Chapter 16 #2
Paige could get herself out of any situation using her red-velvet delicacies as a secret weapon. “Nah. No need when it’s you.” I winked and hoped it didn’t look cocky, but more like we were in on a secret nobody else knew about.
“I’m very happy you’re the one standing here right now.”
Her words reverberated against the walls of my heart, sending a buzz throughout my bloodstream. “I’m very happy too.” My grin probably looked too big for my face, but I didn’t care. I really was happy to be here.
In that instant, I wished Melinda could look past my reputation with girls and see me for who I really was.
“Wow, you two look beautiful together,” Mrs. Shepard said as she neared us, breaking the awe we were both basking in. “Move closer to each other. I want pictures of you two.”
We both did as she asked, and standing behind Melinda with my arm wrapped around her waist, we smiled for too many photos.
Melinda relaxed against me, and it was the best feeling in the entire world.
Her touch felt oddly familiar and ignited flames inside me like nothing had ever done before.
Done with the photo shoot, Mrs. Shepard handed Melinda her purse with a smile. “Have fun, you two.”
Her husband extended a hand and stared at me while I pushed my palm into his. “Thank you for stepping in, son. Take care of our baby girl.”
“Dad.” Melinda’s cheek turned a darker shade of red.
She looked adorable, all flushed because of her dad’s comment.
My lips widened into a blinding smile. “I will. It’s my pleasure. Night, Mr. and Mrs. Shepard.”
I took Melinda’s hand in mine as if I’d done it multiple times in the past and ushered her to my car, parked in my driveway next door. “I’ve got strict instructions from Paige.”
Melinda chuckled at the mention of her best friend, and I was pretty sure she could picture her giving me a step-by-step course of action for tonight.
“She and Craig are waiting for us to join them at her house. Ready?”
“Yes.” Melinda watched me and blinked twice, still looking shocked by my sudden appearance on her doorstep.
I opened the passenger door for her to slide in. After I climbed behind the steering wheel and the engine roared to life, I switched on the warm air through the vents to chase away the night’s chill. With an amused smile, Melinda’s eyes flicked back to me, a million questions swirling in them.
“What?”
“It just… It feels surreal. You and me going to Homecoming together.”
I grabbed her hand in mine and drew circles with my thumb on the back of hers. “Believe me, it’s super real.”
Silence stretched between us, and I released her hand.
“You okay?” I asked with a side-glance a few minutes later. “You haven’t said a word since we left your house. Are you all right about going with me? I can drop you off if you prefer to go on your own and pick you up later. Nobody has to know.”
“No. Please don’t. I’m glad we’re going together.”
“Good.”
“Can I tell you something?”
“Yeah.”
She worried her lower lip. “If I’m being honest…I didn’t really wanna go…with Landon.” She scrunched up her nose. “I feel bad admitting it out loud.”
“Why did you agree then?” My grip tightened around the steering wheel, my knuckles turning white, as I waited for her to explain.
She stared out the window. “Because… Nobody else had asked me… and…and the one person I hoped would didn’t, so…”
I swallowed. If only she knew. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. It’s not your fault.”
Yes, it is. I was the one supposed to ask you to Homecoming, and I chickened out.
Before I could explain and question her further, she spun in her seat and pressed a hand to my forearm, my muscles twitching under her touch. “I still can’t believe we’re doing this. You know how many girls will hate me tonight because I’m the one showing up there with you?”
I shook my head, her words acting like tiny blades shredding my heart. “Mel, I don’t care about the other girls. I’m your date. No one else’s. I wouldn’t have changed my mind about going for anyone else.”
“Who are you, and what have you done to Mason Pierce?” she asked.
I blinked to hide the hurt I was sure she could read on my face.
My smirk returned, protecting me from being vulnerable.
“Don’t tell anyone, but at midnight, I’ll go back to being the no-commitment guy you’re used to.
And I might transform into a pumpkin.” Even though I said it as a joke, my words lacked their usual cockiness, and I wondered if she could tell I was not being myself—not entirely, at least. And once again, I hated myself for the idiocies leaving my mouth when I felt nervous around my neighbor.
Why couldn’t I be honest instead of hiding my uneasiness under quips?
“Maybe you could wait a little longer. I like this version of you right now.”
My discomfort faded, and my happiness returned. “You do?”
“Yeah. Being down-to-earth suits you. Anyway, I always prefer it when you drop the cocksure attitude.”
“For real?”
She nodded multiple times.
“Don’t tell anyone else. Please. It’s not good for my rep.”
Melinda traced a cross over her heart with a finger. “I swear. Your secret is safe with me.”
We exchanged a grin, and I relaxed in my seat.
“Nice game yesterday.”
“Thanks.” I swept my lips with my tongue. Warmth filled me at the idea she saw me play one of the best games of my high school career. “You missed the celebrations afterward.” I watched her from the corner of my eye.
“Yeah. Huh…I left right after you guys won.”
“I looked for you, you know. That’s what friends do.”
“Oh.” She fidgeted with the tennis bracelet around her wrist. “You did?”
“Yeah, I did.” The air got charged around us, and my palms got sweaty. “What I’m trying to say is thank you for coming to the game. I’m glad you made it. We appreciate all the support we can get.”
We? When I said it like this, it sounded so impersonal. Now she would think her presence meant the same thing as anyone else coming to see us play. Why was there always some defective part of me that took over when I felt uncomfortable?
I begged my brain to save the situation, but instead, I blurted, “I-I thought I would see you at the party afterward.”
“The party? I barely ever go to those.”
“Well… Paige came, so I assumed that… I don’t know… You might show up too, or…”
“I-I didn’t feel like going.”
I weighed my words before I spoke them. “Is it because of what happened the last time… You know… Nate and his actions?”
Her face blanched, and I felt stupid for mentioning that night.
“Sorry… I didn’t mean to…huh…bring that up.”
I felt her palm slipping away from my forearm, so I flipped my hand around and intertwined our fingers before she severed the connection without looking away from the road in front of us. I breathed easier now that we were touching, our hands the only thread of connection between us.
We remained silent for a little while, but even our silence wasn’t awkward.
As if she couldn’t take her eyes off me, Melinda turned in her seat to watch me, and I wondered how much longer I could pretend we were only friends when she stared at me with big eyes full of sparks.
I felt myself melting under the intensity of her gaze.
My Nathan comment seemed to have been forgotten because she smiled at me, the small action beelining straight to my heart and filling it with a fondness I didn’t know I possessed before she came into my life.
Feeling self-conscious, I let go of her, my hand landing on her thigh and squeezing the flesh underneath it, like it was a normal gesture for us.
Her breath caught in her lungs.
I realized what I had done and brought my hand back around the steering wheel. The heated imprint of her skin lingered on mine, and I missed the contact.
“Hey, Mase. I gotta tell you something…”
“What?”
“Please don’t let that ego of yours take over, but I said something the other day, and I’m realizing now it’s not entirely true. The thing is… I once said you look better in jeans, but the truth is you look very sharp in a suit.”
I hit my chest with a fist. “Wow. Thanks. I didn’t expect a compliment, and I’m glad the suit pleases you.
I’ll add ‘looks sharp in a suit’ to the list.” The corner of my mouth lifted into a mischievous smile.
“Just for the record, I’ve put this much effort into my appearance tonight for you and only you. ”
“Let me tell you, you absolutely nailed it. The secret-service-inspired look you’re sporting is really hot.”
“You think I’m hot?”
The temperature in the car felt warmer than it did seconds ago.
She mimicked my smile. “Don’t flatter yourself. Most guys wearing suits look hot. That’s the way it is, I guess. It’s like men in uniforms. I still believe jeans should be your go-to fashion choice, though, but…”
“But dressed to impress, I affect you. Noted.”
Paige opened the door wide the moment we stepped on her front porch. “Ohmygod, you two are beautiful,” she said, grabbing Melinda’s hand and pulling her inside.
A light flush colored Melinda’s cheeks, and I wondered whether it was the cool night air, Paige’s remark, or our earlier conversation that had put it there.
“Where are we going?” my date asked.
“Bedroom. I forgot my purse.”
I joined Craig, who stood by the staircase, both of us wearing matching black suits.
Paige spun to face us and lifted a finger. “Guys, we’ll be right back. And thanks, Mase, for doing this.”
“Anything for you, babe.”