Brainwaves

ITES

ATTRA

Age - and heig Sarah Russi, 26, when love struck...

Posing for a pic with a fan, I spotted a mop of greying, brown hair bobbing toward me. ItÕs him , I realised. My heart skipped a beat. Moments later, the man in his 50s pulled his mobility scooter up in front of my stand.

He was funny-looking, a bit on the chubby side!

But, as he flashed me a huge grin, butterflies fluttered.

‘I’m Mason Reese,’ he smiled, holding out his hand.

‘Nice to finally meet you,’ I blushed, bending down to shake it. It was October 2018 and I was working at a sci-fi convention, signing photos and doing promotional work.

Mason and I had mutual friends and had been chatting on Facebook for a few months before arranging to meet up.

As a model, I was used to men making a beeline for me.

Most of the time, they were smug, arrogant types and I couldn’t wait to get rid of them.

Besides, I preferred older, quirky men.

Like Mason. At 54, he may not have been a typically good looking guy, but he was so charming and very charismatic.

And I really fancied him. As I towered over him in my stilettos, we chatted away.

He was so funny, making me laugh with his crazy stories. And he had led such an

interesting life as well.

‘I was a child star,’ Mason said. In the 70s, he’d become a household name, appearing in several famous TV adverts.

He’d won advertising awards, had been plastered on lots of

magazine covers.

‘It was mad,’ Mason laughed. After that, he’d gone on to co-host a variety

show – and he was

known

e He’d spent the 80s partying, enjoying the showbiz life.

But he’d broken both of his legs in a motorcycle accident in the 1980s, and now could only walk short distances without his scooter.

Before I knew it, I reali we’d been chatting for th whole hours.

‘Fancy a drink?’ I aske ‘Try to stop me,’ he smiled. An hour later, I was perched on the back of his mobility scooter, as we whizzed off to find a bar.

The wind in my hair, I wrapped my arms around Mason’s waist. So romantic. Later, stepping off his scooter, I realised that Mason was only 4ft 10in tall.

At 5ft 3in, I was a good few inches taller than him.

But, after a few drinks, I slipped off my skyscraper heels so he wouldn’t feel awkward. Then, I

I hopped on and headed to the bar!

EAL LIFE

Mason was a child TV star!

We’ve never been happier!

We can’t deny the sexual chemistry planted a big kiss on his lips. He was pretty taken aback. ‘You can’t seriously like me?’ Mason laughed, as I gazed into his big brown eyes.

‘I really do,’ I grinned, my heart racing fast.

There was a 28-year age gap between us, but we actually had such a lot i mmon.

shared the same of humour, not to on the amazing chemistry! fter that, Mason d I quickly

came a couple.

Every few weeks, I’d travel from my hometown in

Pittsburgh to stay at Mason’s flat in New York.

‘You’re so cute,’ I’d grin, as we happily scooted around he park together.

‘You’re beautiful,’ he med back. ut strangers would stare when aw us kiss.

u two can’t be a couple?’ people would gasp. ‘Why not?’ I’d shrug. I knew those comments hurt Mason’s feelings a lot.

‘It’s like beauty and the beast,’ he sighed. ‘Are you sure you want to be with a guy like me?’

‘I really care about you, Mason,’ I insisted.

But he didn’t believe me.

Not all his friends trusted me, either.

They thought I was a gold-digger – only with Mason for his money or celeb status.

I couldn’t deny that I’d dated rich men in the past and enjoyed the perks that came with it. But it was different with Mason. I was head over heels. I’d treat him to meals out, bought him a new watch. Then... ‘I love you,’ I confessed to him that December.

‘I love you, too,’ Mason smiled. When I told friends that I was dating a much older guy, they were

We know what we have is real

It was meant to be shocked.

But Mason quickly won them over with his jokes and witty banter.

‘As long as you’re happy,’ my best friend Victor, 40, said.

And I really was. In December 2018, I took Mason home to meet my parents.

My mum welcomed him with open arms.

And my dad recognised him from TV right away.

But my sister Coralie, 34, couldn’t hide her surprise.

‘Why are you with him?’ she hissed to me.

But as soon as they got chatting, and Mason had her laughing, she’d answered her own question.

‘You two are so sweet together,’ she had to admit.

After a while, no one could deny that, despite our many differences, our relationship just worked.

Even Mason’s sceptical friends can see the love between us.

Now, we’re both so excited for the future.

Neither of us want kids, so that’s not going to be an issue.

As Mason gets older, I’ll be there to help him walk, wash and dress. I’m happy to do it. We’re just like any other normal couple, really.

I complain when he talks about politics too much, and he moans about the reality shows I watch.

But every day, we tell each other how much we love each other.

And neither of us have ever been happier – this is true love.

They say love is blind, and I definitely agree.