Page 70 of Take Me
I’m nodding along, but part of me aches for Mason.“He was really into you for a long time.”
Turning around, Annabelle tucks the penis straw back in her purse.“I wished for so long I could reciprocate.He’s such a great guy, and I wanted to feel what he felt.But until I started seeing Neil, I never felt that zing.”She pauses, looking a tiny bit guilty.“I hope that’s not hard to hear.I just—you seem so happy with Mason now.You’re such a cute couple, so I have to think things worked out for the best.”
“Absolutely.”My palms feel itchy and sweaty.I swipe them on my jeans, darting a quick glance at Lucy.“If you love someone, set them free.And if youdon’tlove them, set them free to go plonk the person they’re meant to be plonking.”
“Exactly.”She laughs and gives me a hug.Over her shoulder, I see Mason’s twin watching me carefully.“I’m so glad we had this chat.”
“Me too.”But the pinch in the pit of my belly gets tighter as Lucy chimes in.
“I agree.”Her eyes lock with mine in the mirror.“As long as nobody gets hurt.”
“Of course.”Heat fills my face as my eyes dart away and land on the woman he loved just last month.A woman he dressed up for, wooed with flowers and trips and fine dinners.
The woman he might still be in love with.
A thick slosh of dread pools in my gut as I force my face into a smile.“We’re all good.”
But for the first time in weeks, I’m not sure that’s true.
Chapter11
Mason
It’s two days before Jake and Cassidy’s wedding, which means nine more to go until Peter and Lucy get hitched.
Instead of folding place cards or arranging flowers, Luce and I are doing what any normal brother and sister would do in the days before one twin pledges eternal devotion to their soulmate.
“You’re sure this is the best time to teach Scrumpy to swim?”My sister sounds dubious as I trudge through the water.
“Yep.”
“How far are you going?”
“A few more feet.”I slosh into the lake, wishing I’d had the foresight to wear my fly-fishing waders.This water’s not warm in the winter.“We need it deep enough that he can’t just walk out here.”
“You’re aware that your dog has three-inch legs?”
“It’s shallow right here.”Which is why I picked this spot, hoping less depth would mean warmer water.That may not be true, though I’m the dumbass wearing sandals and shorts in the dead of winter.
“Is it muddy?”
“Very.”Soupy muck squishes between my toes.
Lucy stands watching from shore, holding the end of Scrumpy’s polka-dot leash.Both of them stare like this is a drunk dare they didn’t think I’d accept.
“Got the steak?”Lucy calls from the edge of the water.
“In my pocket.”Naturally.
“Speaking of stupid ideas?—”
“Were we?”
She looks at my dog.“Maybe his legs are too short for physical activity.”
“They’re not too short.”I slosh a bit farther, just past my knees at this point.“He runs circles around me when we jog on the beach.”
“Maybe he just can’t swim.”
