“Because Mason is going to be here and if you want to get him back, you need to look drop dead gorgeous every time he sees you. The more he sees that you’re doing fine, the faster he’ll realize how badly he messed up.”

“I haven’t changed,” I pointed out as a driver waved us to pass in front of his car in the gravel parking lot. “Not yet. I’m still the same girl he dumped less than three weeks ago. Plus, he saw me yesterday when I’m pretty sure I looked like a sweaty walrus.”

She laughed but stopped me just before the entrance. “You have changed, Natalie. You’re already walking with your chin held higher, and believe it or not, I can tell you’ve lost weight. Especially in your face.”

“It hasn’t even been two weeks, Willow.”

“Well, then Rhodes must work magic.” I eyed her and though I tried not to, I blushed. Rhodes definitely had some kind of voodoo juice happening. “Besides, from what you told me about yesterday, Mason said he missed you.”

“He said he missed our calls.”

“Exactly. Which reminds me that he called you in the middle of the night the night before. I don’t think getting him back is going to be as hard as you think. Especially after he sees you in this dress.” She smiled.

I fidgeted, shifting on my feet that were already sore. Every time I heard Mason’s name, my stomach fell to my feet. But I couldn’t tell if it was for the same reasons as before. “I love Mason, Lo. You know that. I know that. But this is about me, too. It’s about getting me back. Or rather, getting a new me. A me that’s never existed before. A better me.”

She smiled at that, linking her arm through mine and leading us through the entrance. “Every life-altering change stems from a series of small, seemingly meaningless amendments.” She winked as they scanned our tickets and I shook my head. My best friend was a wacko.

We passed by Dale and my mom on our way to the spot the group had agreed to meet at. They were judging the cornbread competition, against my mother’s will, I’m sure. She hated eating any kind of carb — she preferred to drink them. Willow and I wished them luck and then continued on through the fair, sneaking swigs of the flask she’d packed as we walked.

I really did love the vibe of the fair, and with each passing step, I started to relax a little. It might have been the alcohol, or it might have been the bright lights, loud, tacky music, and array of aromas wafting in around us. Aside from the few children crying, everyone was in good spirits at the fair — it was hard not to be. And though my stomach was still in knots over all the confusing thoughts whirling around in my head, I did my best to push them all down and focus on having fun.

When we met up with the group by the Himalaya, Mason and Shay were already with them. Shay rolled her eyes when she saw me, tossing her long brown hair over her shoulder before whispering something in the ear of a girl I didn’t recognize. She had platinum blonde hair and long tan legs like Shay’s. They really did look like walking Barbie dolls.

Dustin gave me a hug when he saw me and I squeezed him back, thankful to still have him in my life regardless of what was going on with me and Mason. “Heard you were training at the club,” he said as he pulled back. “That’s awesome.”

Shay scoffed. “Waste of money, if you ask me. No amount of workouts can make up for eating your weight in fried food and Twinkies.”

My cheeks flushed and I felt a pain stab at the back of my stomach as Shay and her friend giggled. I looked to Mason, waiting for him to put her in her place, but it was Dustin who shook his head.

“Stop it, Shay. It’s not funny.”

She shrugged, eyes on her nails like she was filing them with straight laser beams. She was still smiling. “Maybe not to you.”

I silently thanked Dustin with a soft smile and he just nodded, frowning in Shay’s direction.

Willow missed the interaction, she had run off to the restroom nearby, but when she returned, she could sense the tension. Mason seemed a little uncomfortable, but still held his arm tight around Shay as Willow eyed them both before turning to me. “What happened?”

I sighed, not wanting to ruin our night within the first five minutes. “Nothing. Let’s go ride something.”

“Something or someone?” She waggled her brows and I smacked her arm playfully before we made our way with the rest of the group to a spinning, flipping, high-speed ride that I was absolutely positive couldn’t be safe. Willow handed me the flask to finish off when we took our place in line, the purple glitter sticking to my hands a bit as I stole the last drag. I tucked it in my purse just as Mason sidled up beside me.

“Hey,” he said softly, his brown eyes warm in the fair lighting. He looked like he’d been drinking, and without Shay on his arm, he almost looked like the old Mason. Brown hair mussed and wispy in the wind from the ride, same familiar grin on his face.

It made my stomach ache.

“Hi.” I returned his smile, but I wasn’t sure what to feel. He was nice at the club yesterday, but then he just let Shay say what she did without so much as a disapproving glance. I couldn’t figure him out.

“You look really pretty tonight. Is that a new dress?”

I tried to fight it but my cheeks burned and I nodded. It was a new dress — a knee-length, cream dress with a pink rose pattern splashed across it. Willow and I had gone shopping at the mall earlier that day and she had practically flipped when she saw the way it accented my cleavage and made my waist appear smaller than it really was. My heart hurt when I realized Mason was the only one in my life who would notice something like a new dress. No one else paid that much attention to me.

“Well, I like it.” He grinned wider, tucking his hands in his front pockets. “So, you’re training with Rhodes?”

I chewed my lip, debating an answer. I didn’t want him finding out about my training and now that he knew, I still wasn’t sure what I wanted to tell him about it. Did he already think I was doing this for him?

I didn’t have the opportunity to reply. Shay slid up beside Mason and wrapped her arms around his middle, nudging her way in until his arm was around her shoulder, her sharp hazel eyes on me like I was a bug that needed to be killed.

“What are you talking to her about, baby?” She asked the question to him, but her gaze was still fixed on me.

Mason smiled down at her and kissed her forehead. A little piece inside me broke in that moment. “Just chatting. You ready?” he asked just as the line moved and we had to file into the death contraption. She giggled and grabbed his hand, leading him forward and casting another frown in my direction. When she looked away, Mason looked back at me, an apology in his eyes.