Page 55 of I Heart Mason Cartwright
Willow
My alarm goesoff at six o’clock in the morning. My second morning of dealing with my family in town. And first morning with Hottie McHunksterpants staying in my house. So far, I think I’m handling it okay. At least today I get to burn off lots of excess energy. The tools and equipment arrived late yesterday, so today is the day that Mason and I start demo on the bathroom wall. I need time to walk with P-Tink before we start. From the sounds of it, P-Tink is not happy about waking this early. If it’s even possible for a dog, she drags her feet as she follows me down the hall.
I start a pot of coffee then open the back door to let P-Tink do her thing. She yelps and jumps on one of the recliners. I duck behind the counter then peek over it to try to see if someone is out there.
A bad guy?
Would she be jumping on and licking a bad guy, though?
Probably not.
A head full of brunet hair pops up from behind the back of the chair.
Mason?
What’s he doing out there?
“Mason? Is that you?” I call out the doorway.
I get a muffled response in return, but I’m fairly certain it’s because P-Tink is giving him a doggy facial via her tongue and slobber. I go outside and confirm that Mason is the one on the double lounger and my dog is happily sucking up as much attention as she can from him.
“What are you doing up this early?” I ask.
“I wasn’t exactly up.” His voice is froggy.
“Oh no, did P-Tink wake you up?”
“Yeah.” He clears his throat. “It’s okay. It was time for me to get up anyway.”
“Wait, did you sleep out here?”
“Yeah.” He runs his hand over his face a few times then back through his hair. I notice there is only one pillow, but I ask anyway.
“Where’s AshLynn?”
“She . . . uh, well, we got into a bit of a fight and I slept out here.”
“Again? Oh no!” I laugh and immediately cover my mouth to stifle it. I don’t mean to laugh at people’s misfortune. It’s just that many times I find it funny. You know, as an outsider looking in. Cassandra has told me plenty of times it is highly inappropriate. That has yet to stop me.
“I’m so sorry,” I snicker.
“It’s not funny,” he growls.
“I know, you’re right, it’s not. I laugh at all the wrong times.” I laugh harder. He gives a half smile then laughs with me.
“I guess it is kind of funny,” he agrees. “Of all times for you to have no other furniture, huh?”
“Maybe I should go get a couch?”
He shakes his head in response, then says, “Do I smell coffee?”
“Yep, just made a fresh pot. Want some?”
“Desperately. I’ll come in. I need to visit the restroom anyway.”
I go inside to get a cup of coffee, and set out another mug for Mason, then head back out to the deck to watch P-Tink run around in the sand and watch for her doggie deposits so I can pick them up after her. Mason folded up the blanket and set the pillow neatly on top of it before he went inside.
That was nice of him.
