Page 130 of When Ellie Falls in Love

“Who do you think?”

“Mama,” Ellie laughed as Mason nodded.

“I’ve tried to tell you that I’m her favorite.”

“Whatever.” Ellie hesitated for a moment, trying to read Mason. “Was she mad?

“At you? Never. She just wanted me to check on you and make sure you were okay.”

“Glad to see you cared so much to wait a week.” Ellie winked at her to let her know she was teasing. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you myself.”

“It’s okay; I knew you’d tell me when you were ready. You’ve been busy and we haven’t seen each other as much this summer.”

“I know,” Ellie groaned. “This summer has just gone by so fast with the play and Sadie. I’m sorry for not making time for you.”

“Ellie, it’s okay.” Mason put her hands on Ellie’s shoulders and locked eyes with her. “I promise. I was just teasing. Although I do miss my sister and we need to hang out soon, okay?”

“I’m all for that.”

“And that brings me to my request.”

Ellie arched an eyebrow at Mason as she lowered her arms from Ellie’s shoulder.

“Chase and I are going to be having another IUI procedure soon. I know you’re loving shadowing Mama around, and I wanted to see if you’d be interested in helping Mama or Austin or whoever else will be doing my ultrasounds whenever I do get pregnant?”

“Mason,” Ellie gasped as she wrapped her arms around her sister’s neck. “Are you serious?”

“I am. Chase and Mama and I have talked about it and we’re all okay with it. I’d love to have you there for this journey, especially to be that involved if you want to be. It would mean a lot to Chase and me.”

“I’m there.”

“Really?”

“Try to keep me away.” Ellie kissed Mason’s cheek. “Thank you.”

“Don’t go thanking me just yet. I may traumatize you by the time I pop a kid out.”

“As if you haven’t already in the eighteen years you’ve known me.”

Mason laughed. “Fair point.”

Heading back out to the patio, Mason and Ellie rejoined Chase, Alexis, and Blake. But Sadie was missing from the table. Ellie looked around for her as her gaze caught Sadie’s walking toward her.

“Didn’t she go to the bathroom with you?” Alexis teased.

“She’s not allowed,” Mason, Chase, and Ellie responded in unison to Alexis’s comment.

“There you are,” Ellie kissed Sadie as she sat back down beside Ellie.

“Sorry, I was checking in with Mom about the party. It’s going to be Monday. Does that work for you?”

Sadie’s parents were having her a going-off-to-college party, although Ellie selfishly didn’t know what there was to celebrate. Sadie was leaving Wednesday, but to top it off, Brayden also had to be on campus by Friday. The Mackenzies already had plans to drive him to school that Wednesday to drop him off. Ellie’s heart wasn’t ready for those goodbyes yet.

“I wouldn’t miss it for anything.”

Chapter 42

Sadie

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