I glare at her, not wanting to have this argument. “Is that the only reason you came over? If so, there’s the door,” I tell her, jerking my head.
“Don’t you dare be rude to me, Mason Holt,” she says, but she’s smiling. We’ve always had a sibling type of friendship, and we grew even closer over the years. I know she misses her sister, though she rarely talks about her, but I don’t either. The memories are too painful.
“Fine, if you don’t want to talk about him, then tell me how Sophie’s doing.”
I groan, not sure if I want to discuss that with her either.
“Oh, come on. You can tell me.” She nudges me with her elbow. “She okay?”
“I’m worried about her. Some of her behavior is similar to the way I acted after Emma’s death, and it scares me,” I tell her truthfully. “The pulling away, not doing things that once made her happy, blaming herself. She’s put all this burden on her shoulders, and she’s going to sink if she doesn’t learn how to let some of it go.”
“She’s pushing you away?” she asks as if she already knows the answer.
“Yeah.” I frown, then take another drink. “Wants us to take things slow. Like sloth speed.”
“She broke up with you?”
“Not exactly, but my heart feels ripped out of my chest, nevertheless. We’re in limbo, basically. Not not together, but keeping distance.”
Serena gives me a sad look, which I hate. “She’ll come back to you,” she says with so much certainty it actually gives me hope.
“Fuck,” I mutter, brushing a frustrated hand through my hair. “I need her more than I want to admit, and losing her would kill me. I’m afraid too much space will bring us right back into a friendship-only zone.”
“Didn’t she wait like…three years for you?” she taunts, and I roll my eyes in response. “Yeah, Liam told me all about it.”
“Of course he did.” I grunt.
“Well, you needed that time, didn’t you? You were still punishing yourself over Emma and knew you weren’t in the right headspace to be with anyone. Once you got your head out of your ass, you found someone who wanted you for you. So give her time. I doubt it’ll take three years, but show her she’s worth the wait.”
“Trust me, I’m trying. I have to actively remind myself not to touch her when it’s all I want to do to prove I’m here for her. I make breakfast, and we eat across from each other, not really talking, but just being together. We’re on, then we’re off, and it’s making my head spin.”
“And it might have to be like that for a while. If she really loves you like she says, she’s struggling with it too.”
I nod but don’t respond. I know Serena’s right, but talking about this makes my chest ache.
“Okay, well enough about me. Tell me about the last guy you hooked up with?”
“Mason!” She swats at me. “You don’t just ask a woman that.”
“What? I thought that’s what we were doing here. Having a girly gossip session,” I taunt, smirking.
“It’s a wonder we’re friends at all,” she says, groaning.
Liam comes rolling in moments later with two large pizzas and a six-pack of beer. “Didn’t know you’d be here, or I would’ve brought more.”
Laughing, I watch as Serena smacks him over the head before stealing one of his beers. “Funny. Those pizzas both for you?” she asks as he sets them down in front of us.
“It’s my cheat day,” he says, proudly hitting his stomach.
“And what were the past four years?” she taunts.
“Don’t worry, Mom. I exercise plenty.” He grabs a slice, then shoves it into his mouth.
“Oh yeah? What are their names? Can you even remember?” Serena asks, taking a piece and lounging back on the couch.
“Does it matter if I’m never going to see them again? Britney, Sarah, Kelly. Pick one. I’ve probably hooked up with them.” Liam shrugs, takes his beer, then plops down in the recliner.
“You’re such a pig.” Serena groans.
“Oink, oink,” Liam mocks around a mouthful of food.
“You two children need to be separated?” I intervene.
Liam grabs the remote and starts flipping through the channels before settling on some crime TV show.
“Do we have to watch this?” I complain. “I see enough of this shit every day.”
“That’s why you should love it,” he says. “Better than watching bounty hunter shows. It’s all fake.”
“And you think this shit isn’t?” I argue. “They glamorize it.”
“So you’re saying you don’t walk into a crime scene in slow motion with a badass song playing in the background?” Serena mocks, her eyes widening as she pokes fun at me.
We get through one episode and two pizzas before the front door swings open and Sophie walks in. She hadn’t texted me all day, and I didn’t want to bother her, so I managed to restrain myself from checking on her.