Chapter 28

MASON

The second I see Lily’s mom’s car in the driveway, my heart sinks. I jump out of my car, planning to run straight inside, but when her mom comes stomping out of the house, her cheek very red, I stop.

“Screw you, Mason!” she spits out at me as she stomps past.

I don’t know what I’ve done, but I don’t really care. I give her a salute as she climbs into her car, making her flip me the bird before she screeches away.

I turn around and jog straight inside the house to find Lily pacing back and forth in her living room.

“Princess,” I say, gaining her attention.

“My mom was just here,” she says, still pacing. “She said that my sperm donor wants to meet me. Then she had the audacity to say my dad never wanted me!” She throws her hand in the air.

“And she called me a little bitch.” She laughs humorlessly. “Then went on about how she regretted having me.” Her voice begins to crack.

“Then I slapped her,” she whispers and finally freezes. Her eyes go wide as she looks at me. “Oh my god, I slapped her,” Lily gasps, holding her hands to her mouth.

I go straight to her and wrap her in my arms.

“She deserved it,” I say, squeezing my princess gently. I had actually forgotten how much of a bitch her mom is. Every part of me wants to go back outside to hunt her mom down and give her a piece of my mind. But I know that’s not going to help Lily.

Wait, I fully expected her to be crying, but she’s not. I look down at her, and she stares up at me with an amused smile.

“Is it bad I actually feel so good right now?” she asks, biting her lip.

“Not at all.” I smile back before placing a quick kiss on her nose. “I always feel good after I yell at my mom too,” I say honestly. It always feels like there’s been this weight lifted off my chest.

“But it is bad that our lunch is getting cold,” I tell her, loosening my grip on her as she gasps dramatically.

“I’ll be right back,” I say, kissing her forehead before jogging back to my car to grab the food.

Once I’m back inside, I can’t help the smile that spreads over my face at Lily slouched on the couch, wrapped up in a blanket.

“You look cozy,” I comment, sitting next to her and pulling some blanket onto me.

“You got McDonald’s?” She practically snatches the bag out of my hands.

“I had a feeling it’s what you would want.” I laugh at her eagerness. “Do you want to talk about your mom?” I grab my fries and shove some into my mouth.

“Nope. She’s out of my life forever now. I feel good,” she says, smiling and looking me in the eye.

I narrow my eyes and read her, making sure she’s telling me the truth.

Once I’m satisfied that she truly is okay, I nod, go back to my food, and glance at the TV.

“What the hell are you watching?” I question, snapping my head back to a very amused-looking Lily.

“It’s a reality show.” She laughs, picking up the remote and handing it to me. “You pick something.” She shoves a huge handful of fries into her mouth, too.

I flick through the channels mindlessly as I munch on my own fries, finally settling on some rom-com that I know she’s made me watch at least three times.

“How are your sisters? I feel like I haven’t seen them in forever,” Lily asks out of the blue.

“Annoying,” I grumble, earning me a pointed look. “They’re good. Gemma is still crazy, and I think Tayla has a secret boyfriend.” I sigh, making Lily’s eyes light up.

“Really?” she asks, making me grunt out an unimpressed noise. “I so have to call her later.” She is smiling way too widely for this situation.

“You’re meant to support me in not wanting her to have a boyfriend,” I point out, making her roll her eyes.

“Please, she’s sixteen. How old were you when you first did it?” she asks, wiggling her eyebrows.

Holy fucking shit. Tayla can NOT be having sex yet. She’s still a baby.

“I think we need to go see her right now,” I state, jumping to my feet.

She pulls me back down by my hand.

“Don’t worry about it.” Lily laughs, cuddling into my side. “She knows how to look after herself,” she says, trying to reassure me, but it doesn’t really help.

We continue to watch the movie. Well, Lily does. I’m too preoccupied with Tayla and this secret boyfriend now.

“Stop,” Lily orders, grabbing my leg to stop it from bouncing up and down. “I will call Tayla tomorrow and talk to her,” she tells me.

“I will make sure she’s being safe,” she adds, fighting back her smile.

“And not having sex or even kissing anyone,” I add, making her laugh again.

“It’ll be fine.” She leans up to kiss my cheek.

I sigh, really hoping she’s right because this isn’t really something I can emotionally deal with right now.

“What about your mom?” Lily asks, pulling me out of my thoughts of Tayla.

“The best way to describe her is stable.” I sigh, leaning back. “She’s still drinking, and I’m pretty sure she’s smoking crack again, but no more outbursts or parties or people coming over.”

Unfortunately, this is normal for Mom. All part of her cycle. A very tiring cycle. Only four more years, then the girls will both be adults, and we’ll all be able to be rid of her forever.

“Can I ask you something?” I ask Lily, who mutes the TV and moves so she’s sitting cross-legged on the sofa facing me.

“Actually, two things,” I correct myself.

“Mm, you were pushing it with one,” she jokes, making me chuckle.

“How did you feel when you cut your mom off just now?” I ask, pulling on my lip.

Lily takes my hand, stopping me from pulling my lip. She threads her fingers through mine and rests our hands in her lap.

“This time, I felt free. Like a huge weight has been taken off my shoulders. But after my accident, I felt so much guilt and second-guessed myself a lot. Like she still raised me.”

“But then I would remember every single shitty thing she has done to me. And I’m Lily Bennett, a boss-ass bitch, and I don’t need her in my life. She doesn’t deserve to be in my life.”

I can’t help but smile when she calls herself a boss-ass bitch. I’m willing to bet my life that Brittany gave her that mantra.

“Buuuut,” she draws out, “talking about it in therapy helps,” she adds with a cheeky smile, and I roll my eyes.

I still partially don’t like therapy, and I hate to admit it, but it does actually help a bit. I haven’t brought my mom up during my sessions.

It’s usually about Callum and my injury and my short stint of being an addict. But maybe I should talk about her.

“Okay, what’s your second question?” Lily asks as her thumb rubs small circles against mine.

“I was wondering,” I begin, feeling my heart start to pound against my chest, “if you will move in with me?” My question makes her thumb freeze.

I want her to know she’s my future too—that I want exactly what she wants.

My heart pounds impossibly harder against my chest, and my stomach begins knotting itself over and over and over while I wait for her to answer. The silence between us is so deafeningly loud.

“I can’t.” Her words make me close my eyes and try to pull my hand out of hers, but she doesn’t let me.

“Let me finish,” she says. “I can’t until we finish the second semester.”

My eyes fly open and see my princess smiling at me excitedly.

“You’ll move in this summer?” I clarify, making her head nod up and down.

“Seriously?” I can’t believe what I’m hearing.

“Yes!” she exclaims, throwing her arms around my neck and pulling my lips into hers, kissing me roughly.

I kiss her back just as roughly before I put my hands on her face and gently pull back, making her pout.

“Why do you have to wait?” I ask, needing to know.

“I’ve paid for the dorms until then,” she answers.

“Fair enough.” I nod before pulling her lips back to mine. I can wait five more months.