He nodded and actually blushed. “Sarah...she kept pestering me to read it to her. I think I missed a couple of homework assignments because we had to read it every free chance I had.” He breathed in a deep breath, lifting his shoulders. “So…what’s the name of the second one? The Secret Chamber, or something like that?”
I sputtered and gaped down at the book in my hands, still stunned he’d actually read it. He was definitely turning out to be full of surprises. “It’s The Chamber of Secrets,” I corrected as I ran my thumb up the spine of The Sorcerer’s Stone. When I looked at him, I squinted suspiciously. “Did you really, really finish this already?”
“Yes!” He sounded flustered and kind of embarrassed. “Do you want to quiz me about it, or do you want to give me the next book already?”
My mouth popped open. “You want to read the next one?” A smirk knotted my lips. “You liked it, didn’t you?”
He shook his head. “Sarah wants to know what happens next.”
“But you do too,” I taunted and leaned closer. “Admit it. You liked it.”
He sent me a warning scowl. “Don’t even think about saying I told you so.”
“Ha!” I crowed, shooting my hands into the air, one full of alcohol, the other full of Harry Potter. “I knew it! I knew it! I knew it! I so told you so.”
“I see you’re one of those gracious, humble types of winners,” he said dryly, though his lips twitched with amusement.
“This is so awesome,” I went on, totally ignoring him. “I created a Harry Potter fan. You know, if this keeps up, J.K. is going to have to give me a cut of her royalties. Don’t you think?”
“I think you’re pushing it, Randall.”
For a second, I blinked, wondering why the heck he’d called me Randall before it clicked into place. Oh, right. My new last name.
Reese Randall, Reese Randall. Don’t forget it.
“Whatever,” I rolled my eyes as I grinned. “This is still awesome. I can go get you book two right now if you really want it.”
He frowned. “You carry Harry Potter books around with you to college keggers?”
I lifted the volume he’d just given me and shook it in his face. “What? You do too.”
He laughed. “Wow, you really are aiming to be the top recruiter of the year.”
“You know it.” I grinned and tapped the dimple in his chin playfully with the edge of my book. “But seriously, my apartment is right above the garage, which is, like, twenty feet away from that back door, so…I can get it for you in two minutes tops.”
Mason glanced at the back door. Then he turned to me, his eyes squinting with suspicion. “You’re staying above the Mercers’ garage?”
“Yep, and I know what you’re thinking, but trust me. The place is super cool. It’s honestly like a mini apartment up there with a kitchenette, bedroom, bathroom, and living room. And the privacy is…awesome.” I had to sing the word awesome. “Eva is so jealous. She had no idea what kind of gem was on her property until I moved in. I swear, she’d probably kick me out and move in herself if her closet wasn’t twice the size of my entire bedroom.”
“Hmm.” He looked utterly confounded. “Wow. I could tell you and Eva were close, but I had no idea her parents would let you move in.”
“Oh! I’m sorry; I guess you didn’t realize Eva’s my cousin. Her mom, Aunt Mads, is my mom’s little sister.”
Mason paled. “Yeah,” he drew out the word. “I didn’t know that.”
“Okay, seriously,” I growled, suddenly dead sober. “Is there more to this thing between you and E. than you two are letting on?”
“No.” He shook his head. “No, I just…no. Not at all. I was only worried the contention between her and me would bother you. I mean, you’re not going to stop talking to me now in loyalty to your cousin, are you?”
I arched a suspicious eyebrow. “If I haven’t stopped by now because of her, then I’m probably not going to stop later either because of her.”
His shoulders relaxed. “Okay, good. It’s just…I know she doesn’t consider me to be from her…ilk. It’d be a shame if you jumped over that cliff with her.”
Eva might’ve coaxed me into going all sandal. She might’ve talked me into getting a diamond jammed into my nose. But no one could talk me out of being friends with Mason Lowe, except maybe Mason Lowe.
I sighed. “I may love my cousin to pieces and go all fashion crazy with her on occasion, but trust me, I do know how to be my own person. If I ever become as condescending as Eva Mercer, please shoot me, okay?”
Mason’s expression was a little stiff, as if he didn’t believe me. But he nodded. “Okay.”
I grinned. “Great. Now that we have that settled, wait right here. I’ll be back in a jiffy with your next book.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
I had intended to dash up to my apartment by myself and return to Mason with the book, but when I glanced back and saw him following me out the back door and into the warm night, I gulped.
“Or…you could just, you know, come with me,” I revised, pretty sure I didn’t want him to come with me at all.