My Boyfriend Took My Best Friend Home for Thanksgiving Chapter 02

My Boyfriend Took My Best Friend Home for Thanksgiving Chapter 02

I heard Tessa’s mother calling to her in the background.

“Tessa, get off the phone. Mason’s been running around the kitchen doing everything by himself. Go give him a hand.”

“Okay, okay!”

The call ended.

I looked around the SUV. It was too big for me to handle. I had complained about that when Mason bought it, but he had brushed me off.

The only umbrella Mason kept in the SUV belonged to Tessa, and she had already taken it with her, so I pulled my jacket tight and stepped out into the rain.

Cold November wind drove the rain against me, chilling me through.

Partway there, Mason called.

“Where are you?”

“Looking for a hotel.”

“Oh. All right.”

His voice was completely casual.

“One more thing. Pick one farther away. It’ll be hard to explain if Tessa’s family runs into you.”

I stopped walking.

“What do you mean?”

There was a brief pause while he seemed to search for the right words.

“I promised Tessa I’d pretend to be her boyfriend for a while, just to get her parents off her back.”

“Once she finds someone, we’ll tell them the truth.”

Rain ran down my hair and slipped beneath my collar, making me shiver.

“And if she never finds anyone? Are you planning to keep playing her boyfriend forever?”

I tightened my grip on the phone.

“Don’t forget, Thanksgiving’s almost here. My mom is back home waiting for you to spend it with us.”

“I know!” Mason snapped.

“All we’re doing is talking about marriage. Hannah Pierce, can you stop acting so desperate to get married? You’re really getting on my nerves with all this pressure.”

I had never imagined that after seven years together, our relationship had become nothing but a source of irritation to Mason.

He seemed to realize he had gone too far, and his tone softened.

“I’ll still go home with you to see your mom as planned. But for the next few days, you need to play along with Tessa.”

“She’s out there on her own in Northbridge. It hasn’t been easy for her. Can’t you cut her some slack and let her have a decent Thanksgiving?”

He had forgotten that I had moved far from home for him, too.

My phone buzzed with more messages from Mom.

Mom: [Mason likes beef, right? No fish and nothing spicy?]

Mom: [I’m getting older, and I keep worrying I’ll forget. Do you think three pounds of beef is enough?]

Mom: [And drive safely. There’s no rush. I’ll wait up no matter how late you get here.]

When I said nothing, Mason clearly took my silence as surrender. I could hear the relief in his voice.

“Mr. Morgan wants me to have a drink with him. I have to go.”

I suddenly remembered my father on his deathbed, still calling for Mason and me.

My throat tightened.

I looked down and replied to Mom.

Me: [Don’t buy the beef. I’m coming home alone this Thanksgiving.]

The typing bubble appeared, disappeared, then appeared again.

In the end, Mom didn’t ask any questions.

She only sent a voice message.

Mom: [Okay. Nothing else matters. Just get home safe.]

Mason never came back that night.

He showed up the next morning, took a quick shower, and left again, as if my place really were nothing more than a hotel to him.