Page 37 of Mason

“Urkel always works.”

“Dork.”

“Nerd.”

“Cara is dating someone.”

“Hmmm.”

“Just to let you know. I don’t know if she’s particularly happy with her boyfriend. You might want to ask her.”

“You approve of me dating your roommate, huh?”

“She’s more along the lines of a good friend. I like her, but, Keith, if she is happy with her boyfriend, leave it alone.”

“Hey, I don’t move in on other guy’s girls. It’s not kosher.”

“You pushed Mason and me when I was together with Ray.”

“Ray was an asshole who needed to go.”

The steel in her brother’s voice told her not to argue with him on this. He and Mason both despised her ex-boyfriend. He didn’t deserve all their hatred, though. Ray wasn’t all bad. He’d been her rock after she’d miscarried, and for that, she could never hate him.

She was actually a little worried about Ray. He’d called and texted her every single day after their breakup until she’d blocked his number. Her first thought had been to call him back, but she’d known that would only encourage him, and they’d needed a clean break. But Ray tended to latch on to things and hold tight, including her. What if he hadn’t moved on? What if the note and the email and the flowers were from him?

But he knew her favorite flowers were blue roses, rare and hard to find. There were some knockoffs, but the true blue rose, it was elusive. He always managed to find them for her birthday every year, though. Only one or two because they’d been expensive, but they were waiting for her every morning.

She smiled, thinking of that. Ray really hadn’t been all bad. Apathetic, yes, but he remembered some things. That was why she doubted he’d be all creepy now. It wasn’t his way.

So, if not Ray, then who?

“You okay, Jo?”

“Yeah, just thinking about my birthday.”

“Your birthday? Is it already that time again?” Keith feigned surprise, and she smacked his shoulder.

“You better not have forgotten your favorite sister’s birthday.”

“Well, I might have, or I might not have.”

“Jerk,” she said fondly.

“You’ll like what I bought you.” Keith pulled up in front of the hospital entrance. “Are you sure you’re okay, Jo? You seem distracted.”

“Yeah, just tired.”

“I noticed Mason hasn’t been home the last few nights.”

“I am not discussing that with you.”

“And I don’t want to hear it either,” he hurriedly said. “I’m just wondering if that’s why you’re tired and if I need to beat his ass.”

“No, I’ve just been swamped with homework and trying to get my videos edited, and I’m streaming more. Work doesn’t help.”

“Then why are you working? Mason said he helped you increase your revenue from your channel.”

“Because I’m paying off a hospital bill and my physical therapy costs. Once I get that completely done, I will quit the hospital, but I need about three more months before that’s done.”