Page 61 of Untroubled Heart

I shake my head. “No. Well, yes, but that’s not why I asked you guys over. It’s—” I swallow. “Mason.”

“Mason?” Maevyn eyes me warily as she measures vodka into a glass.

“Is this going where I think it is?” Liv’s mouth drops open.

“I’m almost positive you won’t be thinking of this.”

“Ohh, sounds kinky.” Maevyn smirks. “Continue.”

“You have to promise not to tell my brother.” I point an accusing finger at Maevyn.

She draws a cross over her chest. “I’m here to listen, advise, and possibly be a bad influence.”

“From the look on her face, you may be too late for that,” Liv says.

“Then I’m here for the details,” Maevyn adds with a smile as she keeps making our cocktails.

“I guess it’s been starting for a few weeks …” In perfect unison, Liv and Maevyn lean in closer. “I mean, look at him. Obviously, he can’t be ignored, but he just kept showing me this side of him that was sweet, and thoughtful, and funny, and ughhhh.” I melt into the kitchen counter. “We almost kissed at the office the other day—”

“You almost kissed?!” Liv shrieks.

I nod. “And then we were working at the house today, and I hurt my leg, and he carried me, and then I cried about my problems, and he gave me a hug, and then it started to rain, and the emotions were just electric, and in the moment I thought, fuck it … and then … I did.”

The girls stare back at me, slack-jawed and blinking.

“Well, don’t stop now, you just got to the good part!” Maevyn shouts.

So, I tell them everything, without going into too much detail because it’s been a while since I’ve had girlfriends like this to confide in, but they make me feel safe. There’s no judgement or criticism, just love and respect. There’s honesty and trust, and it wraps around me so much that I feel myself giving it back internally. Letting myself do the messy things, whether I’m unsure or just wanting to dive in without thinking of the repercussions. It’s nice.

“So what happened then?” Liv asks after I finish telling them everything.

“We heard cars coming and had to quickly pretend like we didn’t just defile a trestle table in the middle of his unfinished kitchen.”

“So you never got to… sex?” she whispers, even though it’s just the three of us huddled around my kitchen.

I shake my head. “But he still… finished.”

“Huh?” Liv tilts her head.

I take a sip of my drink before I answer. “In his pants.”

“Oh my god, how hot is that?” Maevyn slaps the benchtop. “I had no idea!”

“Please tell me you know of this with someone who’s not my brother.” The lime sours in my gut as Maevyn smothers the smile on her face with her hand.

“Sorry! I’ve only ever had Presley to share deets with about random hookups. This is new to me.”

“Moving on, because I can’t with you right now. What do I do when I see him on Monday? When we return to the scene of the crime?”

“The crime or the cream?” Maevyn smirks.

“Eww, too far, Mae.” Liv scrunches her nose as I throw my head back and laugh. God, it feels good to do that.

“Am I the only one not getting any right now?” Liv grumbles.

“Have you heard anything from Xander?” I ask Maevyn.

“Hey! Why do you immediately go to him when I mention sex?” Liv says, but I’m too focused on the way Maevyn’s eyes widen as she picks up a strawberry cupcake, giving a noncommittal shrug as she shoves almost the entire thing in her mouth.