Filed to story: Lily Bennett and Mason Cooper Book
“But ice cream’s on you today.”
“Lily’s the one who just went through a big breakup,” Harry scolds her gently.
“We should be buying her ice cream. Whole pints if she wants.”
Gentleman that he is, Harry takes our orders and goes to the counter to pay.
When he comes back with our sundaes, Ava digs in excitedly and exclaims, “I can’t wait for school to start, you guys!”
“Ew. Why?” Harry asks, screwing his face up.
“Because we’re seniors!” she says with an eye roll.
“I can’t wait for school to be over,” I mutter, making Harry laugh.
“I seriously wonder why I’m friends with you two sometimes.” Ava sighs dramatically.
“Because we’re awesome,” he replies in a “duh” tone.
“By the way-I have a date tonight.”
“Oh my god, who with?” I ask, holding in my squeal.
“Jonah.”
“That’s amazing! You have to tell me everything!” I say, letting the squeal out.
“Sure, babe.”
He laughs and wraps his arm around my shoulders.
My phone vibrates in my pocket.
I’m dying to check, but don’t want to do it in front of them.
“Babe, your phone’s buzzed like three times,” he says, nudging me.
“Huh?” I frown, pulling my phone out of my pocket and pretending to be surprised to have messages.
They’re all from Mason.
“Who’s M?” he asks, peering at my phone.
“No one,” I answer quickly, placing my phone facedown on the table as it vibrates again.
“Must be important,” he singsongs as Ava tries to grab my phone.
I quickly snatch it before she can.
“Just answer them, babe,” Harry smirks.
M
What food do you like to eat? Other than pizza
M
I mean like snacks
M
Chips? Candy? Carrot sticks?
M
Princess. I’m literally standing in the grocery store like an idiot right now…
I smile as I read his texts, imagining him having a meltdown in the snack aisle.
Lily
I eat pretty much everything…why??
Before I can put my phone down, he texts back.
M
For tonight ??
Lily
Tonight?
M
You’ll see Princess x
“This M person must be pretty great if they’re making you smile like that,” Ava says, smirking at me.
When I just shrug and shove a big spoonful of ice cream in my mouth, she gasps and slams the table.
“Oh my God, have you met someone?”
I swallow.
“No,” I say, hoping they don’t see through my lie.
“How would I have met someone in the last few days?”
“What about you, Ava? You seeing anyone?” Harry asks, changing the subject for me and sending me a knowing look.
“I wish. All the boys at Ridgewood suck,” she replies sadly.
“Except you, but it’s not like that’s an option.”
“Oh, I know,” he commiserates with a sigh.
“I’ve already been through all the boys at Ridgewood. I guess there’s always Greendale.”
Neither of them can keep a straight face for more than a few seconds.
They both burst out laughing, and I shovel more ice cream into my mouth.
? ? ?
“Okay, so tell me why you have all this food?” I ask Mason as he drops two grocery bags onto my coffee table.
“Because tonight, princess, you and I are getting high.” He smirks.
I gasp.
“We are?”
“You get so excited about the smallest things,” he chuckles.
“Like a puppy,” he adds, and I whack his shoulder softly.
“I’m kidding.” He laughs, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a lighter and what looks like a hand-rolled cigarette.
“We should probably go outside,” he says.
“We can go out by the pool.” I lead the way and sit cross-legged on one of the recliners, waiting.
Mason sits down across from me. He lifts the joint up and gently places it between my lips.
“I’m going to light it for you. Just breathe in a little-you’re going to cough,” he explains, and I nod along.
He flicks the lighter and lifts the flame slowly to the end of the joint.
“Start sucking,” he says, and I do.