stolen smile - a mason mount story

t w e n t y - t h r e e

"You really thought I was going to break up with you?" Mason questioned.

"Mhm, you were all weird, like, I dunno, I just thought you fell out of love with me."

Mason laughed, holding her hand in his. "You, my dear, need to stop deeping things!"

She kept her eyes on the road, watching the other cars pass by. Her nerves building up as they got closer to her family home. What if her dad didn't approve? She was hoping that Liverpool would win their match that day so James would be in a better mood, if he were to disapprove but surely, if her father were to disapprove of their relationship, surely he would've done so two years ago when they first started seeing each other.

"Flo, you don't need to worry. I asked all of them for permission before asking you. Your dad is chuffed for us!"

"What about Tilly? What did she say?"

"She was upset that she wouldn't share the same name with her Auntie Flossie but she did call me Uncle Masey for the first time so I think she approved."

"And I missed it? But who said I would change my last name?" Florence gasped. "When did you see them to ask?"

"When we played Villa away, I asked them to meet me afterwards, took them to dinner, asked them then. Begged the boss man to let me drive up myself so I could ask." Mason smiled, recalling the memory from a few months ago. Keeping this secret from Florence had been the hardest thing he had to do. He could feel every emotion he felt on the day he asked her family for their permission. "Actually think I was more nervous asking Tils if she was okay with me marrying you than I was actually asking you!"

"I don't blame you! If Mathilde said no, I would've had to too!"

Mason let out a laugh at her despite knowing she was more than likely telling the truth. He knew just how much her family's opinion mattered to her, as it did to him. He couldn't imagine marrying someone his family didn't approve of. Luckily for him, his family had loved her. Most importantly, he loved her.

Florence felt a sense of guilt that she wasn't able to share the good news with her mum and sister. Florence knew that both of them would tease her asking her what she was using to blackmail Mason to keep him around.

"We've got one stop before we get to your dad's."

Florence's lip played into a small frown as she looked at where they had arrived. "Mase, why have you taken me here?"

"Figured you wanted to tell them the news." He smiled. Her eyes began to water as she looked at him, a sheepish look plastered across his face. "I'm sorry if I overstepped the boundary."

"No, Mason! Thank you."

"I'll wait here then."

Florence took a deep breath as she exited the car. The air was dry and the heat was intense. Her stomach dropped the same way it did when she would ride Oblivion at Alton Towers. Truth be told, she had felt sick. It had been a long time since Florence last visited the graveyard, she hated seeing her loved ones reduced to a headstone and a piece of plot. She felt bad for not visiting frequently and making the conscious decision to avoid visiting.

"Hi Mama, hi Fizzy." Florence spoke. "Guess what? I'm getting married. To bloody Mason Mount out of all people. Madness, isn't it? He's so good to me, I know you'd love him, Mama! Dad absolutely adores him and he plays for Chels, so you know he's a good 'un! I wish yous could be here with me to celebrate. Gettin' FOMO here, I bet you're both havin' a boogie to ABBA without me, aren't you? You'd both like Mase, he always has a little dance with me in the kitchen when Kylie plays whilst I cook. He, of course, could never love me as much as yous did but I think he's a close second. He deffo makes my days brighter. I love him a lot, you know. I am extremely lucky to have him in my life. I know what you'd say, Fizz, he's too good for me. I agree." Florence let out a little laugh, sitting in silence as she played with a blade of grass from underneath her