though. Hell, he wasn’t even sure if she had something to make up for. Mason just didn’t know what he felt anymore. “I get it, Mom. Listen, I hate to cut this short but I have to go. I’ll call soon, okay? And I’ll make it back home.”

“Okay…bye, Mason. We love you.”

“I love you, too.” Mason hung up the phone and stared at Isaac with hard eyes. “Don’t bring them into this game you’re playing, Isaac. You’re going to hurt them.”

He shrugged. “Maybe it’s not a game.”

Mason didn’t have time for this. Shaking his head, he went to the bathroom to take a shower and try to forget about his ex and their morning.

***

“We’re going to start with middle “C” and finger warm-ups. This key is middle “C”.” Gavin pressed down and watched Jessie smile. “Here, put your right hand on the keys like this.” He showed her, and Jessie did as he asked. “Start with your thumb and then press each finger down on the key it rests on.”

Gavin worked on the piano with Jessie for an hour before she looked up at him and asked him to play a song for her.

“What do you want to hear?”

She thought for a second. “Something fun.” When she looked at him with her big eyes, he suddenly felt a hundred pounds of pressure weighing him down. He didn’t want to let her down. He glanced over at Wes and Braden, who sat at the kitchen table.

Gavin didn’t even have to speak for Braden to say, “See what we deal with? It’s impossible not to want to give her the world.”

Yeah, he definitely saw it.

“Thank you,” Jessie grinned happily.

Oh boy. They were in trouble with her. Gavin turned toward the piano again and just let himself play. He chose Fur Elise. He wasn’t sure if Jessie would consider it fun but most people seemed to like it. It’s always what students asked to learn.

Gavin’s heart beat along with the notes of the song. His body felt in tune to it the way he always did when he played.

When he moved to Blackcreek, he’d had to sell his piano. Though it hadn’t been long, he missed it. He didn’t realize how much until he started to give Jessie her lesson today.

When the song ended Jessie began clapping and jumping up and down. “I want to play like that! Will I be able to play like that one day?” she asked.

“You will. I bet you’ll be even better.”

“Yay!” She smiled at him and then ran over to Wes, who hugged her. From there she went to Braden, who held her. He looked over Jessie’s head at Wes, and damned if he didn’t feel the love from the three of them all the way across the room.

Wes stood and ruffled Jessie’s hair. “Come on, kiddo. I promised your aunt I would have you over there before dinner.”

The little girl gave Braden a kiss goodbye before shouting, “Bye, Gavin! Thank you!”

Wes thanked him as well and then the two of them left. The door hardly clicked closed before Braden asked, “What’s wrong with you?”

Damn it. He could never get one past Braden. “I’ve been asking myself the same thing about you since the moment we met.” Gavin turned sideways and ran his fingers down the keys.

“Funny, man. How are things with your family?” Braden asked.

“Why do you insist on talking about them every time I’m with you? Are you going to start charging me for your services, and if so, aren’t I supposed to have a couch to lie on?”

“Maybe,” Braden replied, simply. Obviously he wasn’t going to take Gavin’s bait and change the subject.

“It is what it is. Why hash it out?” Gavin shrugged. Talking about it wouldn’t change things. His father was still losing his mind and his mom still thought he was going to Hell.