Page 28 of The Ghost of You

“It was a joke.”

Mason studies me, and I look straight back into his eyes. I love my brothers; I really do, but they need to stay out of my business. All of them are always getting in my face about my life. And I might know about their lives but I don’t judge them and I don’t try to sway a decision.

I don’t tell Mason that he needs to be more careful with his hookups and partying. He might be great at business but it’s easy to fall down the wrong path. I don’t let Carson know that I think his girlfriend is only with him for his money. I keep my mouth shut when it comes to Hunter and the reason he moved away. The family thinks it’s for his job but he moved for a woman, a woman who still won’t give him the time of day. Asher needs to control his cockiness, it’s going to get him into trouble one day and if it’s after he passes the bar exam, he won’t be a lawyer for long. Everett is the only one like me, quiet, reserved. We all know why he left and we all wish more than anything that he will move back home, but I know he is too broken to ever step foot in North Carolina again.

But unlike the rest of my family, I don’t let those secrets out. I keep them safe like an older brother should. I will protect my family no matter what. So I’ll let Mason try to get out of me whatever he wants but I keep my secrets locked down even better than theirs.

“Oh come on, man. I know you like her.”

I sit on the edge of the table I was near and shake my head. “She is just my neighbor. And too young for me.”

“She’s twenty-nine, man, that is not too young.”

Well, I didn’t know how old she was but finding out she is older than I thought opens up some possibilities, but I make my mind shut that door quickly. I keep a straight face as I listen to Mason. “Still not interested.”

“Really? You don’t want to know that she is from a small town in Georgia, went to the University of Georgia, majored in music, moved to Asheville a little over a year ago, works part-time as a yoga instructor and as a bartender at the Beer Garden where Asher ground on her.”

“I know about the Beer Garden. I had to pull him off her.”

“She is also self-conscious. I can tell by the way she talks about herself but when she talks about music, she transforms into this whole other person. She lights up.”

I wish I could see that.No, I don’t, I remind myself. “Sounds like your type, Mason.”

“She is coming over on Monday to mess around with some new music we are working on.”

I hope it’s not that shit I heard earlier.

“Why are you cringing?”

I look up at Mason. “Huh?”

“You made a face when I said new music.”

“Uh, yeah, nothing.”

He pinches his brow when he looks at me but someone laughs and he looks in that direction. “She might be my type.”

I follow his line of vision and see Anna laughing, head thrown back. Carefree, beautiful Anna. Definitely Mason’s type. “Don’t fuck shit up with that.”

His head snaps back to meet my gaze. “With what?”

“Her. Don’t just play music with her, fuck her, and leave her.”

He grins at me. “I knew you liked her.”

I look over at Anna and shake my head. “I just know that even though she seems carefree, she’s fragile.”

I look back at Mason and find him staring at me. “What?”

“Nothing,” he answers, putting his hands up in defense. “Well, I need to go mingle some more.”

I just nod and sip my beer. I try not to think about Anna and Mason together but they are the perfect fit. And what better way to get her out of my head than by shoving her toward my brother. She and I are complete opposites. It wouldn’t work out. This is better for all of us.

I swallow the rest of my beer and toss the empty. Mason is deep in conversation with some girl who barely has any clothes on. I know the direction the night is going for him, so I choose to leave without saying goodbye.

9

Anna

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