Page 72 of Take Me
“I mean, they’re both consenting adults.”I toss the ball again, and Scrumpy scrambles to get off his leash.“How did you hear about it, anyway?”
Lucy shrugs.“Ruby told Zoe and Cass.I guess after it happened, she knew word would get out, so she sat them down and explained.”
“There’s a mother/daughter talk I’ll bet nobody wanted to have.”
“Apparently she’s been dating Greg for almost a year.”
“No kidding?”That’s a surprise.I could tell when we walked in on her father that Erika didn’t have a clue her dad was even dating.“Why didn’t Ruby want her daughters to know?”
“She has a history of making poor choices with men.She didn’t want Zoe and Cass to worry she might be repeating the pattern.Especially with both daughters up to their eyeballs in wedding plans.”
“But Greg’s a great guy.”I’m happy for him, honestly.Pretty sure Erika will be as well, once she gets over the shock.
“You’re right, Greg’s amazing.But Ruby’s past relationships weren’t, so she felt like keeping things secret until she knew for sure this would bloom from attraction to something more stable.”
“Makes sense, I guess.”I’m starting to shiver with lake water lapping my thighs.“Anyway, it’s fine now.Erika’s gonna stay with me while her roof gets repaired.When we’re done pretending to be madly in love, she’ll move back in with her dad, and everything will go back to normal.”
There’s an ache in my chest as I say it, but it’s just from the cold.Scrumpy barks and tugs at his leash.Licking his chops, he stares at the steak.“You can let him go now, Luce.”
“Speaking of unhealthy patterns?—”
“We were?”
“What are you doing with Erika?”
“What do you mean, what am I doing with Erika?”
“I mean, you started out fake dating so people wouldn’t feel sorry for you.Which makes total sense.But it seems like it’s escalated.”
“How do you mean?”
My twin rolls her eyes.“Making out in the parking lot at the kombucha shop?Sharing a honeymoon cabin?Pawing each other at karaoke night, then announcing you’re leaving to bang?And now she’s moved in with you.”Lucy folds her arms, whipping Scrumpy’s leash through the water.“Want me to keep going?”
“Not really.I’d like you to let go of my dog so I can?—”
“All I’m saying,” she continues, like I’m not out here freezing my balls off, “is that it’s naïve to think you’re in control of this.I know you, Mason—you fall hard and fast, and things tend to snowball in your love life.”
“Speaking of snowballs, it’s cold out here.”I do a not-so-covert crotch grab for emphasis.“Can we get going with the swimming?”
“I just want you to be mindful of the pattern here.You’re impulsive, she’s vulnerable?—”
“She’s vulnerable?”It’s my turn to sidetrack our swimming lesson.“Erika’s tough as nails.She kicked my ass at leg wrestling last night.”Granted, she did it by taking her clothes off, distracting me so thoroughly I forgot we were competing.
“Be that as it may, she’s just broken up with a guy she dated for ten years.The guy she thought she’d marry.And you were head over heels for Annabelle.You’rebothin a vulnerable state.”
“Can you get to the point soon?
“Fine.”She looks at me kindly, still holding my dog’s leash.“Be careful.With your heart, with hers—these things have a way of getting out of control.”
“Says the woman who’s marrying her former sworn enemy.”
“I rest my case.”
“Thank God.”I’m not sure I followed all that, but I can’t feel my legs below the knees.“Can we please try the Scrumpy experiment now?”
Hearing his name, my trusty dog barks.“Here, boy!”I shake the bag of steak, hoping my sister gets the hint and unhooks his leash.“Come on, Scrumpy.Swim to me, buddy—let’s go!”
I whistle and wave the ball as Lucy leans down to unhook the leash.My dog wags his tail, cocking his head as I call out his name.“Come, Scrumpy!You can do it—swim, boy.Come!Right here, little guy—you’ve got this.”
