AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Oh my God, what is wrong with you?” I wriggled out of his hold. “Go sit and cool off, horndog. I’m going to help Rory get us some drinks.”
Rory chuckled, giving me a little shake of her head. “Welcome to my world,” she said as I reached her. “Everything good?”
“I think so.” I glanced back at Mason, who had made himself comfortable on her couch.
“I’m so happy for you. And him. Definitely him.” Aurora smiled. “You’re a good influence on him.”
“I’m not sure about that.” I dipped my head, feeling a little insecure still.
“Harper, he’s crazy about you. Surely, you know that?”
“I… I feel it, yeah. When it’s just the two of us. Or we’re with Scottie. It feels like we’re a team, you know?”
“I do.”
“It’s just when we go out there.” I tipped my head to the door. “Out there is kind of scary.”
“Being scared only means that you care. That you have something worth losing. You know, you taught me that.” She reached for my hand, squeezing gently. “The Janelle/Jenni thing was just a big misunderstanding. One he didn’t handle very well, sure. But it doesn’t define the start of your relationship unless you let it.”
“You’re right. Of course, you’re right.” I looked over at Mason again and his head snapped up. Something passed between us as he smiled at me.
“You’ve got it bad, haven’t you?” Rory chuckled.
“So bad.”
“Loving a Laker isn’t easy,” she said quietly. “But it’s worth every second of doubt, I promise.”
I didn’t correct her and tell her that I didn’t love Mason. Not yet. Because the truth was, it wouldn’t take much to hand over my heart.
I was halfway there already.
* * *
“No way, no fucking way.” Noah slammed his hand down on the table with fake outrage. “I did not do that.”
“Swear to God, Rory,” Mason laughed, his hand toying with my hair as we sat in the booth at Zest. “He was a fucking mess.”
The second Noah had turned up at Rory’s apartment, he’d announced we were going out—the four of us.
A double date.
I’d been hesitant at first, especially after what happened with Janelle. But the three of them talked me into it, and I was glad because it had been nothing but fun.
Noah didn’t give me a chance to get all up in my head as he entertained us with stories from his freshman year. How he and Mason had struck up a quick friendship. But for every embarrassing story Noah had about Mason, Mason had one right back.
“Ahh, the joys of dating an athlete.” She gazed at Noah, clearly unaffected by Mason’s attempt to one-up him. “You know, I have a funny story about Noah,” she said.
“Shortcake”—his eyes went wide—“don’t you dare—”
“Do tell,” I chuckled, inching closer to Mason. He leaned in, brushing his lips over my cheek.
“It was when I was still staying with the guys. He came home one night wasted and thought it would be a good idea to come and see me. Then he spent half the night puking in my bathroom.”
“It was not half the night.” Noah poked her in the ribs, and she trapped a squeal with her hand. “It worked though, didn’t it?”
“What worked?”
“Got her to let me spend the night in her bed so she could keep an eye on me.”
