Page 77 of I Heart Mason Cartwright
“Excuseme? How much?” Because surely she didn’t just say—
“Twenty-seven thousand three hundred forty-two dollars,” Cassandra repeats.
Holy fuck.
“What is this? Some kind of fucking con your family pulls?” I’m pissed. “Your daughter grabs some unsuspecting guy, plans a quick wedding, then sticks him with the bill?”
“Don’t insult us,” Jonathan says.
“Don’t insult me. I didn’t agree to any of those things. I can’t even imagine what you could have already spent twenty-seven thousand dollars on.”
“Ten thousand is for the lot that you turned down,” Cassandra says. “The remaining seventeen thousand is for the nonrefundable deposits —eight thousand for the venue, three thousand for the catering, and the other six thousand paid for the invitations.”
“Six thousand dollars for invitations? Are you kidding me?”
“No. I’m not. Hand-addressed was a must, and it was important they go out immediately because the wedding was planned to happen in a couple weeks. I had to pay a rush fee.”
“You couldn’t just send an email?” I feel like an ass for asking. But I’m an ass with twenty-seven thousand on the line, so I’m going with it.
The server brings our food.
I push my plate away once she leaves. “I’m no longer hungry. In fact, if you’ll excuse me—”
“Please stay,” AshLynn says.
I look at her. Her eyes pleading.
It’s one dinner. Suck it up.
I nod at AshLynn and scoot my chair back in at the table. No one says a word. I slice into my perfectly cooked steak and take a bite. It may as well be cardboard for how much I am enjoying it. We eat in silence for several minutes until AshLynn finally speaks.
“It’s not Mason’s fault.”
I look at her, surprised that she’s speaking up at last.
“I lied when I said he was willing to move to Texas. You never would have put money down on the property or the wedding otherwise. I thought I could convince him to move, but the truth is I’m not sure I want to get married. And I don’t think he wants to either. I’m sorry, Daddy.” She looks sorry, eyes downcast, expression somber.
The table stays silent until Jonathan finally speaks. “I’m extremely disappointed in you, AshLynn. But it is very mature of you to admit the truth.”
AshLynn nods in return.
“Surely you aren’t going to ask him to reimburse you, right?” Willow asks.
Cassandra looks at her, eyes narrowed and lips pressed into a thin line.
“It has nothing to do with him,” she continues.
I don’t need her fighting my battles for me. Shit, I don’t need anyone fighting my battles for me.
“It’s okay,” I say. “I understand the frustration with this entire scenario. And while I don’t believe that I owe you anything in return for money that was spent unbeknownst to me, I don’t want this to get any more uncomfortable than it already is. So, what I will do is compromise and pay back one-third of the total.”
If for no other reason, then to stay out of jail.
“You mean one-half?” Cassandra says.
“No, I mean one-third. Apparently, there are three parties in this planning process. You and Jonathan, AshLynn, and me. So I will take responsibility for my part.”
“This is ridiculous,” Willow says.
