Perfect Song (Mason Creek Book 2) by Lauren Runow (christmas read aloud .txt) 📕

glance as he enters, appearing to feel just as secure with himself and his attire, as if we were walking into Wren’s Café or Pony Up.

We grab a table in the corner, and after we order drinks and food, Kylie sits back in her chair, checking me out.

“What?” I ask with a nervous laugh.

“You look good. I think Mason Creek has done you well.”

I reach over and place my hand on Tucker’s leg. “I think Tucker has done me well.”

He lets out a sharp laugh, and Kylie joins in.

I close my eyes. “That didn’t come out right.”

“It came out perfectly, in my opinion.” Tucker grins as he grips my hand.

“So, how about here? How’s New York been without me?” I ask, trying to take the attention off my slip up.

“Same ole big city. I’ve been working like crazy and it’s kicking my ass.”

I glance to Tucker. I don’t miss those days at all. I never realized how much life I was missing by constantly being on the go. I thought I had to be at every party, every bar, and involved in everything I could do. Working remotely has proven that I didn’t need to be.

Our food arrives, and we spend our time eating and talking about New York, how Kylie and I met, and what our lives are like, living here. It feels like a lifetime away, yet it’s only been a few months.

As we finish our meals, I notice a group of our friends enter the bar.

“You didn’t?” I turn to Kylie, knowing she had to have planned this.

“Girl, you know we couldn’t let you come back to town without a night out together,” Kylie says with a huge grin on her face as she waves them over.

They head our way, and I hop off my chair and run toward them, giving them all hugs.

“I’m so glad to see you guys. I want you to meet my boyfriend, Tucker. Tucker, this is Christy, Eric, Hunter, and Sonia.”

Tucker stands, and they all say their hellos. Christy and Sonia eye me and then him, showing me they approve.

I giggle as I lean over and kiss him on the cheek, whispering in his ear, “All my girls seem to think you’re sexy as hell.”

“Only thing that matters is what you think,” he responds with a wink.

I kiss him and then search for the waitress to get everyone a round of drinks.

“Justine, even though I want nothing more than for you to move back to New York to be with us,” Sonia says, “seeing now what’s been keeping you in Mason Creek, I totally understand.”

I turn to Tucker, who’s got a sly grin on his face from her comment.

“So, I’ll let you know about a job opportunity that I think would be perfect for you. I mean, if the magazine makes you come back and you want to stay in Mason Creek,” she says more to Kylie than me since we work together and she knows that would be keeping us apart. “It’s for a blog that is getting all kinds of traction, and they’re looking for new writers. You could live there and do basically the same stuff you do now.”

I turn to Tucker with a hopeful expression. “That could be a possibility.”

“Yeah, but you said being editor in chief is your end goal. I’d hate for you to give up on that,” he responds.

“Maybe my end goal has changed.” I grin, and my girls swoon. I lean over to kiss him, and even though he kisses me back, it’s not with the same intensity I’m used to.

An hour later, I’m laughing so hard that my cheeks hurt. I’ve missed my friends more than I thought. I’ve had fun in Mason Creek, but these people aren’t about the past. They’re about the now. We’ve all shared our ups and downs as adults. Not kid stuff of getting caught drinking or sneaking out. I’ve lived through breakups, babies being born, and job changes with them. Until a month ago, they were my family here in the city, and I just left them, thinking I had nowhere to go.

I turn to Tucker and realize that if I hadn’t left, then I never would have met him.

I run my fingers through his hair and tilt my head with a grin. He’s been pretty quiet, talking when spoken to but not as outgoing as I’ve seen him be when hanging at the bar in Mason Creek.

When I turn in his direction more, I see he looks a little off.

I lean in and whisper, “You feeling okay?”

He nods. “Yeah. Just tired. I was thinking about heading out.”

“Okay, no problem. I’ll get our bill and—”

“No, you stay. I know you’ve missed your friends.”

“I don’t mind heading back. We can curl up and watch a movie together.”

“Nah, I’m just going to crash as soon as I get back. I’ve been watching you. I’ve never seen you so happy to be around friends. These are your people. Spend as much time as you want with them. I’ve gotten you the last month. Don’t worry about me.”

“Are you sure?”

“It’s all good. Just call me when you’re ready to leave, and I’ll come walk you back to the hotel.”

I lean in to kiss him. “Thank you for being so amazing.”

He kisses me back. “Have fun.”

He stands and says his good-byes and all the pleasantries that come with that. Instantly, Christy, Sonia, and Kylie lean toward me, wanting to talk about Tucker and learn all the ins and outs of our relationship.

I love telling them how truly happy he’s made me and how he’s a pretty big deal around most of Montana. I feel like I’m bragging about him, but I’m just so damn proud to be his girlfriend.

A few hours later, I notice my phone light up with Tucker’s handsome face. I turn around in my seat and plug one ear, so I can hear him better since the place has definitely gotten louder, the later the night has flown by.

“Hey,