Page 22 of Take Me
It took her a second to get it.“That’s good.”A gap-toothed smile slowly replaced the sad look she’d worn for weeks.“Do you know any others?”
I did.And we’ve been cracking each other up ever since.From flag football games to double dates in high school, we’ve been kinda inseparable.She even had a key to my grandparents’ place, not that we ever locked the door.She’d stroll right in to hang with my siblings, even when I wasn’t home.
“Mason, did you hear a word I just said?”
I snap my attention back to my sister.“Absolutely.”
“Liar.”Lucy crosses her arms.“Let me guess—you’re thinking how easy it’ll be to convince everyone you and Erika are really in love.You’ve been buddies forever, so how hard can it be?”
“Am I supposed to answer that?”
She studies my face instead of answering the question.“I get it, you guys are tight.You bonded over some serious shit in our childhood.”
“You went through the same shit,” I point out.
“It was different for me.”She takes a thoughtful sip of her wine.“I had Cousin Hazel and all my girlfriends.Girls talk about stuff.You were a dude.”
“Why do you saywerelike I’m not anymore?”
Lucy ignores me.“I didn’t mind all the petting and hugging.We were the kids with the messed-up mom and the dad who was gone all the time.It sucked, and I didn’t mind soaking up sympathy.”
“I hated it.”The sympathy almost as much as the family drama.“It was different for Kaleb and Jake.They were older and tougher, and everyone left them alone.”
But not me.I was too young to grasp Mom’s mental-health stuff.The addictions that cycled her in and out of rehab.The younger kids took it in stride, with Noah becoming a six-year-old hellion and Paris—now Parker—just a toddler when Mom started circling the drain.
It was probably the age more than anything.Eight-year-olds hate being babied.That shared aversion drew me to Erika.We were peas in a pod, and we kinda still are.
“Mason?”My sister sits watching me like she’s trying to see through my skull.“I know how much you loved Annabelle.And I know feelings like that don’t just go away.”
“I’m fine.”Why is she doing this?
“I adore her and we’re friends, but if it’s too hard for you to see Annabelle at all my wedding events?—”
“It isn’t.”That’s the last thing I need, my sister uninviting my ex from her bridal stuff.“I swear.”
“Okay.”She looks like she’s not quite convinced.“Are you hoping this fake thing with Erika will make Annabelle jealous?Like you might win her back by having a girlfriend?”
“No.”The thought hadn’t honestly crossed my mind.But now that she’s said it— “You think that could happen?”
“I don’t know.”She frowns.“You’re a great guy, and sooner or later, Annabelle will wake up and see she won’t find anyone better.”
“Uh, thanks.”I’m not sure why she’s being so nice.“What’s the punchline?”
“There isn’t a punchline.”She punches my shoulder, so maybe that’s it.“I’m just saying, tread carefully.Make sure you’re clear on what you and Erika are doing.If she’s trying to win Neil back?—”
“Shit.”I hadn’t even thought about that.“I don’t think she is.”
“Just be careful.You’re both kinda vulnerable right now.”
“Yes, Mom.”That earns me another quick jab to the shoulder.“Ow.”
“Don’t be such a doofus.”
“Don’t be such a bully.”This is more like it.I’m not a big fan of the serious stuff.“You’ll keep this to yourself, right?”
“The fact that you’re faking a relationship?Of course.”
“I know how you hate hiding things from the rest of the family?—”
