Mason hated when things were out of place, but he found that he didn't mind how messy Terrance's living space was. It was cluttered and disorganized, but it matched Terrance's personality so Mason couldn't be upset or disgusted by it.
It reminded him too much of Terrance's personality and he couldn't be grossed out because he was falling for Terrance and loved all of the tiny details about him.
"Sorry, I know it's a bit messy," Terrance apologized. "Definitely not your organized cafe."
Mason rolled his puffy, teary eyes. "Doesn't seem to organized now, since everything's all over the floor," he grumbled. "And it's your space. I can't judge you."
"I didn't mean to upset you more."
"It's fine," Mason said bitterly as he sat down at the small, rickety table in the kitchen. "I don't even care anymore. It's stupid that I'm upset about it. Whatever."
Terrance sat down in the chair across from Mason and grabbed his hand across the table which was covered in bills and unopened mail.
"It's not even about the mess, is it?" he asked softly, making Mason shake his head.
"No," he whispered, looking at his lap as he began to tear up once again. "Someone invaded my safe space and made it unsafe. And they destroyed my art! It's just... why would anyone do that?! I didn't do anything wrong!"
Terrance just held Mason's hand as he started to cry. "I know, people can be horrible... it's not your fault that people are animals and destroy things to hurt others," he cooed, stroking his thumb over the back of Mason's hand. "We'll find out who did this."
"I know who did it!" Mason snarled, eyes red and cheeks shiny from tears. "It was that guy that you attacked to protect me! He's mad and took it out on my space!"
"We don't have proof-"
Mason growled loudly, the volume and intensity of it making Terrance shut his mouth and feel the urge to bare his neck.
"Who needs proof?! No one else holds anything against me!" Mason yelled, standing up and towering over Terrance.
Terrance raised an eyebrow. "No one else?"
"Well, my stupid parents do, but they're in New York," Mason mumbled, sitting back down and taking a deep breath to calm down. "And they don't care enough to go out of their way to mess up my stuff."
"Are you sure?"
Mason opened his mouth to respond before pausing and shutting it again. His parents were really wealthy; it wouldn't surprise him if his dad paid someone to ruin his space. Maybe they hoped he'd come running home to follow the plan they had for him.
"Mason?" Terrance asked, pulling the Omega from his thoughts. "What's on your mind?"
"Uh... hold on," Mason said, grabbing Terrance's phone, since he'd left his in his room when they left the night before and couldn't find it in the destruction. "Can I make a call?"
Terrance nodded and Mason dialed Henry's number.
"Hello?" Henry's voice asked, sounding tired. He'd clearly been cleaning up the cafe and it was exhausting him.
"Hey, it's me," Mason said, knowing Henry would know his voice. "Um... have you seen my phone by chance?"
"Yeah, it's on the bar... why?"
"I need you to go into it and tell me my dad's number."
"Again... why?"
Mason growled over the phone. "Would you just do it, please?" he asked, pleading at the end and dropping the angry tone. "Please?"
Henry sighed loudly over the phone. "Fine. Are you gonna tell me why?"
"I think they have something to do with the break in. Or, at least my dad does. My mom is probably clueless, as usual."
"Why would they want to bother you?"
"Because they suck and want me to return. They didn't think I'd stay away for this long and they're probably trying to mess up my life here so I'll go home and play along with their stupid plans," Mason said angrily, standing up and pacing as he spoke. "Can I have the number now?"
Henry gave him the number, and Mason promised to let him know what they said. As soon as they hung up, Mason dialed his dad's number, waiting for the man in question to pick up.
Terrance didn't know what he was talking about, since he didn't know anything about Mason's family, but he didn't want to interfere since Mason seemed convinced that the phone call would solve his issues.
"Pick up, pick up, pick up," Mason mumbled as the phone rang.
"Axel Clay," a deep voice said.
"Hi... dad..." Mason said, uncomfortable with the call, but he knew the call was necessary.
"Mason?" Axel asked, sounding surprised. "You have some nerve calling me, especially after you took off and stole money."
Mason scoffed. "You have plenty of money and that money was linked to my college savings. So, I was free to use it as I pleased," he said, glaring at nothing. "Though you seem keen on ruining that."
"What are you talking about?"
"My cafe, dad!" Mason snapped, slamming his fist against the wall before flashing Terrance an apologetic look for punching his wall. "Someone broke into it and trashed it!"
Axel laughed shallowly. "So? It's not my problem," he said, making Terrance raise an eyebrow at how disinterested Axel seemed with his son's dilemma.
Mason groaned in anger. "I know you have something to do with it! Some trick to bring me home so you can continue your stupid legacy by marrying me off to some stupid CEO?"
"He has a name, Mason," Axel said, suddenly said sounding annoyed. "And I still expect you to marry him."
"Well, that sucks," Mason said with a growl. "I'm not going to follow your dumb plans and I'm going to find proof that you made someone mess up my cafe so that I'd come running back home and you could do whatever you want with my life."
"You don't have control of your life even now, son," Axel said matter-of-factly. "I have plans and you're part of them. You're without a mate and-"
Mason cut him off, laughing loudly into the phone and ignoring Axel trying to tell him to shut up. "Funny you should say that! I actually have a mate and I'm with him right now! And guess what, dad?" Mason asked, pausing.
"What?"
"He's not going to let you give me to some other Alpha because he cares about me and he's my mate! And after I hang up here we're going to have hot, steamy sex that's so much better than you and mom ever had because he actually cares about how I feel!"
Terrance's eyes widened. It wouldn't be the first time that Mason seemed to make a quick, irrational decision when he was annoyed.
"If you don't come home, we'll come get you," Axel threatened, but Mason ignored him.
"Sorry, I can't pay attention to what you're saying! I'm too busy thinking about riding my mate's dick!" Mason called before hanging up the phone and turning to Terrance. "I hope you're not popping a boner right now because I'm actually not really down for sex right now."
Terrance held up his hands to show he wasn't planning anything. "Didn't think so. If your parents show up though, I'll definitely give you a hickey or two so that they think we're sleeping together."
Mason smiled. "Fantastic," he said as he sat down on the couch. "I assume you're probably confused by my family."
"Yeah, that's probably the most simplistic way of saying it."
Sighing, Mason stood up and grabbed Terrance's hand. "I'll tell you about them. But you need to show me to your room so I can be surrounded by your scent and relax. Give me some tissues too, since I might cry."
Terrance nodded and took off to gather what he thought Mason would need, including a bottle of juice, tissues, and his favorite sweatshirt which he let Mason put on after they'd both settled down on Terrance's bed.
"This story might make you hate my parents..." Mason trailed off before smiling. "No problem, because I hate them, too!"
Terrance settled down, pulling Mason to his chest. This was going to be a long afternoon.
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