Chapter 8 #3
I shook my head, a new surge of anger building inside me. “Are you hearing yourself right now?”
“Loud and clear. Are you hearing yourself, Shepard?”
I balled my hand into a fist, but he stopped me before it could connect with his chest, enveloping my hand with his. “Mason, I really can’t deal with you right now. By the way, this little power play started when you said Oh after I told you who Jett was. Don’t try to seduce me to avoid answering.”
“I’m not seducing you. I’m just trying to prove a point.”
“No point proven. You’re only trying to make me late. I still wanna know what you meant when you said Oh.”
He shrugged. “Nothing.” His other hand twitched at his side, and he stretched his fingers before hiding them in his pocket. Since when was Mason jittery?
“It was not nothing. Try again.”
“Nope.”
I yanked my fist free from his grip. “Why? Why are you acting like a jackass? It doesn’t suit you.
I wanna know. I won’t let it go. What did you mean by Oh?
” I was starting another fight and couldn’t seem to help myself.
What was wrong with me? A whole lot by the level of anger boiling inside my veins. “Tell me. Now.”
“Cool it, Shepard.”
“Mase, don’t tell me to cool it. You played me seconds ago, and I let you like an amateur. You can do better.”
“It was just a word.” He tapped his foot against the floor again. “Let it go.”
“I just wanna know why you’re judging a guy you’ve never met,” I asked. Keeping the conversation around my date felt safer than trying to figure out why I was being an idiot and thinking about kissing him.
“I am not. Stop projecting. Geez, it was just a two-letter word. Nothing to get riled up about. I didn’t even recall saying it until you brought it up.”
We entered a staring contest, neither one of us budging.
I noticed his pulse hammering beneath the skin of his throat and the tension straining his shoulders.
Gone was the attraction I felt before. The face-off with Mason was putting me in a sour mood, almost making me forget about the three ribbons in my bag that were supposed to make this day almost perfect.
“Never mind. I’m done with you.” My voice was clipped now.
Not wanting to argue further, I pushed past him.
Not offering him another glance, I kept talking with my back to him.
“Thank you for coming to the meet. You didn’t have to, but the team appreciates all the support it can get.
See you around.” It sounded so impersonal, and I hated myself for doing so, but I couldn’t help myself.
“Jesus, Shepard, did you forget to add sugar to your coffee this morning, or are you always this enjoyable these days? You don’t even have a good reason to be mad at me. You just like to argue. You like how it makes you feel when we butted heads. Tell me I’m wrong.”
“I don’t wanna talk to you anymore. I’m done with you. You’re acting like a child, and I don’t have to stay and indulge you. Go be an ass to someone else.”
“Wow, the old Melinda Shepard I used to know never got her panties in a twist like that. Perhaps you should go commando from now on. Just a thought. It could help relieve your pissy attitude. Do I have to remind you that you’ve started the fight?
Or do you want me to tell you your lips quivered minutes ago, begging me to kiss you? ”
“Now you’re living in a fantasy world. Stop projecting or making stuff up about me.”
“I thought we made it clear last year that lying was a bad habit of yours.”
How could he be so infuriating? “Bye, Mason.” No way would I give him the satisfaction of saying things about me that might be true while I tried to deny them.
Anyway, I wasn’t the only one looking for a fight.
Two could play this game, but I was the one putting a stop to it before we said things we would regret later.
“Whatever happened to you to make you act like an asshole right now, I don’t deserve to be on the receiving end of it.
If you suffered a concussion during your last game, get your head checked. ”
Before he could add something else, I shouldered the door open and rushed outside, determined to enjoy the night and not let Mason Pierce mess with my head—or my heart—once more.
The fury inside me dulled to a low simmer, and I could finally drag a full breath in.
What was that all about? I hadn’t argued like that with someone in a long time.
It felt good to just let it all out for once instead of pretending.
And even though I tried to convince myself he didn’t get to me, when he stood a little too close for comfort, I relished every beat of Mason’s heart against mine, and the memory of how our bodies fit perfectly together.
Our confrontation was uncalled for, and yet after my big mouth had spilled the tea about my date to Mason, I let my pride take over and couldn’t reel in my words. It was stupid, and I hated the fact he still affected me more than he should.
“Screw you, Mason Pierce.” There, I said it. I just wished I could believe it for real.