Mason closed his eyes.
He had missed her so much that sometimes the feeling settled behind his ribs like a physical ache. He missed having her nearby, hearing her complain about his terrible habits, watching her work, and being allowed to reach for her without wondering whether she would pull away.
He knew he couldn't demand any of that from her. He had made mistakes of his own, and if she was going to let him back into her life, he needed to give her reasons to believe he deserved the chance.
For now, holding her was enough.
Then a faint noise sounded from the hallway.
Sage lifted her head immediately.
"Someone's coming."
Mason let out a shaky breath and loosened his arm. "Probably Lila. She's been looking for a reason to interrupt us since we got here."
"Mason!"
"What? She's nos
