My Broken YOU

12 Hours

It's been less than twelve hours, and I haven't been able to sleep. Mason has been on my mind the entire night and a part of me wishes he was here with me right now. After everything Lyle admitted to last night, I feel like I am forced to pry that information out of Mason without him realizing I already know.

How can I prepare myself to convince Mason to tell me? How do I respond if he does tell me? I'm horrible at acting and I want to make sure I can convince him that I didn't know. Maybe I can somehow bring it up in a conversation. Maybe I can say I was in therapy and then he will admit he's in it right now, because of me. No! He's not going to admit that.

Maybe I could tell him I knew the truth and his dad told me. We did say we'd be honest with each other, but then it might cause conflict between Mason and Lyle. I don't want to start any type of issues between them.

"When do you leave for Crescent City?" Ava asks as she walks into the room freshly showered and still in her towel.

"How in the hell are you comfortable with walking down the hallway in just a towel?" I scold her like I'm her mother. "You give me grief for certain situations, but you're literally naked under that towel. Tell me how you feel comfortable doing it?"

She smiles while she strokes the hairbrush through her hair. "Well, mother! I know I'm hot and people want me. I also know my boyfriend is the love of my life and I'm not worried about it."

"I think that's a double standard?" I argue, unsure if I am saying my argument correctly.

"I don't care!" She argues and slides the towel off her. I drop my head onto my pillow and stare up at my ceiling. 

"What time are we leaving for Crescent City?" She asks again.

"I think Mason is getting here at ten and..." I pause, realizing what she just said, and sit straight up in my bed. "What do you mean 'we'?"

"Did you think I wasn't coming to finally meet your parents?" Her tone sounds ecstatic while she slides her pants on. "Babe! Mason might be the love of your life. But I am the love of your life as in family. You might have parents, but I'm your only sister...in a sense! You can bet I'm coming with."

A whole lot of radiating excitement rushes through me. I want to throw myself at her and hug her, but I'll wait until she's fully dressed. "Are you kidding me!" I say, my tone filled with excitement. "You just made my entire year! Not only am I bringing my boyfriend home to my parents but my best friend too! This is amazing!"

"Yes, it is!" She agrees and slides her shirt on. "Now, if you look at your clock, we have ten minutes until Mason gets here. Please tell me you didn't nap again and you're not ready yet."

My heart drops as I look at my phone screen. She's right. I did nap, and I am not ready. "Holy shit!" I yell and quickly get out of bed, rushing to finish packing the clothes I started to pack last night. "I knew I napped but damn it!"

A knock on the door turns my attention to it. "Ladies!" Mason announces as he walks in. "Someone napped again, didn't they?" His eyes dart to my mostly empty suitcase as he sits on my bed and watches as I rush.

"Aren't you going to help me?" I question in a rushed tone while fumbling to pack the rest of my stuff. "You're an ass!"

He laughs as he lays back on my bed and kicks his feet up. His eyes stay on me while he slides his hands behind his head and leans against my wall, crossing his legs. "I'm enjoying this. You have five minutes until we leave, beautiful."