Page 121 of I Heart Mason Cartwright
That is until I hear someone yell, with such clarity, it stops everything. “What in the actual fuck is going on here?”
I turn and see AshLynn, Cassandra, and my dad all standing in the doorway between the house and the deck. Mason slowly lowers his hands from my face. I do the same with my arms from his neck.
What are they doing here?
I’m not sure if I think that or say it.
“I don’t know,” Mason says.
I also don’t know if his response is because I said it aloud or because he always seems to read my mind.
Regardless, he hops down then holds his arms out to help me down then takes my hand in his and leads us to where my family stands.
“Welcome,” he says.
“I didn’t expect you guys to come,” I say.
“Clearly,” AshLynn says with pure hatred in her eyes. Which she quickly turns on Mason. “What? I didn’t work out so you thought you’d try the backup sister?”
“Whoa. Wait just a minute—” Mason starts.
“Is it because she has money and I didn’t?” AshLynn continues, “or because breaking one of us wasn’t enough, you had to go after both? What did we ever do to you, Mason?”
“Um—” I start.
“First of all,” Mason interrupts. “You know this has nothing to do with money. At least, not for me. I didn’t break you, not even close, and I sure as hell don’t intend to break Willow. I love her.”
“Love.” AshLynn rolls her eyes and scoffs.
I’m in shock. Whether it’s because I’m engaged or because they’re here, or both I’m not sure.
“Well, you’ve certainly set yourself up quite nicely,” Cassandra sneers.
I can hear murmurs from the crowd wondering what’s going on. While our closest friends know the details of how we met, we change it slightly for other people. And by slightly, I mean a lot. I’m not comfortable with it being public knowledge that Mason was engaged to my sister. And Mason would like to have a little more time pass before it becomes one ofthose jokes. He doesn’t ever want anyone thinking I’m a rebound.
And until now, it didn’t occur to me that I might be.
Or did it?
“How do you like being the rebound, Willow?” AshLynn says.
Now she reads my mind too.
“Hold the fuck up,” Mason says. “Say what you will to me, but you will not speak ill of or to Willow like that. She’s not a rebound, AshLynn, and you know it.”
I like that he’s standing up for me. It makes me want to stick my tongue out at AshLynn and Cassandra and saytold you so. Except I’m not sure what it is that I’ve told them so about.
I look to my dad for support. Like usual, he’s looking at the ground, not engaging in the conversation. How did he ever become CEO of one of the largest companies in Texas being so passive?
Cassandra and AshLynn are both talking at once. Mason is countering each. I’m standing here doing nothing. It’s like every single insecurity I’ve ever had where Cassandra and AshLynn are concerned has suddenly taken hold and I’m powerless to overcome it. I look down at the ring Mason just put on my finger as though seeing it for the first time. It’s beautiful. A princess cut, which he had to have found out from Zach was my favorite since Mason and I have never talked about rings. When we were younger Zach and I both decided we wanted princess cut diamond rings because of the name. A princess cut diamond must make you a princess, right?
I look to Zach. He’s looking at Cassandra, his face filled with fury. I look to Mason. He’s pointing to the door.
He’s kicking my family out.
Wow.
I see them all turn to leave.
