It’s over now. It’s really over.
The healing can finally begin, hopefully.
Once we’re back in the car, we’re all silent, and it takes a few minutes to realize Lennon isn’t driving us back to the house.
“You need a drink and some food,” Lennon says as if she read my mind. “Then I’ll take you home.” She finally looks over at me with a grin. “Plus, we need sister time.”
“Yes!” Maddie adds from the back seat, though she wedges herself between us as much as she can. “Did you guys see the package on Liam? How did that thing not impale you and get you pregnant?” she asks Lennon.
“Oh my God…” I laugh, pushing Maddie’s hand off my seat. “She’s already pregnant, for one.”
“Why do you think I pushed him away?” Lennon snickers. “He’s a…beast. To say the least.” I watch her expression and am almost certain I see her blush.
“So since I’m not well experienced in the area of penis size—”
“Maddie!” I shout.
“Would you rather I google it?” she retorts. “You’re my big sisters; you’re supposed to tell me these things!”
“Fine,” Lennon says, giving me a look and shrugging. “Liam is definitely…well-endowed. Let’s just say that.”
“And can we talk about that man’s ass? I could bounce a quarter off that thing,” Maddie adds.
“Does Hunter know you check out other men’s penises?” I taunt, batting my eyelashes at her.
Lennon flashes me a death glare, and her nostrils flare. “Don’t make me turn this car around and tell Mason you want to jump his bones and lock you two into a bedroom until you finally fuck it out. Because I will.”
“Her hormones are crazy, Soph. She’ll do it,” Maddie says matter-of-factly.
I roll my eyes at her threats. “Wouldn’t matter anyway. He’s made it perfectly clear we’re only friends. Roommates. Thinks of me like a sister.” I shrug. “And now probably a damsel in distress he has to save. In fact, he probably pities me. Yep, that’s it. I’m Little Orphan Annie.”
“What?” Lennon and Maddie both ask.
“You know, the curly redhead who manages to get adopted by a billionaire but only after she talks about her sad story of having no parents. I think she sneaks out of the orphanage even.” I purse my lips as I try to remember the story. “Anyway! That’s me. People are only being nice because they feel sorry for me; it doesn’t mean Mason wants me. He’s had the chance to say something for years.”
“So give him a second one,” Maddie says confidently. “You live in the same house now. He’s basically your Daddy Warbucks.”
Lennon snorts.
“It’s too soon, Mads,” I tell her genuinely. “As much as I wanted Mason before, the timing is all wrong. In fact, that seems to be the story of our lives.”
Lennon parks the car, and I didn’t even realize we were at a Mexican restaurant. “What do you mean?” She gives me a puzzled look as if she’s studying my face, then her eyes widen. “Did something already happen between you two? Like before? Before Weston? When? Recently?”
She’s rambling off so many questions that my head spins. Knowing I can’t push this conversation off any longer, I suck in a deep breath before releasing it.
“I’m going to need a couple of drinks in my system before we talk about this.”
An hour later, I’m three drinks in, and Maddie and Lennon are looking at me as if they’re about to wring my neck for keeping this secret from them.
“Oh my God!” Lennon’s outburst nearly has me spewing my drink all over her. She’s been staring at me with her mouth open, shocked as hell when I confess the real story of how Mason and I first met that night.
“In the bathroom? How does that even work?” Maddie asks, and I shoot her a look with narrowed eyes. “What? I know how sex works, but in a bathroom? Ew!”
“I’m with Mads on this one.” Lennon snickers.
“It wasn’t ew!” I laugh, my cheeks burning with heat. “It was hot and spontaneous and probably should’ve never happened, but it did. It’s made things weird for sure, but I think we’re finally over that. I think of Mason as one of my closest friends now. I know it’s only been a week since the incident, but it’s as if we’ve been able to pick up where we left off years ago. Before all the awkwardness, even before Weston and I met.”
Just saying his name aloud makes me want to vomit.
“You two are totally gonna do it again,” Maddie says casually before taking a sip of her soda. “I’m totally calling it.”
“Oh, I’d put money on that bet.” Lennon nods. “I had a feeling about him. Just the way he tried to pretend you didn’t exist and purposely gave you short answers. It was as if he was trying to shield himself from falling for you. But why?”