Page 8 of Take Me (Cherry Blossom Lake #5)
“Hey,” I said when I saw her on the playground at recess. “Wanna hear a joke?”
She seemed wary and guarded. “Okay.”
“What did one eye say to the other?”
“I dunno.”
“Just between us, something smells.”
It took her a second to get it. “That’s good.” A gap-toothed smile slowly replaced the sad look she’d worn for weeks. “Do you know any others?”
I did. And we’ve been cracking each other up ever since. From flag football games to double dates in high school, we’ve been kinda inseparable. She even had a key to my grandparents’ place, not that we ever locked the door. She’d stroll right in to hang with my siblings, even when I wasn’t home.
“Mason, did you hear a word I just said?”
I snap my attention back to my sister. “Absolutely.”
“Liar.” Lucy crosses her arms. “Let me guess—you’re thinking how easy it’ll be to convince everyone you and Erika are really in love. You’ve been buddies forever, so how hard can it be?”
“Am I supposed to answer that?”
She studies my face instead of answering the question. “I get it, you guys are tight. You bonded over some serious shit in our childhood.”
“You went through the same shit,” I point out.
“It was different for me.” She takes a thoughtful sip of her wine. “I had Cousin Hazel and all my girlfriends. Girls talk about stuff. You were a dude.”
“Why do you say were like I’m not anymore?”
Lucy ignores me. “I didn’t mind all the petting and hugging. We were the kids with the messed-up mom and the dad who was gone all the time. It sucked, and I didn’t mind soaking up sympathy.”
“I hated it.” The sympathy almost as much as the family drama. “It was different for Kaleb and Jake. They were older and tougher, and everyone left them alone.”
But not me. I was too young to grasp Mom’s mental-health stuff. The addictions that cycled her in and out of rehab. The younger kids took it in stride, with Noah becoming a six-year-old hellion and Paris—now Parker—just a toddler when Mom started circling the drain.
It was probably the age more than anything. Eight-year-olds hate being babied. That shared aversion drew me to Erika. We were peas in a pod, and we kinda still are.
“Mason?” My sister sits watching me like she’s trying to see through my skull. “I know how much you loved Annabelle. And I know feelings like that don’t just go away.”
“I’m fine.” Why is she doing this?
“I adore her and we’re friends, but if it’s too hard for you to see Annabelle at all my wedding events?—”
“It isn’t.” That’s the last thing I need, my sister uninviting my ex from her bridal stuff. “I swear.”
“Okay.” She looks like she’s not quite convinced. “Are you hoping this fake thing with Erika will make Annabelle jealous? Like you might win her back by having a girlfriend?”
“No.” The thought hadn’t honestly crossed my mind. But now that she’s said it— “You think that could happen?”
“I don’t know.” She frowns. “You’re a great guy, and sooner or later, Annabelle will wake up and see she won’t find anyone better.”
“Uh, thanks.” I’m not sure why she’s being so nice. “What’s the punchline?”
“There isn’t a punchline.” She punches my shoulder, so maybe that’s it. “I’m just saying, tread carefully. Make sure you’re clear on what you and Erika are doing. If she’s trying to win Neil back?—”
“Shit.” I hadn’t even thought about that. “I don’t think she is.”
“Just be careful. You’re both kinda vulnerable right now.”
“Yes, Mom.” That earns me another quick jab to the shoulder. “Ow.”
“Don’t be such a doofus.”
“Don’t be such a bully.” This is more like it. I’m not a big fan of the serious stuff. “You’ll keep this to yourself, right?”
“The fact that you’re faking a relationship? Of course.”
“I know how you hate hiding things from the rest of the family?—”
“Twin code, right?” Lucy drains her wine. “It’s different.”
“It is.” I like that we don’t need to discuss it. “We just need to get through all the weddings without bumming out family and friends.”
“Define ‘all the weddings.’” Lucy picks up my glass and drains the last teaspoon at the bottom. She gets up and goes to my sink and starts washing. “You’re not planning to keep the ruse going for when Kaleb and Brooke set a date? Or Parker and Calliope?—”
“Has Parker even proposed yet?” We’re getting way ahead of ourselves. “We’ll talk it through. I’m sure Erika and I can agree on what makes the most sense for our breakup.”
“Just be careful, okay?”
Resisting the urge for an eyeroll, I get up and give her a dish towel. “Be careful for Erika’s sake or for mine?”
“Yes.” She sets down the glass she’s just dried and gives me a hug. “My idiot twin isn’t as tough as he seems.”
“Funny, because my idiot twin is exactly as bossy as she seems.”
Squeezing me harder, she lets go to look me in the eye. “I want what’s best for you, okay?”
Two weeks ago, I thought that was Annabelle. I’m still not entirely sure that’s not true anymore. “Thanks,” I tell my twin. “Call me if you want my calligraphy skills for your wedding stuff.”
“I don’t have to call you.” She laughs as she strides for the door. “I’ll just send you twin telepathy.”
“Right.” Shutting the door behind her, I’m glad my sister can’t really read my mind.
If she could, she’d see all my mixed-up feelings for Annabelle.
And for my best friend who’s helping me move on.