Page 69 of I Heart Mason Cartwright
Zach is lounging on a couch in the living room with his feet up on an ottoman. I take a seat in the armchair next to him.
Wait a minute.
“Hey, there’s furniture in here.”
Zach shrugs.
“How did it get here? Whose is it?”
“He bought it online without telling me. From one of those same-day delivery places. Who, for the first time ever, got here with the stuff within the delivery timeframe window.” Willow steps in the room, still fastening an earring in her ear. “I was going to kill him, but I decided I kind of like it.”
Holy shit.
My body heats, and my heart starts to race. Its response to Willow is quick and visceral.
“Vintage Audrey Hepburn,” Zach says. “You can’t go wrong with a classic. And your hair is perfect. Pose for me then do a spin.”
Willow giggles and stops in the middle of the room, arms straight, hands pointed out, and does a twirl. Her heels making clicking noises on the floor. I don’t know what a vintage Audrey Hepburn is, but her dress is navy blue, tight on top and loose past the waist, reaching down to just below her knees. The neck is high and the straps on the shoulders are thin. It’s modest in design but still sexy as hell.
“Nice A-line skirt, beautiful color. What is that, silk?” Zach asks.
“I don’t think so,” Willow says. “I got it from that vintage shop on Third downtown. Here, feel it.” She comes over to where Zach and I are sitting. I can smell her perfume. A light woodsy smell with a touch of sweetness. Maybe sandalwood?
Whatever it is, it’s perfect on her.
Zach feels the skirt material between his fingers and sighs. “Polyester. Shame. But still beautiful on you. And we match. Perfect for wheels five and six, respectively.”
“Thanks.” She smiles at him and plops into the chair next to me. “I ordered an Uber for five forty-five, so it should be here soon.” She turns to me. “Where’s AshLynn?”
“She’s getting dressed.”
“I hate waiting,” Willow says.
Me too! Especially since this is the second time in as many days AshLynn has kept me waiting.
“Want to shoot some beer and burp at P-Tink?” Zach asks.
“God, yes,” Willow says. “I don’t have any beer though.”
“I bought some at lunch.” He smiles, looking proud of himself.
“This is why you’re my bestie,” she says, blowing him a kiss.
Zach goes into the kitchen and brings back three bottles of beer in short order, popping off the tops as he goes.
“Sorry,” Willow says. “Zach and I mostly drink hefeweizens, so that’s what this is.”
“All beer is good beer,” I say tilting the bottle to my lips.
“No drinking yet,” Zach says.
I look at him.
“The rules are we start at the same time—winner is whoever finishes first.”
“What do I get if I win?” I ask.
“The title of being the winner,” Zach says with flourish.
