Page 97 of I Heart Mason Cartwright
“Yes.” I roll my eyes.
“Good. Here’s your chance.” He tilts his head to the side where I see Mason approaching us. My heart skips a beat. Like literally skips a freaking beat. Traitorous heart trying to cause trouble here.
Really, what’s the big deal?
He was engaged to my sister.
Half sister.
As in getting married.
It wasn’t serious.
Marriage is always serious.
Says who?
AshLynn is all thirty-two flavors. I’m plain vanilla.
So, your vanilla will shake things up a bit.
The only time vanilla shakes is at Dairy Queen.
Whose side are you on?
Yours. Maybe his. Hard to tell.
Mason sits on the couch next to me. “It’s a great place, huh?” He gestures to the store.
“I love it,” I say. And I do. For a bookstore, it’s still got a real homey feel to it. Books line shelves in offset rows throughout the store, as well as shelves on the walls. And there are chairs and small benches scattered about, but my favorite spot is back here in the reading lounge. I didn’t just call it that, there’s a sign on the wall that says:Reading Lounge: You can lounge as long as you want, you’d just better be reading while you do it.
Mason’s mom has it set up like a large living room. A colorful rug with a tree motif on the floor, surrounded by couches and chairs. Two large brown leather couches flank the rug and three red leather chairs are interspersed between, with large beanbag-type chairs in neutral colors scattered about as well. Side tables and foot stools finish off the room. I could stay here forever.
“I may write my next book here.” Zach smiles. He looks satisfied as he watches Mason and me. If he embarrasses me, I will kill him.
“I’m so glad I ran into you guys,” Mason says.
“Yeah?” Zach asks.
“I guess, you know, I want to make sure there aren’t any weird feelings between us after what happened.” He looks to me.
I shake my head, even though I have tons of weird feelings about it. It’s just most of those feelings have to do with how I feel about him, and not necessarily about what happened with AshLynn.
He continues talking. “I like you guys. I’m hoping we can all be friends. Especially since we live in the same city.”
I give Zach my best “I told you so” look when Mason saysfriends.
Mason turns. “I also want to do something for you, Willow.”
“For me?” I swallow hard. Not sure how comfortable I am with this new development. By that I mean trying not to get my hopes up about it. I glance at him, then back down at my lap.
“I left you high and dry with a knocked-down wall and a huge renovation I was supposed to help with and I’m sorry for that. Maybe I could buy you dinner to make up for it.”
Don’t look at him. If you look at him, you’ll cave. If you cave, AshLynn will hate you. If AshLynn hates you, all future family gatherings will be awkward.
I look at him.
Gah! Those big brown eyes. That scruffy jawline. Why does he have to be so good looking!?
