Page 3 of Take Me
I squint at the loopy black script.“Two rides are better than one?”
“It’s missing a B to spellbrides.”Erika sets down the candle.“I suggested switching to a car theme.We could slap on some stickers for Spencer-King Auto.”
“Perfect.”I point with my fork, flinging a cake-speckled blueberry at her.“Great idea.”
Erika flicks back the berry, splatting the side of my face.“Thanks.”
Sam rolls her eyes.“She waskidding.”
I’m not sure she was, but that’s fine.Erika’s humor is right up my alley.She’s a great girl—the best—and funny as hell.We’ve been buddies since third grade, and she beats me at pool on a regular basis.
My sister snatches a pen off the table.“We’re fixing the candles.Make yourself useful, Mason.”She tosses the pen at my head.“Your calligraphy’s better than mine.”
I catch the pen in one hand, masculinity unthreatened.“She’s right,” I agree.“Iamthe best.”
Lucy snorts.“Modest, too.”
“Why be modest when you can be awesome?”I uncap the pen and study the angled brass tip.It’s the kind with the changeable ink cartridge.I’m not kidding about the calligraphy skills.Those cool chalkboard signs at my brewery that spell out the specials?That’s my handiwork, thank you very much.I have my own set of fancy-ass chalk paints and everything.
“Are you okay?”Zoe touches my arm with concern in her eyes.“I heard about Annabelle.”
Aaaaand…there goes my masculinity.
“Wait, what?”My sister looks startled.“What about Annabelle?”
Fuck.
Me.
“Oh, shit.”Zoe pales.“I’m sorry, Mason.I didn’t know it wasn’t public.”
“It’s fine.”That’s a small fucking town for you.“It’s no big deal.We’re not dating anymore.”I study the candle, mulling the best way to turnridesintobrides.That’s better than seeing the pity in their eyes.“Didn’t even register on my radar.”
“Who called it off?”my twin demands.
“Does it matter?”Of course it does.“She did.It’s not a problem.”This is fine.I’mfine.“We weren’t ever dating seriously, you know?Never exclusive.”
Here’s the godawful truth: All these months I’ve dated Annabelle Hanlon, I’ve spun myself silly to make it official.To call her my girlfriend and not just some girl I’ve been seeing.
Belle wasn’t up for commitment.
But hey, I’m over it.No biggie, right?
Erika stares at the side of my head without speaking.I feel her watching me, those pebbly gray eyes drilling right through my skull.
“Mason.”Lucy grabs my hand holding the candle, forcing me to look at her.“You’re sure you’re all right?”
“Completely.”
“You seem upset.”
“Not even a tiny bit.”
Stupid twintuition.
Feeling itchy and anxious, I drop the calligraphy pen and get up to hunt for some milk in the fridge.“It’s always been casual with Annabelle.Both of us date other people.Lotsof other people.”
That’s a lie.
