Mason disappeared down the hall and into his room to rest.
“How have you been doing?” I asked, keeping my voice low.
I didn’t want to disturb Mason or have him overhear our conversation either.
“It’s been a lot,” Hazel said, her eyes trained on the kitchen table as she tossed the dirty paper plates into the trash bin.
I grabbed the few pieces of silverware and glasses and took the items to the sink to clean.
I didn’t want to leave a mess for her to deal with. She already had enough to do to take care of Mason.
“He appreciates your help and you being here, whether he tells it to you or not,” I said.
“I know,” Hazel said. She wiped down the table.
Standing in front of the sink, I waited for the tap water to run hot before I filled up the sink to wash the dishes from lunch and quite a few in the sink that had been left from breakfast.
“You don’t have to do the dishes.”
“I know,” I said. I didn’t budge from in front of the sink. Once the water grew warm, I plugged the drain and let the empty side of the sink fill with water.
Hazel pointed under the sink. “Dish soap is down there.”
“Thanks.” I already knew where Mason kept the soap. I opened the cabinet and retrieved the liquid. I squeezed a few drops into the sink. Suds formed as water poured in and made bubbles. “How are things between you and Mason?”
“Fine.” Hazel’s eyes widened as she glanced up at me. “Why? Did he say something?”
Her brow furrowed, and she shuffled her feet while she stood in the kitchen and seemed uncomfortable with my question.
I hadn’t meant to offend her or cause any drama between the two of them. “No, I just know that moving to a new city can be challenging, and the fact you don’t know anyone and are stuck taking care of Mason, it’s probably a lot to deal with on your own.”
“What are you a psychologist?” Hazel asked. She folded her arms across her chest.
“No, I’m just used to being an ear for a lot of the guys. Mason used to talk about you a lot.”
Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything, but I found it hard to ignore the obvious fact that they both liked each other a lot.
At least I knew Mason liked Hazel. I didn’t want to see her push him away when he eventually could take care of himself again.
“He did?” Her voice caught in her throat. “About what?” She leaned against the kitchen counter, her gaze on me the entire time as I washed the dishes by hand.
“He always compared the girls who he dated to you. He’d talk about how he was young and stupid and had let you go away to school.”
“I never went to college.”
“Oh.” I didn’t know what to say to that.
She was the girl he’d gone to boarding school with and compared every girl after to her. While most of the guys hadn’t talked as openly about their pasts, Mason had regretted letting her go.
“I was supposed to,” Hazel said, “but it’s a long story, and I’d rather change the subject.”
“Sure.”
“Mason’s a good guy. It’s just a lot right now, taking care of him and trying to make him comfortable. I won’t even tell you how difficult it is to get him into the shower.”
I chuckled under my breath. “Mason’s a big guy.” He was twice the size of Hazel. “You’re not asking me to bathe him, are you?”
Hazel grinned. “Would you?”