Page 17 of I Heart Mason Cartwright
“I can barely contain my excitement.” I roll my eyes. If she thinks I’m going to be her maid of honor, she is sorely mistaken.
That’s a lie. If she asked, I would totally do it. I would die a little bit inside. But I would do it. I talk a big game, but rarely back it up with action where my family is concerned.
Mason returns and sits down with us.
“So,” I ask, mostly of AshLynn. “Do your parents know you’re engaged?”
“About that—” Mason says.
“They know.” AshLynn shrugs her shoulders.
“Wait, I thought you were sisters?” Mason asks.
“Half,” I say at the same time AshLynn says, “We are.”
“Different mothers,” I add. He nods.
“They aren’t going to be happy about this,” I scold.
“It’s not their decision now is it?” AshLynn says.
I scoff at that. Because once again she’s thought nothing through all the way. I’m willing to bet she has no plan.
“Have you thought this through?” I ask, looking at both of them. Then, just at Mason. “You don’t know this about her yet, but she never thinks anything through. She just assumes everyone around her will bend to make sure everything works out.”
“Me?” AshLynn looks affronted. “What about you?”
“I think things through,” I say.
“Oh yeah, what about buying this house? Did you think that one through? You don’t even have any furniture, Wills. What the hell?”
She has a point.
Not that I’m going to tell her that.
“How about we table this discussion and maybe grab some dinner?” Mason makes an attempt at peace. I want to laugh at how naive that is. AshLynn and I have sibling rivalry down to an art form. We’ve been practicing her entire life. If there was a Super Bowl of bickering, we would win it.
AshLynn’s phone rings. I can tell by the look on her face that it’s her mother, Cassandra.
“I’ll be right back,” she says to us. And then into the phone, “Hi, Mommy.”
She steps into the house, closing the door behind her. I can see her through the windows, pacing in my empty kitchen.
“I’d offer you something to eat,” I say to Mason. “But all I really have is diet soda and chips.”
“That’s okay.” He meets my eyes and smiles, like an apology and an invitation at the same time.
I want to swoon. He could power a small city with that smile, it’s that electric.
Oh, and I’m that corny.
Jesus. Get a grip, Willow. It’s your sister’s fiancé.
Half sister.
“Is it, uh, is it hard being engaged long distance?” I ask.
His eyes widen.
