Chapter 10 #2
“There’s a game tonight, so it will get pretty busy, and I won’t have time to chat with you, but I can place your order now to avoid the rush if you’d like.”
“That would be amazing. Thanks.”
I noted his order down on the pad in my hand. “Anything else?”
“A tall glass of iced tea, please. I may get some wings later if the game is any good and I can’t go back to Shawn’s.” He twisted the paper napkin in his hands. “I also came here because I wanted to ask you on a second date.”
His dark irises locked on mine, and from how hot my cheeks felt, I was pretty certain they were flushed.
“We had fun the other night, and I was hoping you’d agree to go out with me again.” He looked like a little boy as he watched me with expectation brightening his eyes.
“Sure. I would love to.” We really had a great time the other night. Even though I wasn’t interested in a relationship right now, I loved the company. And who knew where this could lead.
“Awesome. Saturday night?”
I offered him a tight-lipped smile. “I have a meet on Sunday. I won’t be available before next Thursday. That’s my only night off. Would it work for you?”
He appeared to think for a minute. “All good. I’ll text you next week so we can make plans.”
I pointed behind me. “Sorry, gotta go. Keep me updated. I’ll bring your food in a little while. Let me know if you need anything else in the meantime.”
It was seven minutes past ten when I finally retreated to the break room to gather my jacket and purse.
My feet were aching tonight. I didn’t recall serving so many draft beers and baskets of chicken wings since I’d started working here.
Hockey nights were always busy, but tonight was something else.
I removed the elastic band from my hair and let it fall down my back, massaging my scalp with my fingertips.
All I could picture in my head was a hot shower, soft PJ pants, and my bed.
“Need a friend to walk you home?” Mason asked me when I stepped outside, fastening my jacket as the night breeze sent strands of hair flying, some sticking to my gloss-coated lips.
He was standing by the brick wall, stretching his quads, wearing a pair of steel-blue joggers and a zipped teal fleece with the football team logo printed on the front.
I tied my hair in a messy bun at the top of my head, trying to look as if a conversation between the two of us was just a normal occurrence. “Mase? Why are you here?”
“Finishing my run. I had a quiz to prep for this morning and ended up almost being late for practice, so I decided to run tonight instead. I saw you through the window when I jogged by and thought I’d say hi.”
“Still running every day?”
“Yep. If you wanna join me sometimes, that could be fun.”
“You’d still request I call you Coach Pierce?”
A smirk drew on his lips. “Always.”
“That’s what I thought.” I mirrored the tilt of his lips before pointing to my left.
“I’m exhausted. Night.” I ambled in the direction opposite from where he stood, but seconds later, the sound of his footsteps echoed on the sidewalk behind me.
Soon, he moved in front of me and stopped my retreat.
I was curious if he would mention our last heated encounter, but looking at him, I could tell he didn’t hold a grudge over how it had gone south.
“Mel…” He scratched his temple. “You never answered the question.”
I frowned, not sure what he meant. “The question? Was I supposed to answer something?”
“Yeah, well, I asked you if you wanted me to walk you home.” He rocked on his heels, and for an instant, I thought Mason might be nervous.
I shook my head. No, Mason Pierce didn’t do nervous.
Then I remembered how he would drop the pretense around me, keeping his cocky suit on for almost everyone else.
This meant Mason was indeed nervous. I felt bad for sending him away once again, and I didn’t have the energy to fight with him, so I nodded. “Sure.”
We strolled in silence for a minute before I decided we could be normal around each other—or at least try to be.
“Where are you staying?” I asked, deciding that talking about our lives at Crestwood was a safe bet and wouldn’t create more awkwardness between us.
“A townhouse with Craig and two of our teammates. It’s about a fifteen-minute walk that way,” he said, gesturing to our right.
“Cool. It must be fun to live in a house. I like the dorm, but sometimes, I feel like it’s too full of people.
After days spent in class, training, meets, and working at Lola’s, I would enjoy some place where I’m not always surrounded by a bunch of students and can just be.
And have my own shower and living room. Do you have like a backyard? ”
He bobbed his head. “It’s small, but it’s ours.”
“What are your roommates like?”
“Rutherford is a running back on the team. He’s pretty chill.
He’s dating Amber, and I think they’ve been together forever.
She’s nice. You would love her. She spends a lot of time at our place, but so far it hasn’t been annoying or anything.
She even cooks sometimes when we have late practice or away games.
She reminds me a bit of Paige, but more assertive and outgoing.
” He glanced at me sideways, and I believed it was to check if it was okay to bring my ex-best friend into the conversation.
I offered him a tight-lipped smile, and he continued.