Chapter 5
Ellie
C arlson’s Cafe was the second most frequented dining establishment for the Mackenzie family. The family-owned business belonged to Maggie and Amy Carlson, who were friends of her parents. They served breakfast, lunch, and dinner, along with coffee and pastries throughout the day. Ellie loved breakfast the most, which was how it became a sort of tradition for her and Mason to meet up there one Saturday a month. The sisters would eat, chat about life, and run errands or shop the rest of the day.
Ellie loved it. In fact, she looked forward to it more than anything else in the month. It wasn’t as if she didn’t get to see Mason regularly—she did. But it was rare the two were able to have one-on-one time, which Ellie desperately craved. Mason was her favorite sibling, not that she’d ever tell the others that. There was just a bond and understanding between Ellie and Mason that didn’t exist with Blake, Brayden, or Everleigh.
“So, what are you thinking?” Mason didn’t look up from the menu she was intensely studying. Her long brown hair was past her shoulders, and Ellie couldn’t remember a time it was so long. It looked good on her. “I’m thinking French toast, bacon, and a latte.”
“All the sugar.”
“Oh, hush, Mom ,” Mason teased as she set her menu down. “What about you?”
Ellie set her menu on top of Mason’s and folded her arms on the table. “Replace the latte with a mocha and I’m in.”
“You’re so my little sister.”
“No way to deny it,” she laughed.
And there wasn’t. They had the same thick, dark brown hair and the same brown eyes. Even their smile and laugh were the same. They were Isla Mackenzie’s daughters through and through.
After they’d placed their orders, Mason asked, “So, how’s play rehearsals going?”
“Good.” Ellie nodded, sipping on the ice water she’d ordered. “Really good actually. I know all my lines.”
“Obviously.”
“And I’m learning all the dance moves.”
“They’ll come easily. You’re like Mom that way. You’re both way too talented.”
Ellie blushed under the praise of her sister. She had always idolized Mason, in a way. Mason was more than her big sister; she was her third mom, her best friend. Not that she’d ever tell anyone that. It felt weird to say her sister was her best friend. Especially when few of her friends even liked their older siblings.
“Thanks.”
“Did you get your suit altered for prom?”
“Yeah, we did.” Ellie pulled out her phone and showed Mason the picture of her in the suit they took a few days ago. “I think it looks good.”
“Damn, Eleanor,” Mason dramatically teased, “you look hot. And so grown up.” She dabbed at her eye, pretending to wipe a tear. “My baby is all grown up.”
“Okay, Mama ,” Ellie snatched her phone back from her, “stop it. Do you like the suit?”
“I love the suit.”
“I’m gonna wear it to your wedding.”
“Hell yeah, you are.”
“Which is when by the way?”
Mason and Chase had been together for two years and kept talking about getting married and starting a family. However, they hadn’t set a date yet. It was an ongoing joke between their families.
“You are still getting married, right?”
“Yes, I’m still getting married.”
“When?”
“You’re nosy.”
“So are you,” Ellie smirked, making Mason roll her eyes. “You know I won’t tell anyone.”
“Mhmm.” Mason leaned back in her seat, crossing her arms over her chest. “You are Vera Mackenzie’s little spy. We all know how you work.”
“Not true. I didn’t tell her I caught Brayden and Bridget in his room with the door closed a couple of weeks ago.”
Mason’s eyes grew wide as she slammed her hands on the table. “You did what ?”
Ellie waved her off with a laugh. “Eh, they still had all their clothes on. It was fine.”
“Lord, you children will be the death of me.” The host dropped off their drinks and Mason picked up her latte. She took a sip, then shook her head. “Okay, back to the prom so I don’t have to think of my baby brother having sex.”
“I don’t think they’re having sex. He hasn’t told me, at least.”
“And what about you?” Mason’s tone was suddenly more serious as she lowered her voice. “You’d tell me when it happens for you, right?”
“I’ll call you during the cigarette,” she teased, which made Mason laugh.
“God, I love you.”
“I know.”
They chatted more about their family and how work was going for Mason. She ran her own business, Mason’s Mission, which raised and trained dogs to be service dogs. When the food came, the subject shifted back to the prom.
“So, who are you going to prom with?”
“Just some friends from theater.”
“Dylan going?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh, Chase wanted me to ask if you knew who Trevor Mariano was?”
Ellie resisted the urge to pretend to vomit. Trevor was the jockiest of jocks. He was on the hockey team with Brayden, but he didn’t play much as an alternate. She knew he was also on the baseball and football teams, but she had no idea what position he played. All she knew was that by their limited interactions, he was a snob.
“Ugh, yeah. I know him. Why?”
“Sadie’s going to prom with him.”
The news was dropped so casually that Ellie wasn’t sure she had heard it correctly. Sadie—sweet Sadie Baxter—was going to prom with Trevor Mariano? How had that happened? And how had Ellie not heard about it until now?
Her inner questions started to become vocalized without her noticing.
“Are they dating? I didn’t even know she liked him. And they’re going to prom together? How?”
“I dunno,” Mason shrugged, her eyes narrowing at Ellie. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” her voice squeaked. “Just confused.”
“About Sadie going to prom with Trevor?”
Ellie wasn’t sure if Mason was asking a question or making a comment. She picked up her iced mocha and took a long sip. All the while, Mason’s narrowed eyes stayed locked on her.
“Ellie?”
“What?”
“You sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine.” She wasn’t fine, but she didn’t understand why she wasn’t fine. “Why do I care that Sadie is going to prom with Trevor? Good for her. I’m happy for her. I’m happy for her and Trevor. Sadie and Trevor are going to prom together. Yay.”
Mason lowered her fork to the table and leaned in slightly. “Ellie, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong.” Her palms were sweating and her heart felt like it was going to leap out of her chest at any moment. She could feel the heat from embarrassment rising from her neck to her cheeks, but she didn’t know how to stop it. “Wh—why do you think something is wrong?”
“Because you’re acting all weird.” Suddenly, Ellie saw the metaphorical light bulb come on over Mason’s head. It was hard to keep things from Mason, especially things like this. “Oh. Oh, I see what’s going on here.”
“You do, huh?” Their older sister, Blake Holland, scooted onto the bench beside Ellie, startling her. Blake either didn’t notice they were in the middle of a conversation or didn’t care. It was most likely the former. “Fancy meeting you two here.”
Blake looked back and forth between Mason and Ellie, seemingly confused.
“What did I just walk in on?”
“I just figured out why Ellie is upset that Sadie is going to prom with Trevor Mariano.”
All Ellie could do was bury her face in her hands and hope a hole would open up and swallow her.
“Who’s Trevor Mariano?”
“A jock.”
“Ahh,” Blake seemed to be trying to put the pieces together. “So, why does that upset Ellie?”
“You don’t have to talk like I’m not sitting right here.” Ellie uncovered her face, knowing she was backed into a corner, literally, with no option but to face the conversation. She locked eyes with Mason. “I don’t know what’s going on, honestly.”
“Elaborate.”
“I don’t know,” Ellie sighed and shrugged. She told them about the pep rally and how she’d found Sadie cute and that wasn’t the first time. Then she told them about Sadie sneaking into the theater to listen to Ellie sing. “And, I don’t know. I thought she might like me or something. It’s dumb.”
“It’s not dumb,” her sisters responded in unison.
“Have you talked to her since then?” Blake asked, and Ellie shook her head.
“No,” she grimaced, “we haven’t really talked at all. But, I don’t know, I had this vibe that maybe she liked me. I don’t know. Clearly, it doesn’t matter if she’s going with Trevor to the prom.” She tried not to let the angry tear fall, but it did anyway. Blake put an arm around her shoulder as Mason reached across the table and squeezed her arm.
“Ellie, honey, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”
“It’s not like you knew.”
“Yeah, well.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I’ve just never really had a crush like this before.”
“I know,” Mason smiled sweetly. “I’m going to go home and mark this day in my journal.”
Both Ellie and Blake rolled their eyes.
“But in all seriousness, thank you for telling us.”
“Yeah, thanks, Ellie.” Blake’s smile was genuine, and Ellie felt bad they weren’t as close as she and Mason were. I need to work on that.
“Please don’t say anything to anyone. Not Mom or Mama or Chase.” She pointed the last one right at Mason. “Please. Just let me move on from this embarrassment.”
“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about, Ellie.”
“I guess the good thing is I didn’t embarrass myself in front of Sadie by asking her out or whatever.”
“You wanted to ask her out?”
Ellie shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve never asked anyone out before.”
Mason and Blake laughed.
“You have plenty of time to figure all this out.” Blake leaned in, kissing the top of her head. “And you know if you have any questions or just need someone to talk to, we’re both here for you.”
“Always,” Mason added.
Ellie leaned into Blake’s embrace, letting her sister hold her tighter. “Thanks.”
Thankfully, the host brought out Blake’s to-go order for her wife and kids as she bid them goodbye. She told Ellie to call or text her anytime, and Ellie made a note to do just that. In the meantime, she and Mason finished up their breakfast before heading outside to Mason’s SUV. Ellie climbed into the passenger side and buckled up. Mason got in on the other side but didn’t start the car the rest of the way.
“Elle?”
“Yeah?”
“For what it’s worth, I wouldn’t give up on Sadie if you’re really interested.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, you know how things were for me and Chase. I watched her date and get engaged to someone else before me, and it broke my heart. I didn’t know how to handle my emotions, so I’m here to help you make better decisions than I did. And that’s all I can really say. I made Chase promises too.” Mason winked in an attempt to ease the conversation.
Did Sadie tell Chase that she liked Ellie? Was that what she meant? Had Chase told that to Mason but promised not to say anything? Ellie was just about to start asking questions when Mason shook her head and laughed.
“Nope. That’s all I can say.”
“Fine,” Ellie sulked as Mason pulled out of the parking spot. “You can let me spend the night with you and Chase tonight to make up for it.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing, but we love having you over.”
“Maybe I’ll just move in with you both then.”
“I thought you were moving into the garage?”
“Mom says I have to wait until closer to graduation. Which isn’t fair because you got to move in there before graduation.”
“They like me more.”
“Yeah, right,” Ellie teased right back.