myself what the future would hold if I listened to that traitorous beating box in my chest. My heart would have to get it together when it came to both Mason and Calum. Liking either of them, let alone both, would only bring me massive amounts of hurt.
I didn’t even know how to respond to Mason. I really didn’t feel like rehashing my date with him, especially over texts, so I simply said: Man, you don’t know when to shut up, do you? Since the message kind of sounded harsh, I added an lol. Before I thought better of it, I hit send.
Laying my phone on my stomach, I stared at the ceiling. It was amazing how different the ceiling looked when daylight shone through, versus what it looked like in the middle of the night. I’d spent so long staring at that ceiling I had every small imperfection memorized, every tiny crack due to the house settling, every small dent where the carpenters who mudded didn’t make it smooth enough.
This was my ceiling, and I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like once I wasn’t here. After all, Michelle was right. Sooner or later I’d have to move out, become my own person, live my own life. At twenty, I still had some time, but I had no idea what I would do, how I would get there and support myself. I’d have my own bills, my own job. I’d be even lonelier than I was now.
That was not something I wanted to think about.
I decided to check my phone again, to see if Mason was up and he’d already responded. He usually worked Saturday mornings, so I doubted he’d seen the message yet.
My phone screen was absent any notifications, just as I suspected. I heaved a sigh, though I did not get up. I did turn my buzzer back on, though.
I had no idea how much time passed before my door opened again. This time, it wasn’t my mom. This time it was Michelle, who looked groggy beyond all belief, black bags under her eyes—bags that were usually hidden by makeup. Her yellow hair was in a messy bun, and she wore a baggy shirt and sweats, her typical sleeping gear.
I was about to tell her to go away, but she crept into my room, silently closed the door, and sat cross-legged beside my bed, studying me as if trying to ascertain how my date last night went. When she got nothing from my expression, she asked, “Well? Don’t keep me waiting. How was it?”
I wanted to throw my pillow at her, make her go away, but I didn’t. All I did was sigh and say, “Fine.”
“Fine?” she echoed, her impeccably-plucked eyebrows lifting. “That’s it? Just fine? No other details? Come on, Bree, spill.” Michelle folded her arms across her chest, looking stern. Hell, I had no idea why she was up. It was too early for her. Why wasn’t she sleeping? Why wasn’t she at Kyle’s or something?
Wait a moment.
She was with Kyle last night. If they ended up at his house…she probably already heard all about my date and how it went. My heart beat faster with that knowledge, because the last thing I wanted to admit to my sister was the fact that Calum had kissed me.
“Why do I feel like you already know?” I muttered, hugging my pillow as I slowly sat up and leaned against the wall my bed was on. It wasn’t like the pillow could shield me, so I had no idea why I grabbed it and was trying to use it as one.
Michelle flashed me a million-dollar smile. “Because I do. Kyle and I were already at his house when Calum came back. I sent Kyle into his room to get all the details, because I knew you’d be like this when I asked you.”
Ugh, of course.
“Then why are you here, asking me?” I questioned, wishing she would get the hint and go away. At least Mom hadn’t been so insistent earlier.
“Because I want to hear it from you.”
“Hear what from me?” Maybe acting clueless would get her to go away.
Michelle blinked, giving me a look that told me it wasn’t going to work. She was here to stay, and stay she would until she heard what she wanted, heard what she already knew. “Bree,” she whispered my name, “come on. Just spit it out.”
I shrugged. “It was fine. Calum was nice. I was nice.”