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Someone sidles up to me.
Mason. He’s wearing an emerald mask to complement his green eyes, even in the low club lighting. “Hey. New hair.”
I smile at my friend. It’s a sad smile. Because…we haven’t seen much of each other since Laney disappeared.
It’s been too difficult to process, let alone together.
You’d think something like this would push us closer together. I think there’s some amount of embarrassment on both our parts that we thought this could work.
A vulnerability hangover I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.
“Yeah, what do you think?” I tousle my still surfer blown hair that I’ve had clipped just below my ears.
“I never thought I’d see the day you weren’t a moppy mess.” He grins.
I shrug. “New phase of my life, thought it warranted a new haircut.”
“Looks nice.”
We are both quiet while the rest of the club is buzzing around us.
Jazz music plays while Dad swings Sonia around the floor. The two of them aresoin love.
“How do you feel?” Mason asks.
I give a sidelong glance.
He raises his eyebrows and ticks his head down to the dance floor.
I snort. “Oh, fine. You know, it was bound to happen sooner or later.”
“That’s true. Still, it’s a little weird, right?”
It might be weirder to Mason since he saw the whole relationship between Sonia and me pan out in California. For me, living with it every day since my accident and Sonia moved in, it’s what was always bound to happen. “Naw. I’m good. I mean, look at them.”
Dad dips Sonia, and she screams in laughter.
I swear she remarks, “Edwin, your back!”
“They’re totally obsessed with each other,” I say.
They share a deep kiss.
I have to look away. I’m jealous I can’t have that with Laney. It used to feel inevitable.
Now it’s far in the past.
“Thanks for being here, man,” I say to Mason.
“I wouldn’t miss it.”
We exchange some limp smiles. So much that hasn’t been said since that day at Laney’s.
“That’s nice of you,” I say.
Before Mason can reply, a server shoves her tray between us, filled to the brim with glasses. She grins. “Champagne?!”
Wow. Eager.
