I chewed my lip, knowing the perfect place. I just wasn’t sure if Mason would be happy with me offering up his farm. Especially not now. But this was my best friend so I went for it, consequences be damned. “You should have the party at Mason’s place. It’s beautiful. Lots of space. And he’s done a ton of work to it. The house is massive, and the views are amazing. Perfect location for an engagement party.”
“Brilliant idea, I’ll call Jameson now so he can ask.”
Willa held out her hand, and I handed her phone back. The call lasted for half of the movie, and I typed out a lot of text messages and deleted them again while she was gone. They were all to Mason, but none of them made it past a draft.
When my phone binged with an incoming message I nearly dropped it.
Maisie: Can you pick me up?
Me: Where are you?
Maisie: On the corner of Petal and Stem.
Me: Be there in 5.
Maisie: Just beep your horn when you’re there, I’m hiding behind the bushes and can’t see the road properly.
“Willa?” I called and walked to the kitchen.
She came back out of her room where she’d been hauled up talking to Jameson. “Gotta go. Love you too. I’ll see you tonight,” she said into the phone before hanging up.
“Feel like going for a ride? I have to pick up Maisie.”
She put on her shoes and grabbed her coat. “Count me in. She’s got some explaining to do.”
“I can drive,” she said.
“All good, I’ve got it,” I responded, holding up my keys.
As with every other drive within the Humptulips town limits, this one was short and I came to the corner where Maisie was a few minutes after we left Willa’s house.
As soon as I honked the horn, Maisie stumbled out of the bushes that covered the side of the road bordering the park. She ran up to us and dived into the back seat.
“Let’s go before he notices I’m gone,” she said.
“Who’s he?” I asked and pulled away from the curb.
“Oliver.”
“Was that who you were with this whole time?” Willa asked, ready to start her inquisition.
“That rat bastard tricked me. I thought I knew him, but he is the devil incarnate. Conniving and ruthless.”
I was so confused. Were we talking about the same guy?
“Was he over six foot tall, had dark, almost black hair, blue eyes and talked with a sexy deep voice? Owns a fortune 500 company?” I asked, just to make sure this was the Oliver we had met in the office.
“Yes, that’s him. You can add lying bastard and untrustworthy to the description.”
“I think we need an explanation, honey,” Willa said. “Let’s go back to my apartment. We’ll have a sleepover.”
“I’m in,” I said and turned at the next light to go back to her place. Girls’ night in sounded like just what we needed right now.
“Sounds good,” Maisie sighed, but didn’t sound all too happy about it.
Once we made it back to Willa’s place, we all changed into pj’s that Willa dug out of her closet for us, and we got comfortable. Maisie and I were sprawled out on the couch, Willa was sitting sideways on her armchair, legs dangling over the armrest.
After watching the movie300followed by three of theAlienmovies, we all passed out in a tangle of blankets, popcorn, and chocolate. Maisie refused to talk to us and we eventually gave up. She’d spill the beans eventually.
