Page 108 of Tell Me I'm Enough

“Well, you know Lydia didn’t come home with me, and Tyler’s been so busy that I’ve only seen him a couple of times—”

“Busy?”he echoes. “Busy doing what?”

I wave him off, throwing on a smile. “Just with a bunch of friends and family pulling him in different directions.”

“How could anyone be too busy for you? He does know you’re his girlfriend, right?”

I let out a little laugh. “Yes, Mason. He’s just trying to please everyone while he’s back; that’s all.”

“Everyone but you, apparently.”

Funny, I said the same thing.

“It’s not like that. He said he’ll make it up to me before break is over.”

“He better,”Mason says, seriously.

Before I can respond, two little bodies charge back into Mason’s room.

“MASONNN!” they yell again.

“COME ONNN!” the other one screams.

Mason turns, smiling despite himself. “Alright, alright. Y’all are so impatient.”

He looks back at me.

“Duty calls,”he says, giving me a little salute.

I laugh. “Go. Before they riot.”

He nods, still smiling, and his voice gets softer. “Thanks, Simone,” he says. “For…making my day just a little better.”

My chest warms. “Any time, Mase.”

He gives me one last grin, then flips the camera, so I see the boys holding on to each of his legs.

“Tell Simone bye.”

“Bye!”they scream.

“Bye, boys!”

Then he flips the camera back to himself and chugs the rest of his beer. “Bye, pretty girl.”

“Bye, Mase.”

The call ends, and the room feels too quiet now.

I can’t help but wish I were around Mason’s chaos right now. His brothers are so sweet. They’re crazier little versions of him.

It stirs this longing inside me. I mean, I love kids. I’ve always known I wanted a big family. Being the only child made me want a lot of kids. But, with a law degree, and law school, and a future career…I’ve always wondered if I’d be able to make that happen realistically. Or if it’s just not in my cards like it wasn’t for my mom.

My phone vibrating pulls me from my thoughts. I reach for it, and it lights up with a text from Tyler.

Tyler: I’m sorry I had to dip tonight. Can I make it up to you tomorrow with that ice skating?

I smile and turn to lie on my back on the bed, holding my phone up to text back.