“Right now, I don’t think I do either,” I admit. “We can not do parties together.” I reach into my pocket and pull out my new cell phone. “I can text you the details. When I figure out what they are, that is. You can make your mind up then.”

“Are you sure having me there won’t ruin your reputation?” he asks, sarcasm evident in his voice, raising an eyebrow.

“What do you mean?”

“I’m gonna go out on a limb and say Zoe wouldn’t like me hanging around.”

“Well, it’s my birthday,” I say simply. “I should at least have a say in the guest list. And I don’t care about maintaining a reputation I don’t even remember earning.”

He hesitates a few beats longer, as if trying to decide whether or not I’m being sincere, before accepting the phone, adding his information, and passing it back to me. Our fingers brush, and I feel my pulse quicken in my throat.

“Okay.”

“Okay, as in, you’re coming?”

“Okay, as in, I’ll make my mind up later,” he remarks, amusement dancing around his mouth.

“I can live with that.”

Mason takes a step back, making to leave, but his gaze lingers on me, footsteps faltering. “Alina, wait.”

I tilt my head, curious.

“I—”

“Allie!”

We both turn at the sound of Audrey entering the hallway, looking out of breath. Mason presses his lips together, swallowing the rest of his words.

“Audrey, I thought I told you I was staying late,” I say, confused.

“Yeah, and then I told you I have plans tonight, so I would have to pick you up earlier,” she says breezily, not seeming to realize she interrupted anything. It felt like I was finally getting somewhere. She notices Mason and does a less than subtle double take. “But apparently you were too busy to see it.”

“Sorry,” I sigh. “I’ll go get my things.”

When I turn around again, Mason is already making for the exit. I wonder if I’ll ever hear what he was about to say. Audrey watches him leave, interest evident in her features as she looks between the two of us.

“Was that Mason Byrne?” she asks, nudging my elbow.

“Yeah, why?”

“You guys used to be attached at the hip when you were kids, but I haven’t seen him in ages. He’s all grown up now.” She hums in thought before inclining her head toward me, and I try to fathom how Mason and I went from being integral parts of each other’s lives to complete strangers. “What were you talking about?”

“Nothing really, I just had a question about the homework,” I lie.

“It looked intense, if you know what I mean.”

“Audrey.” I chastise her, cheeks warming.