20. Lilah #2
I stared down at my dress. “I’m overdressed.”
“You’re stunning.”
Could he feel my pulse jumping wildly against his touch?
“I don’t have shoes that match.”
“Alena’s got a closet filled with hundreds of shoes. You can borrow a pair.”
My fingers itched to peek inside her closet and walk past the designer clothes, maybe some I’d even seen on runways.
But even a pair of shoes probably cost more than everything I owned.
“I’m not touching her shoes. I’ll find something and get my coat.
” I grabbed my black school shoes—it was those or my white PE sneakers.
I pulled my coat from the closet behind the door and tried to shrug one arm into the sleeve.
Mason took it and helped me slip it on. His knuckles brushed against my collarbone. Goosebumps pebbled along my skin.
“Thank you.” I glanced over my shoulder at him.
He nodded, jaw clenched.
“You’re sure Galen won’t mind?”
“The night wouldn’t be the same without you.”
Zoe chattered about hockey as I walked beside Mason out to his car. He stayed so close to me that the back of his hand skimmed across my fingertips. Dizzying flutters flooded my stomach.
At the car, he opened my door and held out his hand for me to climb in. I skirted past him, trying to keep the all-too-real tingly feelings from overtaking me. He must’ve had seat warmers—I’d expected a chill over the backs of my legs, but instead, I melted into the heated seat.
If it hadn’t been for Zoe excitedly talking about random kids from her class, the goal she scored in her last game and ballet recital, this might’ve felt like a date.
Ten minutes later, we pulled up to a house that looked like a glass Lego building.
A sweeping staircase with ambient lighting under every step led the way into the house with a door made for a giant.
Even from the driveway, the sculpted blue-and-green glass chandelier looked to be twenty feet long and glowed like a beacon.
Where Willowcrest was grand but classic, this house was structured and striking.
Calder’s and Erik’s trucks were parked in the driveway alongside Galen’s SUV and a few others I didn’t recognize.
“Stay right there.” Mason hopped out of the car and walked around the front.
Zoe leaned forward between the two seats. “He was nervous you’d say no.”
I turned. “He was?”
“Yeah. He said he’d been mean to you and he was afraid you hated him. Do you hate him?” Her big, curious eyes shone in the accent lighting surrounding the driveway.
Our kiss had lingered in my mind long after his lips left mine. Had it erased everything that had happened since September? I searched inside myself for hatred or even fear, but found they’d been replaced by chaotic feelings I was still scared to name. “No, I don’t hate him.”
Zoe grinned. “Good.”
Mason opened my door and offered his hand for me to climb out.
I hesitated and then slipped my fingers into his and glided out of the buttery-soft seat. The cold air whipped around my legs. He opened the back door for Zoe, who rushed out and grabbed his other hand.
Mason held me securely. I knew if I tugged, he’d let me go, but in that moment, after my solo attempt at a Thanksgiving dinner, I didn’t want to be let go.
We got to the oversized front door that felt three times as wide and tall as a normal door with a long handle that stretched as tall as me.
Instead of ringing the bell, Zoe pushed the door open into a foyer that felt more like the lobby to a museum or high-end hotel, rather than a house. Once inside, she ran off, disappearing around the corner.
Voices got louder and there was low music playing through hidden speakers. Delicious smells floated through the air. My stomach rumbled.
Mason took my coat and put it in the walk-in closet off the front entrance, where I wouldn’t have been surprised to see a coat check attendant pop out to take it. He retook my hand like he’d hoped I hadn’t realized we were no longer touching.
It wasn’t until we got closer to rounding the corner that I chickened out and pulled my hand free from Mason’s.
He held on for a second but let go while still keeping so close to me that our hands brushed.
Everyone was congregated in a kitchen that had its own living room.
Erik put down Zoe, only for her to be picked up by Calder, while others called out her name. What must it feel like for so many people to be happy to see you?
With the excitement of Zoe being there, it took everyone a few seconds to register my presence. Their shouts to Mason were all cut short by shock, gaping mouths and furrowed brows.
I cringed back, but Mason held on to both my shoulders. “I’ve got you.”
“Lilah!” Erik ran at me in that overly excited about everything way of his. He picked me up and spun me around. “I’ve got a million questions for you.”
Galen came up behind him and slapped a hand over his mouth. “No, you don’t. Pay no attention to him.”
“Thanks for letting me crash your party, Galen,” I called after him.
His eyes twinkled like a mossy lake on a summer’s day as he dragged Erik away.
“Not crashing. You’re who I thought might be coming when Mason asked.
But this is always an open invite.” He swept one arm out at the food on the kitchen island bigger than Kelsey and Eliza’s bedroom while still keeping his hand over Erik’s mouth.
“Enjoy the food. Let me just dispose of him before he embarrasses himself more.” Galen wrestled Erik away.
I tried to pretend a whole party’s worth of people weren’t looking at me right now and instead took in the spread.
The tiered buffet setup had dry ice billowing out from under certain dishes.
There were two turkeys, at least ten sides, four different pies and cakes, and even a chocolate fountain, which Zoe was a half step from drowning herself under.
Mason rushed over to scoop her up. Galen returned, wiping his hand on his gray wool pants.
“Your parents don’t mind all your friends taking over your house for Thanksgiving?”
“My parents are elsewhere.” He said it in a neutral tone, so I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not.
“You put all this together on your own?”
“The house manager did most of the work. I just had to let her know the numbers.”
I didn’t even know what a house manager was, but from how beautiful everything looked, they might as well be a fairy godmother. “They did a great job.”
“I’ll be sure to let her know. We’re really glad you’re here, Lilah.”
I tilted my head and narrowed my eyes at him, trying to understand where that was coming from.
“Whatever went down with you and Mason, it’s had him twisted up since the summer.”
“Whatever went down.” I tested those words on my tongue, trying to figure out how they encapsulated everything that had happened between us.
“You’ll need this for later.” He handed me a black envelope with a gold ribbon wrapped around it and the letters HAVOC written in gold lettering on the front.
I flipped it over in my hand. “What is it?”
“I mean, this is a Havoc party.”
“I thought those were just any party you guys threw.”
“Nah, those are whatever. This is where the fun happens.”
“And you do this every time?” I held up my envelope.
Galen’s jaw ticked. “No, not usually like this, but I didn’t handle that this time. Normally, it’s some folded pieces of paper.”
“Was that a grimace? I didn’t think that was possible from you. You’re always so chill.”
“Why be any other way? Not worth it.”
“So nothing gets under your skin?” I teased.