Page 60 of Hypnotized By Love

“Lie down,” she instructed me, and wouldn’t say anything else until I did as she said. “He was someone I could talk to whose feelings Ididn’t have to worry about. I could say anything I wanted to him, and it didn’t matter. I spent so much time stressing out about your feelings and Mom’s and Dad’s, but Mason was able to care about me without being invested the same way a family member would. I could unload on him and he took it and just listened, and it was exactly what I needed.”

“Why didn’t you ever tell me that?” I whispered. Because it felt like this might change everything. That he had been there for my twin when she needed him most—had helped her get through the hardest time in her life.

How was I supposed to be angry at a man like that?

“I knew how mad you’d be,” she said. “It’s why I didn’t tell you. And my friendship with him is why I don’t think he spread that rumor about you. That’s just not who he is. He’s the kind of guy who wouldn’t go out with his frat brothers on a Saturday night because I needed someone to talk to.”

This still felt slightly surreal, but she sounded so honest that I knew it had to be true. “You could have called me.”

She reached over to take my hand. “I know I could have. But you would have worried. You would have thought I was going to relapse. You would have gotten on a plane and come to be with me. Mason was a good listener, and I wasn’t his whole life the way I am for our family.”

“I can’t believe he did that.” That wasn’t true—I could believe it. Even in high school, he wasn’t like the other immature slimeballs with zero hygiene skills. He had always been compassionate and caring.

But despite that, I knew what had happened and what he’d done to me, even if it seemed out of character for him.

“He was the only one who saw us,” I told her. “The rumor had to come from him.”

“I know that’s what you think, and I hope you’ll let him explain.”

“Why didn’t he try explaining himself in high school?” I asked. “If it’s so important to him for things to be better between us, he’s had years. Why now?”

“That’s mostly my fault, too,” she admitted. “He wasn’t sure how to talk to you, and he asked my advice, and I know how you are and told him to give you time to process and get over it. I just didn’t know you’d hold out for six years. He wanted to reach out, and I stopped him. I was worried he was going to hurt you again, and I didn’t want that.”

I couldn’t even be mad at Sierra for meddling in my life because I had done it so many times to her. It was what we did—we looked out for each other and had one another’s backs.

But part of me wished she hadn’t warned Mason away.

And another part wished that he hadn’t listened to her.

She leaned over and kissed me on the forehead. “It’s a lot, but I hope you’ll be able to get some sleep. Push the call button if you need me.”

This was so much to process, and I wasn’t even sure where to start. Maybe I should take Sierra’s advice and ask him.

Weariness overtook me, and as my eyes drifted shut, I wondered what he would say to explain everything.

And whether or not I would believe him.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

I became vaguely aware of sunlight filtering in as I woke up, and for a brief moment, I didn’t know where I was.

“Good morning, sleepyhead,” Sierra said as she came into the room and opened the blinds so that even more light flooded in. Oh yeah. I was in the hospital.

I groaned and covered my eyes with my hands. “Too bright.”

She came over to my bedside. “Look at you. All sweaty and gross. It reminds me of that one morning when you tried to give up sugar.”

“Too loud. And ha ha.”

“Do you feel as bad as you look?”

“Yes. I need a shower and to brush my teeth for three years straight and I need something for a killer headache.” I was glad Mason had left. I wouldn’t want him to see me like this.

Although I got the feeling that he probably wouldn’t care if I was a mess.

I started to sit up, and every single memory from last night came rushing back to me. Just like I’d told Mason, my superpower kicked in, and I had total drunken recall.

Every embarrassing thing I’d said, the way I’d been open and vulnerable with him, told him things I didn’t want him to know, and worst of all ...

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