Chapter 186

Nathan's POV

The sun filters through the blinds, casting faint lines across the dining table as I sip the last of my coffee. Mason leans against the counter, his arms crossed over his chest, the edge of his mouth curved in a lazy grin that always hides something more.

“How was work?” he asks, his voice low and even, but there’s a knowing glint in his eyes.

I shrug and push the empty cup away. “Long. Boring. Half the staff still don’t know how to shut up and listen. Had to walk out of one meeting before I said something that’d end badly.”

Mason chuckles. “Sounds like a typical Tuesday.”

“Yeah, well, I was tempted to fake a medical emergency just to get out early.”

He snorts and grabs an apple from the bowl on the counter. “You should’ve. You missed the