Page 92 of Raised On It

“If you ask me, this is the best girls’ night ever!” Billie squeals.

“Okay, well, let’s take your mind off it then. How else can I earn your faith in our relationship because I’m not going anywhere?” Miles asks the girls.

“Are you going to take her away from us?” Arianna cuts to the chase.

This is where I step in.

“Hey, that’s a pretty serious question, and I don’t think it’s one we need to talk about tonight. Let’s just say Miles and I are living in the moment and have decided we aren’t talking about what happens when my house swap is over until the time is here. We’re happy in the here and now, and that’s all that matters.”

The girls grow quiet, and I see the creeping doubt wash over them as they think about what I’ve just said. It sounds like we don’t think this is going anywhere after my time in Eastlyn is over, but the truth of the matter is, we haven’t talked about it since we got serious, and I am not about to have that conversation here with my friends in a crowded bar.

Even if it is on my mind twenty-four seven.

“I will tell you this, Arianna. No matter where things go…” Miles rolls his eyes as he says the words because in his mind, he knows where this goes. With me walking down an aisle in a white dress with him waiting at the other end for me. “I could never take you girls away from Mason. She loves you, you’re her family, and you make her happy. From what I’ve gathered, this is sort of a package deal, and you guys are a little bonus to the big prize in the package.”

God, I love this man.

“Mason, is he always this perfect?”

“Annoyingly, yes,” I answer Jackie.

“Please tell me you have a single brother?”

“Sorry, just one happily married sister.”

“Damn.”

“You are sweet, kind, hot as hell, and let's not forget loaded since you essentially are EBC beer. So, except for the fact thatyou live in the middle of nowhere on the other side of the country, you’re the complete package. It’s too bad the only negative thing about you is so damn big because you’re kind of perfect.”

“Nah, I’m far from it.”

The mood at the table grows a little somber at Arianna’s comment. It’s grounded in truth, and that’s what makes it so hard to take.

Miles does what he does and lightens the mood and has everyone laughing until they cry, including me. Although under the surface, the 2700 miles between Eastlyn and New York City never leave my thoughts.

By the end of the evening, he has decided which of my girls are the Rachel, Emmett, and Amelia of my group. He tells them all about The Crew back home, and by the time the night is over, a trip to Eastlyn is in the works. Especially since we just told them that Emmett and I have been talking about opening a little new and used bookstore on Main Street. It’s kind of shocking it doesn’t already exist. I’ve been treating it like an investment, but I know it’s really because I don’t want to leave, and it’s a reason to stay.

All this talk of Eastlyn has me missing it already, and we’ve only been gone two days.

What the hell am I going to do?

CHAPTER 27

Mason

Dear Journal,

It’sour third day back home, and we leave for the airport in six hours, but I don’t see any sleep happening for me.

To say these past few days have been a whirlwind of emotions would be an understatement.

Showing Miles my hometown, introducing him to my friends and having a run-in with my ex, who was trying to screw over the man I love, was already a lot. And as if all of this along with wondering what’s going to happen when the next few weeks are over wasn’t enough…there’s more.

My mom.

She messaged me and said a lot of things. Unexpected things. And I don’t know whatto do with it.

I know, it’s a lot, Journal.

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