Broken

Chapter 3: The Joint

LILY

“You’re not going to chicken out on me, are you?”

“No,” I say, biting my lip as we get out of the car.

I grab the bottom rung of the ladder and start pulling myself up. It’s a long climb and my stomach is churning the whole way.

Mason is right behind me though, which makes me feel safer. We finally make it to the top.

“Whoa,” I say, looking at the view. I can see the whole city from up here.

“Crazy, right?” Mason says, sitting down and sliding his legs through the railing.

“It’s so quiet out here,” I whisper as I sit next to him. All I can hear is our breathing and crickets. It’s like we’re the only two people in the world.

“I have to say, I’m surprised you did this,” he says.

“Rumor is you’re a goody-two-shoes, and here you are doing something illegal.”

“You said it wasn’t illegal!”

“I never said that.”

“Well, I guess rumors aren’t always true, are they? Like, you’re not as big an asshole as everyone says.”

“That’s what everyone says?”

“Some people,” I say quietly, embarrassed.

He shrugs indifferently.

“So, tell me, princess, what else did your crazy ex-boyfriend not let you do?” he asks, pulling out his phone.

“He never let me try marijuana.”

Mason laughs and says, “Try m*******a? No one says it like that.”

“He never let me smoke a fatty?” I say.

“Okay, that’s worse. I’ll just put it on the list and we’ll move on.” He types it into the notes app on his phone, then says, “Next?”

“Get my nose pierced.”

His eyes widen.

“I’m not getting my nose pierced.”

“You don’t have to,” I laugh as I picture it.

“I’ll come with you though,” he says, adding it to the list.

“I always wanted to try eating that seventy-two-ounce steak just out of town,” I mumble.

“Eat a giant-ass steak, got it.” He smiles.

“Drink a whole bottle of wine straight from the bottle.” When he finishes typing that, I whisper, “Quit the cheer team.” He raises a questioning brow but doesn’t say anything as he types.

“That’s it,” I say, looking over his shoulder at the list he’s made.

“Don’t forget the waterfall,” I tell him, and he adds it at the bottom.

“Why are you doing this for me?” I can’t help but ask.

“Because you’re fun to hang out with,” he says with a smile. Then his face darkens and he looks out at the city lights.

“And I could use the distraction.”

“From what?” I whisper.

He looks at me and his lips part to speak but then close again and he turns away to avoid my gaze. I reach out, placing a gentle hand on his arm.

“I’m a good listener,” I say.

He closes his eyes, and the words finally come.

“My brother died last month,” he murmurs.

I don’t know what to say, except, “I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault,” he mumbles, opening his eyes. Even though it’s dark, I can see tears welling up in his eyes.

“I’m happy to be your distraction,” I say, putting my head on his shoulder.

“Thanks, princess,” he whispers back, resting his head on top of mine. We stay that way for a minute or two. It’s nice.

“Are you really going to quit the cheer team?” he asks.

“It’s on the list, so I have to,” I joke.

“But yeah,” I say, no longer joking.

“I don’t want the summer to end,” he says quietly.

“Back at school, everything will be more…complicated.”

I’m dreading going back, too.

“People are going to gossip about me and Olly, and when I drop out of cheer, it’s going to be worse. Nobody knows how to mind their own business.”

“I’ve seen a few people around and they’ve just given me this look of, I don’t know, pity. Which just pisses me off.” Mason frowns.

“I don’t think I have the patience to deal with them,” he adds, shaking his head.

“What about your friends?” I ask. I can’t even imagine what he’s going through.

“They’re trying to treat me the same, but it’s like they’re too scared to make a joke around me.”

“You have a sense of humor?” I gasp, pressing my hand to my chest.

“Very funny, princess,” he deadpans before an amused smile breaks out on his face.

Mason’s gaze softens as we lock eyes. I can feel the warmth of his body next to me. My breath catches as he leans in—is he going to kiss me? The whole world has gone quiet.

We stay that way for what feels like forever, but then it’s like we both know we shouldn’t and turn away at the same time.

“The stars are beautiful,” he says.

I just nod, still recovering from that almost-kiss.

Finally, I say, “Can I ask you a serious question?”

“Sure.”

“You weren’t serious about running at six a.m. were you?”

He laughs and then flashes that mischievous grin of his.

“Oh, princess, it’s time to wake up,” I hear a voice sing.

“What?” I grumble, opening my eyes to see a man standing over me.

Instinct takes over and I spring up and punch him in the stomach.

Mason lets out an oof and falls onto my bed clutching his midsection.

“Damn, Lily,” he laughs, “you pack a wallop. I might have a bruise.”

“Serves you right! Breaking and entering.”

“No breaking—your hide-y key is very easy to find.”

I shake my hand out and say, “What are your abs made of? Concrete?”

I collapse back onto my pillow and close my eyes.

“I’m going back to sleep.”

“You’re running with me.”

“What time is it?”

“5:45 a.m. Told you I was serious.”

“I changed my mind.”

“Too bad!” he says as he yanks the blanket off me.

I clutch at it, but he’s too strong and pulls it out of my hands.

“Hey! I could’ve been naked under there!” I snap.

“But you aren’t. You’re wearing a very cute pajama set.”

His eyes linger on my matching tank top and boy-short set with a cartoon cherry pattern.

“How’d you know that cherries are my favorite fruit?”

He stares a beat longer and the hunger in his eyes makes my stomach flip.

He turns and walks out, saying, “Dressed and outside in three minutes.”

I huff and grumble to myself as I change.

Who the hell gets up this early during summer vacation? Psychopaths. That’s who.

“Why are you making me go running this early?” I groan as I step outside.

“You said you wanted to be able to run the whole thing. I’m just here to help,” Mason says, way too chipper for being up before the sun.

“Besides, there are fewer people around.”

He shrugs.

Right. If anyone from either of our schools saw us together, our social lives would be doomed.

Mason drives us to the trail in his car, and I enjoy not being the one driving for once.

Olly has his license but always refused to drive anywhere.

“You ready?” Mason asks with a smirk as we get to the start of the trail.

“No,” I groan, exhausted before we’ve even started.

“Perk up, princess, it’s not that early,” he laughs before taking off in a jog.

I quickly catch up with him despite my protests.

Just over halfway through I run out of steam and slow down to a walk.

Mason slows down too.

“I feel like I’m going to die,” I groan.

“You’re not going to die.”

He laughs at me.

“Where’s that peppy cheer spirit?”

He waves pretend pom poms in the air like he’s cheering me on.

“It’s dead and buried in the backyard,” I huff, making him laugh again.

I can’t help but laugh with him.

And somehow, I find the energy to keep going.

Just as we’re about to enter the parking lot, I spot Oliver’s car pulling in.

I grab Mason’s arm and yank him into some bushes off the trail.

“What the—” he starts to protest, but I shush him with a finger to his lips.

I point and we peek through the leaves.

Harry and Oliver are getting out of the car and walking toward the trail.

“If they see us together, I’m toast,” I whisper.

“Sure you don’t want to make him jealous? We could walk out holding hands,” Mason grins.

“You want to get your ass beat today? They’re dying for revenge.”

“I’ll take my chances,” Mason says and starts to stand, but I grab his arm and tug him back down.

“Please don’t.”

He hesitates—I can see the fire in his green eyes.

He’s okay with fighting these two.

Maybe wants to.

But then his look goes soft.

He nods and settles back down to the ground next to me.

As they pass, we hear a little snippet of their conversation.

“Yeah, dude, she’s gone totally psycho,” Olly says.

“Won’t stop texting me.”

“Really,” Harry asks skeptically, god bless him.

I want to stand up and yell THAT’S BULLSHIT.

Mason senses me tensing up and gives my hand a gentle squeeze.

Oliver and Harry’s voices fade as they head further down the trail.

Mason and I stay frozen, listening to their footsteps until they round a corner.

I didn’t realize it, but I’ve been holding my breath.

I let it out in a loud whoosh.

He doesn’t move, just looks at me, still holding my hand.

I realize how close together we are.

I can smell his body, sweaty with a hint of faint cologne.

My cheeks flush, and I bite my lip.

I suddenly feel so awkward.

To lighten the mood, I force a laugh.

“Hope there’s no poison ivy here!” I blurt out awkwardly as I stand up, brushing leaves off my shorts.

God, I’m so cringe sometimes.

· · ·

After lunch, I go to meet up with Ava and Harry at the ice cream parlor in town.

“Where the hell were you last night?” Ava yells at me the second I walk through the door.

“Hello to you too,” I mumble, joining my friends at their table.

“I came around and you weren’t here,” she says, folding her arms over her chest.

“I just went out to clear my head,” I lie.

“Sorry I didn’t text you.”

“Fine, I forgive you,” she huffs.

“But ice cream’s on you today.”

“Lily’s the one who just went through a big breakup,” Harry scolds her gently.

“We should be buying her ice cream. Whole pints if she wants.”

Gentleman that he is, Harry takes our orders and goes to the counter to pay.