Page 16 of I Heart Mason Cartwright
Willow
“I’m not goingto argue with you about this, AshLynn. I don’t care whether you agree,” I say.
“What. Ever.”
“All right, subject change,” I say. “So, how long are you in town for?”
“Uh . . .” AshLynn looks to Mason.
“Not long,” he says. Though it sounds more like a question than an answer.
“Where are you going next? Back to Texas?”
“Yes,” AshLynn says at the same time Mason says, “Oh no, I live here.”
“Oh.” I look at them, brow furrowed. That kind of surprises me. “I just assumed you were from Southlake, as well?”
Mason looks confused.
“Southlake, Texas,” I explain.
“Oh, yeah, no. I’m not,” he says.
AshLynn glares at him.
“AshLynn,” he says. “Can I, uh, talk to you now? Outside?”
“I thought it would be nice if we talked to my sister for a bit. Willow, do you have any place to sit?”
I gesture toward the kitchen on the west end of the house. “On the patio.”
“Let’s go,” AshLynn says.
We take a seat on the back deck. The air has started to cool slightly as the sun begins its slow descent.
“Wow, this is incredible,” Mason says.
“Thanks. I am really happy with my choice.”
Mason walks to the edge of the deck to see the view. I wait until he’s out of earshot before turning to AshLynn to ask, “Where are you going to live after you get married?”
She shrugs. “Don’t know.”
“Clearly, you’ve discussed your future with this man, AshLynn. Nice job.”
“We’ve discussed enough,” she says.
“Yet, you’re engaged,” I mumble. But I passive-aggressively make it loud enough for her to hear. That’s just the kind of girl I am.
“Don’t be that way, Wills,” AshLynn pouts.
“What way? The practical way where you actually know someone’s favorite color before taking their last name. Do you even know his last name?” I’m pissed off by this latest act of impetuous immaturity on her part.
“Now you’re just taking all the fun out of it,” AshLynn says.
“When is the big day, anyway?” I ask.
“A few weeks.” AshLynn smiles big. “If you’re nice to me, I might even let you be my maid of honor.”
