Filed to story: Lily Bennett and Mason Cooper Book
“Rumor is you’re a goody-two-shoes, and here you are doing something illegal.”
“You said it wasn’t illegal!”
“I never said that.”
“Well, I guess rumors aren’t always true, are they? Like, you’re not as big an asshole as everyone says.”
“That’s what everyone says?”
“Some people,” I say quietly, embarrassed.
He shrugs indifferently.
“So, tell me, princess, what else did your crazy ex-boyfriend not let you do?” he asks, pulling out his phone.
“He never let me try marijuana.”
Mason laughs and says, “Try marijuana? No one says it like that.”
“He never let me smoke a fatty?” I say.
“Okay, that’s worse. I’ll just put it on the list and we’ll move on.” He types it into the notes app on his phone, then says, “Next?”
“Get my nose pierced.”
His eyes widen.
“I’m not getting my nose pierced.”
“You don’t have to,” I laugh as I picture it.
“I’ll come with you though,” he says, adding it to the list.
“I always wanted to try eating that seventy-two-ounce steak just out of town,” I mumble.
“Eat a giant-ass steak, got it.” He smiles.
“Drink a whole bottle of wine straight from the bottle.” When he finishes typing that, I whisper, “Quit the cheer team.” He raises a questioning brow but doesn’t say anything as he types.
“That’s it,” I say, looking over his shoulder at the list he’s made.
“Don’t forget the waterfall,” I tell him, and he adds it at the bottom.
“Why are you doing this for me?” I can’t help but ask.
“Because you’re fun to hang out with,” he says with a smile. Then his face darkens and he looks out at the city lights.
“And I could use the distraction.”
“From what?” I whisper.
He looks at me and his lips part to speak but then close again and he turns away to avoid my gaze. I reach out, placing a gentle hand on his arm.
“I’m a good listener,” I say.
He closes his eyes, and the words finally come.
“My brother died last month,” he murmurs.
I don’t know what to say, except, “I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault,” he mumbles, opening his eyes. Even though it’s dark, I can see tears welling up in his eyes.
“I’m happy to be your distraction,” I say, putting my head on his shoulder.
“Thanks, princess,” he whispers back, resting his head on top of mine. We stay that way for a minute or two. It’s nice.
“Are you really going to quit the cheer team?” he asks.
“It’s on the list, so I have to,” I joke.
“But yeah,” I say, no longer joking.
“I don’t want the summer to end,” he says quietly.
“Back at school, everything will be more…complicated.”
I’m dreading going back, too.
“People are going to gossip about me and Olly, and when I drop out of cheer, it’s going to be worse. Nobody knows how to mind their own business.”
“I’ve seen a few people around and they’ve just given me this look of, I don’t know, pity. Which just pisses me off.” Mason frowns.
“I don’t think I have the patience to deal with them,” he adds, shaking his head.
“What about your friends?” I ask. I can’t even imagine what he’s going through.
“They’re trying to treat me the same, but it’s like they’re too scared to make a joke around me.”
“You have a sense of humor?” I gasp, pressing my hand to my chest.
“Very funny, princess,” he deadpans before an amused smile breaks out on his face.
Mason’s gaze softens as we lock eyes. I can feel the warmth of his body next to me. My breath catches as he leans in-is he going to kiss me? The whole world has gone quiet.
We stay that way for what feels like forever, but then it’s like we both know we shouldn’t and turn away at the same time.
“The stars are beautiful,” he says.
I just nod, still recovering from that almost-kiss.
Finally, I say, “Can I ask you a serious question?”
“Sure.”
“You weren’t serious about running at six a.m. were you?”
He laughs and then flashes that mischievous grin of his.
LILY
“Oh, princess, it’s time to wake up,” I hear a voice sing.
“What?” I grumble, opening my eyes to see a man standing over me.
Instinct takes over and I spring up and punch him in the stomach.
Mason lets out an oof and falls onto my bed clutching his midsection.
“Damn, Lily,” he laughs, “you pack a wallop. I might have a bruise.”
“Serves you right! Breaking and entering.”
“No breaking-your hide-y key is very easy to find.”
I shake my hand out and say, “What are your abs made of? Concrete?”
I collapse back onto my pillow and close my eyes.
“I’m going back to sleep.”
“You’re running with me.”
“What time is it?”
“5:45 a.m. Told you I was serious.”
“I changed my mind.”
“Too bad!” he says as he yanks the blanket off me.