13. Mason
Chapter 13
Mason
Sophomore Year
I did it. I told her I love her.
Why didn’t anyone warn me how relieved I would be once I got those words and feelings off my chest? I have wanted to tell her I love her for a few weeks but wasn’t sure how to bring it up or how she’d take it. We’ve been together for a year so I don’t think I’m rushing anything. I just don’t want to scare her off.
While we were watching the movie I kept glancing over at her wondering what she was thinking. I didn’t want to rush her or pull her mind from whatever she was working through. I’m okay with giving her that space and time. I didn’t want to come off in a way that made her feel like I expected anything more than what she was willing and ready to give me. Now that I’ve gotten it off my chest, I honestly don’t know what I was worried about because even though she didn’t say I love you back I know she’s here because she wants to be. I want her to be 100% sure before she says it back.
“So, how’d you like the movie? I know horror isn’t really your thing. I appreciate you going to see that with me.” I say, breaking the silence.
She takes a second before replying. “It was okay. I didn’t know what to expect but it wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. As hard as that is to admit.”
I laugh which makes her laugh and before we know it we’re both clutching our stomachs.
“Aside from the overall it wasn’t bad, what did you feel about the actors and the plot?” I have my own feelings but I want to hear from someone who doesn’t watch horror as much as I do.
“I think, if given the choice, I would have gone with a stronger female lead. I feel like in horror movies you have to have actresses who can sell the idea of their character. It’s not like a Hallmark movie where anyone can play the lead characters. The plot was fine. I don’t watch much horror, so I can’t really say if it felt familiar.”
“I get what you’re saying about the female lead. She fell flat for me, but I wasn’t sure you’d pick that up since, as you said, you don’t watch much of this genre.”
When we get back to Cal’s house it’s a little awkward. I don’t think she knows how to end the night after the love bomb I dropped on her earlier. We’re standing at her front door now and I want to tell her again but don’t want to overwhelm her so instead I hug her and place a chaste kiss on her lips.
“Goodnight, Cal. I’ll text you tomorrow to see what’s up.”
“Goodnight, Mason.” Her cheeks are a light pink color as she turns to open the door.
I wait until she’s inside before turning to walk back towards the car.
After weeks of prepping, it’s the day of the fundraiser. Our parents are officially meeting today and I won’t lie, it’s a little nerve-wracking. I don’t know what I’m worried about because my parents love Cal and her parents seem to like me okay, but having them meet is making me anxious.
I’m heading to Cal’s house now to help her get everything packed and ready to go. Natalie and Henry, Cal’s parents, are helping us set up the table before they wander around to check out the rest of the tables.
I’m raising my hand to knock when the door opens.
“Oh, hey Mason, come in,” Henry says, moving to the side to let me through.
“Cal, is this all of the cookies here by the door?” Henry asks over his shoulder.
“There’s three more boxes here in the kitchen but I’ll get those. The table is already in the back of the car and so is the table cover. All we need to grab are the cookies.”
“Here, let me help take them out,” I say, leaning down to pick up a stack of boxes.
“I appreciate it, Mason.”
Henry grabs the other stack and we place them carefully in the back of the car so they won’t move around and walk back into the house to help grab the rest.
“Oh, hey Mase. I didn’t know you were here.”
“I was going to knock as your dad opened the door to take the cookies out so I helped him carry them out. What in here needs to go?”
She shows me over to the three boxes that are sitting on the dining room table. “Just these three boxes then we’re ready to go.”
My parents will be here shortly and the closer the time gets the faster my heart beats.
So far we’ve sold about six dozen and it’s only been an hour. I guess I’m not the only one who can’t pass up cookies.
A few minutes later I hear my dad laughing across the parking lot. I see them before they see me and when I look over they’re talking to… Callie’s parents. Oh no. This isn’t how I planned for them to meet. I guess since everyone is smiling everything is okay.
“Hey, Cal. I guess our parents decided to meet without us.” I say glancing to where she’s rearranging what’s left of the cookies, spreading them out so the table still looks full.
“What do you mean?” She says looking out over the parking lot to see what I’m talking about. Her facial expression changes the second she sees them. “Well… everyone is smiling so maybe it’s not too bad? I hope.”
“I guess we’ll be finding out soon since it looks like they’re making their way over to us.”
Callie takes a deep breath before walking away and towards our parents. I stick around our table until they’re a little closer before walking over to them.
“Hey Cal! I see where you get your sweetness from.” Ma says with a smile forming on her lips.
“She gets everything from her momma. Except for her eyes. Those she got from me.” Cal’s dad, Henry, answers while wrapping his arm proudly around her shoulders.
“So... y’all have met then. I guess.” Callie says while looking towards me nervously.
“Yes, we have. Eleanor and I have seen each other around town quite a lot but never put two and two together that we were y’all’s mothers.” Natalie, Cal’s mom, answers.
We all continue talking between selling the cookies to the fundraiser guests. Our parents meeting went so much smoother than I thought it would, thankfully. Again, I was more nervous about something than I should have been. It’s a lesson you’d think I’d learned by now.
"Dad," I call out as I walk into the barn. He's out here working with a calf that was born a few days ago and isn't feeding too well.
"I'm over here, son."
I follow his voice and find him sitting in the stall with the little one, bottle in hand. He's looking better already and hopefully, he'll continue getting stronger. "Uh, I wanted to ask you something. Callie's birthday is next weekend and I wanted to get her something nice. I was thinking a bracelet with her birthstone. Do you think that's too much since we haven't been together long?"
"Too much? No, I don't think that at all. A bracelet is a nice gift that shows you're thinking about her and it'll be a constant reminder of that every time she looks down at her wrist and sees it. You want me to go with you to pick it out?"
"Yeah, that was my next question. You're really good at picking jewelry out, according to Mom." I laugh but it's true. Mom has bragged about Dad's eye for jewelry to everyone every time someone asks about something she's wearing.
"Let me know when you want to look around and I'll be there." Dad stands and lays the calf down by his mom. They snuggle into each other and you can see on Momma's face just how torn she is about her baby.
"I don't have practice Tuesday so maybe after school, we can go. I have an idea of what I want but I don't think I have enough time to order anything custom if I can't find what I'm looking for."
"It'll work out exactly how it's supposed to, Mason. There's a spot in town we can look and if we have to travel to another, bigger town I'm fine with that, too. We'll find something." He slaps my shoulder as he walks by.
"Thank you, Dad," I say, turning to follow him to the house.
"Any time, son. Always glad to help in any way I can. Especially for that ray of sunshine, Callie."
Dad meets me in the driveway Tuesday after school and after waving bye to Mom we head into town.
I'm so nervous. Buying jewelry seems like a big deal and I don't know if we've been together long enough for this type of gift. We're pulling into Lee's Jewelers, a small shop in town, and my nerves double what they were when we left.
"Come on, Son. Let's go find Miss. Callie the perfect bracelet." Dad says before opening the door and getting out. I take a deep breath and join him at the front of the car.
"Welcome to Lee's. You're welcome to browse around the entire store. Let me know if you want to see anything out of the case or if you need help finding something specific."
"Thank you," I say, walking over to where I can see bracelets in a display case. As I'm looking over all the silver options I notice one that catches my attention. There's no way. "Excuse me, can I see one of these bracelets please?" I ask the gentleman who's standing at a nearby case rearranging jewelry.
"Let me grab the keys and I'll be right over."
As he nears he asks, "Which one is it you'd like to see?"
"Uh, the one with what looks like diamond and sapphire stones, in the back over there," I say, pointing like it's not the only bracelet in the entire case I would be talking about.
"Oh, that's a gorgeous one. That's diamond sapphire stones encased by an infinity symbol along a sterling silver bracelet." He hands it to me and immediately I know this is it. It's our birthstones. In an infinity symbol. I look over at Dad and he notices, too, a huge grin forming on his face.
"This is it. I want to buy this one." I hand the bracelet back over to the man and pull out my wallet. I've been saving up for this because I knew I wanted to get her something she wouldn't expect. I can't wait to see her face when she opens it.