Page 52 of Tell Me I'm Enough

It’s actually more fun than I expected. All the girls are great, and it’s nice to have some downtime to get to know them a little better. It distracts me from having to think about being stuck with Mason all day tomorrow.

At least he’ll be the one getting dunked in the tank—that’ll be entertaining. Maybe it’ll keep us from having to talk much.

17

Mason

It’s late September in Texas—notmiddle-of-summerhot, but the kind of sticky heat that still makes your shirt cling to your back the second you move.

I’m out here sweating my ass off already, helping Chase get the giant dunk tank off the rental truck. This shit is huge, bigger than the ones we used to use on field days in high school. It feels like I’m carrying three of our linebackers on the football team all at once.

I already know it’s going to be freezing when they get it filled up, and somehow I drew the short stick with getting stuck with this damn booth today.

“Geez, this is more of a workout than a weekend with your mom, Tank,” I grunt out, getting a better grip on the side of the tank and walking down the ramp with it. Tank is off to the side, playing project manager—aka not doing shit to help, just yapping.

He slaps the top of it, and I grit my teeth as it slips a little. I kick my leg out, connecting with his shin, and he doubles over, grabbing at his leg and cursing under his breath.

I laugh at him being a big ass baby.

That’s what he gets for being lazy.

“Who told you to sign up for this damn dunk tank?” Chase asks.

“I didn’t,” I grunt. “Lost a damn coin flip.”

Chase chuckles. “Well, better plaster a smile on and be the face of charity in that seat, water boy.”

“I’m gonna be the damn face of hypothermia.”

“Maybe all of your little groupie girls who have never thrown a ball a day in their lives will be your only customers.”

“One can only pray,” I say as we set the thing down on the grass next to the booth that’s still empty because whoever I’m paired up with today hasn’t gotten here yet. It’s early, but still, you always show up earlier than you’re supposed to for these things. They take forever to set up.

“What hottie did you get teamed up with from Gamma?” Tank asks, sitting on a cooler, still rubbing his shin.

I shrug. “No idea. Didn’t even open my envelope once I knew I was stuck with the dunk tank. You think whoever she is will trade out with me and get in this thing instead?”

“No Gamma girl is doing dirty work unless it’s in the bedroom,” Tank says. “And still…they normally just lie there and makeyoudo everything.”

Both Chase and I look over at Tank. “Your sex life sounds sad,” I laugh out.

“Please, show me your ways then, Greek sex god,” he says, pretending to bow.

“Can’t give out my secrets,” I tell him…as if I had any. It’s a desert over here, and I’m perfectly fine with keeping it that way.

The water truck shows up to fill the tank, and I start hooking up the hose.

I’m crouched down, tightening the valve, when a voice behind me says, “Where do you want me to put all this?”

I stand, turning toward the sound…and stop.

Simone stands in front of me with her curls in a messy bun, sunglasses on the top of her head, pink athletic shorts, and a white top on, holding a box of supplies for the booth and a wagon behind her full of banners and more supplies.

The sun isn’t fully in the sky yet, but it makes her glow all the same. She’s stunning, even as she’s scowling at me.

Chase pulls Tank away to work on something else, and it’s just me and her.

I clear my throat. “Um…you can…” I look around. “You can just put them down on this table for now. We’ll go through it together.” I pause for a second and then ask, “You’re working this booth?”