“What?”
“Get up, sleepyhead.”
I yawn and try to roll over but can’t. Dream Mason is annoying.
“Aria, who the hell is this guy? Do you know him?”
Brandon’s question obliterates any lingering sleepiness, and I jolt fully awake. My wide, bloodshot eyes gape up at the man sitting on top of me. In my bed. Not a dream. Mason is reallyhere.
I lie as stiff and unbending as an old plank of wood. Mason gives me a dimpled smile and a quick peck to the tip of my nose with a “Morning, sunshine,” before sliding off me.
“I’m Mason McIntyre, your neighbor—” He points to one side of the room. “That way, and an old friend of Aria’s from CU. You must be Brandon. Aria used to talk about you a lot. It’s nice to finally meet you in person.”
I remain struck dumb and speechless as I watch Brandon cross his arms over his chest and give Mason a thorough once-over like he’s sizing him up.
“Old friend?” Brandon asks skeptically.
“Her ex. But I’m hoping to change that.”
Mason turns and winks at me, and my mouth falls open at his temerity. He did not just say that to my brother.
Brandon’s eyebrows hike up, and his gaze pendulums from me, then back to Mason.
“Holy shit. You’rethatMason?”
“Yep.” The handsome bastard smiles.
“Cool.”
Wait, what?! Traitor!
Mason joins Brandon at the doorway. “She still eat chocolate chip pancakes every Sunday?”
This cannot be happening. I woke up in some derangedUpside Down.
Say something, damn it.
“Mason.”
Brandon looks at him quizzically, then at me again, before bumping fists with him like they’re old friends. “Uh, yeah.”
“Awesome. Lead the way to the kitchen.”
I quickly sit up and cinch the covers to my chest when I remember I’m wearing nothing but a tank top and boy shorts.
“Mason,” I hiss through gritted teeth.
He looks over his shoulder at me, and a lock of hair falls over his forehead. How many times had I brushed that strand of hair off his face while we laid in bed, faces close as we shared the same pillow, and talked throughout the night about nothing and everything.
I shake the memory away.
“Ten minutes, ladybug.”
“Mason—”
“Ten minutes or I’m coming back and will dress you myself.”
“Don’t you dare—”
