Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22029 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 110(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22029 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 110(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
“How’s Liam?”
Did he really just ask this? How does he think Liam is?
“He’s good. Misses me, of course.” I don’t tell him he was here just and didn’t care to see anyone but me. Mason should know Liam wants nothing to do with him, at least right now. I’m not sure if Liam will ever get over what Mason did.
“That’s good. We’ll be able to catch his game on Saturday, at least the first half because they play at one, and we play at four.”
“Yeah, well, I’ll be late to yours.” I probably didn’t need to say this because it should be obvious, but I want to send the message home. If he’d done what he said he was going to, Katelyn and I would be watching Mason play on national TV. Instead, she’ll be sitting in the stands, likely with Mason’s parents, until I get there.
Mason introduces me to his roommate Phil Bailey, and I instantly hate him. I’m sure he’s a nice guy and all but no. Liam should be the only roommate for Mason, aside from Katelyn. Mason and Liam have been stuck to each other’s sides forever, and seeing Mason rooming with someone else doesn’t feel right. It makes my heart ache for Liam and all he’s going through while Mason is making new friends without a care in the world. Still, Phil’s an extra pair of arms and helps my dad and Mason carry my shit to my room. But then Phil waits for me.
“So, Mason dates your best friend?”
“Yeah, Katelyn. They’ve been together for a long time.” I leave my room and head toward the stairs. Katelyn and I are on the third floor and it’s blazing hot in our room. We’re going to need a box fan or something in the window at night to cool the place down. You’d think for what we have to spend on tuition the school would have air conditioning in our rooms. But no. We don’t even have a personal phone line and need to pay for it ourselves.
With that thought, I run back to my room and dig through my stuff until I find the new phone I bought. After taking it out of the contraption some marketing genius calls packaging, I plug it in and sigh at the sound of a dial tone. Right away, I dial Liam’s number. My call goes to voicemail and I’m okay with that.
“Hi, babe. Calling you from my new phone in my dorm room. I love you!” I hang up and see Phil standing in my doorway.
Awkward.
“Boyfriend?”
I nod. “He’s at the University of Texas playing football.” I don’t add that Mason should be there as well. It’s like pouring salt into the large gaping wound in my heart, and if I’m going to be nice to Mason, I might as well start now.
“Ah,” Phil says as his head tilts back slightly.
What does that even mean? Ah. Ah, what?
This makes me wonder why Mason hasn’t mentioned Liam. They were best friends until Mason screwed it all up. I get that guys don’t gossip like us women, but they do talk. Why isn’t Mason talking about Liam? This bothers me, a lot.
I can’t shake Phil, who follows me down the three flights of stairs. If he’s supposed to help people move in, he’s not doing a very good job. As soon as I get outside, my stomach turns. Katelyn and Mason are playing kissy face.
“Get a room,” I yell loudly. Phil groans and then hides it with a laugh.
Okay, maybe this guy is okay if he’s on the hate-Mason-and-Katelyn-PDA-train with me.
“That must be Katelyn.”
“Yeah. Not only is she my BFFL and roommate.”
“I’ve heard of BFF, but what’s the L for?” Phil asks.
“Life,” I say, shrugging.
“Do you really think you’ll be best friends forever?” he asks.
His question gives me pause. I glance over at her with Mason, and a pang of jealousy washes over me. She gets to be with her man because he made a sacrifice for her. I’m not saying Mason loves her more than Liam loves me, but right now it feels that way. I know Liam sacrificed a lot as well, especially when he went to the school he chose. And I also know, Liam’s where he’s at because he wants to provide a future for us.
Phil’s question lingers. I look at him and nod. “She’ll be my best friend until the day I die.”
Phil picks up another stack of my things. I look around for my parents and find my dad and mom chatting with Katelyn’s dad. Her mother is nowhere to be seen, which doesn’t surprise me, although I’m sure she came because, God forbid, Mr. Cohen spends any time alone with his daughter, lest he spend money on his kid without her approval. I honestly don’t know how Katelyn survived in that household.