Kickoff

Chapter 22

Shut up, drama queen

“Seriously, Mase, what’s going on between you and Mel?” Chase asked after we finished practice and walked toward the athletic building to change a week later.

I heard that question at least once a day lately. As if Melinda’s and my friendship was that interesting to the rest of the school.

“Why?”

“Because.” He bumped my padded shoulder with his.

“I’m your best friend, and you don’t tell me shit these days.

When I saw you guys at Space Burger, you both looked…

huh…cozy. Then I heard about the party and your getting drunk.

And we all noticed, how you two have been pretty much joined at the hip in the last week. ”

“Cozy?”

“Yeah. Is that all you heard from what I said?”

I shrugged. “Pretty much.”

“You spend all your free time with her, and also, you’ve skipped most parties since you two have started hanging out, which isn’t like you. You haven’t closed the deal yet, so either she stole your balls or you’re obsessed with her or you’re turning into an old and boring man.”

“Who’s turning into an old and boring man?” Sheldon asked as he jogged past us.

“Mase,” Chase replied. “He’s been hanging out with Shepard for months and won’t close the deal or talk about it.”

“My sex life and my relationship are no one’s business.”

“Sex life? Relationship? What did I miss?” Jackson asked as he joined us. “Are you guys talking about Pierce Junior and Shepard K. I. S. S. I. N. G. in a tree or something?”

“Jesus, Pierce Junior. Are you all right?” Rusty piped up from behind. “Have you lost your legendary swagger? Did you break your dick?”

Someone slapped me between the shoulder blades, and soon my brother’s face peeked from my left side. “I heard you lost your swagger, bro?” he asked in the same teasing voice he used each time Melinda was involved. “Need my help to find it?” And now he was using my own expression against me.

I nudged him with my elbow. “Nobody has lost their swagger, guys. For the record, my dick is fully functioning. I’m taking my time, not rushing into it because she’s worth it, not that it’s any of you stupid fools’ business anyway.”

Sheldon hit his chest with a fist in mocking hurt.

“It’s not? I thought we were a team. And you are our captain.

Our quarterback. Our leader. Our future Prom King.

Don’t play coy. You are The Mason Pierce.

You fear no one and nothing. You would walk through a bed of nails and scorching coal to take us to victory.

Come on, man. Share with us the matters of your heart. We can help you.”

Laughter echoed around me. “Wow. If football doesn’t work out for you, try drama, Sheld. You are a born actor.”

He stopped by the locker room door and curtsied. “Thank you very much, Mase. For recognizing I’m such a talented gentleman.”

I pushed him aside with a hand. “Shut up, drama queen.”

The guys followed me inside, and we each reached for our lockers, discarding our practice jerseys before removing our shoulder pads.

“FYI, guys. Nothing that’s going on between Mel and me is up for discussion. Nothing. And it will never be. Don’t act weird around her, don’t ask her stuff, don’t mess with her. Have I made myself clear?”

One arm raised. Then another. And a third one.

“What?” Seriously, my teammates were acting like five-year-olds.

“Have you kissed her yet?”

“Are you planning to break your no-dating rules for her?”

“Can I ask her out once you move on? She has one of the best asses in Elk River High.”

I killed the fucker with my eyes.

“Is what you two have serious, or it is like a bet or something?”

“Would you be pissed if I kissed her first?”

“Is she blackmailing you to spend time with her?”

“Will we be invited to the wedding, or are you ditching us?”

“Have you ever thought of naming your firstborn after me?”

“Do you think she’s saving herself for marriage?”

I lifted both arms in front of me and splayed my palms. “Again. Enough. None. Of. Your. Business. Didn’t you guys hear anything I said before?”

“Why her?”

“Is it serious?”

“Are you two dating in secret and no one knows because that would be soooo cool.”

“Oh, wait. Is she pregnant and that’s why you’re sticking by her side? So your baby isn’t fatherless?”

I blocked out their voices. Every question was more ridiculous than the previous one.

Chase turned to Craig. “Any spoilers for us? I swear over my dead body whatever you tell us about Pierce Junior and Shepard will stay in this room.”

Someone snorted.

Craig’s smirk reached both ears. “You guys are the worst kind of tattletales. None of you know what the term keeping what you hear here between these walls means. You’ll walk out of this room and repeat everything to whoever is stupid enough to listen to you.”

I gestured to my brother. “Point made. Thanks, man.”

He nodded and stretched his arm forward so we could bump our fists. I could read on his face what he didn’t say out loud. I have your back. Even though I will give you shit when we’re home alone.

“Just one piece of info,” Chase begged, his hands linked together under his chin in prayer. “Give your best friend something.”

I tossed a lone sock at him. “You wish.”

“You, Pierce Junior, are no fun,” Sheldon chimed in.

“True,” Peters, a linebacker, agreed.

“Okay, I’m done with the twenty questions. Nothing to say, nothing to add. Find gossip elsewhere and get a life.”

I walked to the showers, unable to erase the grin plastered on my face. If only my teammates knew about my infatuation for the girl next door, I would never hear the end of it.

Dressed in a pair of Heather gray sweatpants and a coral-pink hoodie and ready to go, I hauled my bag over my shoulder and tucked my letterman jacket under my arm, about to take off and pick up Melinda from swim practice when my phone chimed with an incoming notification.

Melinda

Mase, I’m sorry, but Coach Vivien asked me to swim fifty additional laps before I go home. She said something about increasing my endurance. I’ll be late. Leave without me. I’ll call my dad so he can pick me up later.

Me

Nah. Forget it. I’m in no rush. I’ll meet you at the pool. Take your time.

Melinda

You sure? It will take me a little while.

Me

Yep. No stress. See you soon.

“What’s with the smile?” Sheldon asked when he returned from the showers with a white towel wrapped around his waist. “Is it Shepard who makes you grin like a fool?”

“Nope. My mom. She just informed me she made lasagna for dinner. It’s my favorite. And before you ask, no, you’re not invited.” I winked and hurried away before any of the guys could follow me.

I sat in the bleachers section of the pool and grabbed my physics textbook, wanting to finish the last pages of the homework due the next day.

Every few minutes, I scanned the pool area, watching the one girl my eyes were trained to find in a crowd, slice through the water, her strokes timed and precise.

She stepped out of the turquoise body of water and rushed to drape a towel around her waist before waving in my direction.

I was aware Melinda was on a new training program, but I was an athlete too, and I didn’t understand what her coach and nutritionist were trying to accomplish.

She looked skinnier than she used to be, and her muscles appeared, not stronger or leaner, but smaller and weaker.

Since it wasn’t my sport nor my place to say anything, I decided to mind my own business when it concerned the swimming part of her training. Going on runs five times a week with her and spending time together at the gym to work on her figure was the part of the deal I’d agreed on.

“I’ll shower and change fast and be right back,” Melinda called from the poolside.

I gave her a thumbs-up, and she disappeared into the locker room.

I finished my homework and read two chapters of the mandatory novel for my English lit class before she joined me with a timid smile and her duffel bag slung over her shoulder.

I grinned when I noticed she was wearing the hoodie I’d given her the night I walked her home at the beginning of the semester over a pair of deep-blue yoga pants.

“I was right the other night. This looks much better on you.”

She mirrored my smile, tying her damp hair in a messy bun at the top of her head before slipping a knitted hat on.

I shoved all my stuff into my own bag and stole hers from her grip.

“You don’t have to.”

I tugged at her hand. Even her digits felt bonier than usual. “It makes me happy. Let me.” I steered her outside to my car, and she didn’t remove her palm from mine, which pleased me a lot.

I watched her after we both sat in my car. Something was off. “You look tired.”

“I didn’t sleep well last night.”

“You were missing my amazing arms, Shepard.” I flexed my biceps to make a point even though she couldn’t see the muscles under my jacket sleeve.

She snickered. “Maybe.” Her humor died down. “I have been dealing with a pounding headache most of the day.” She massaged her temples with her fingertips. “Practice has just stolen every last bit of energy I had left.”

Since the night I’d spent in her bed over a week ago, we hadn’t broached the subject of our dating again.

What we did that night felt like a dirty secret we shared, and I had no idea if she had any intention of pursuing what we had started.

I said I would follow her pace, so I didn’t feel confident about rushing her to talk about it when clearly, she was acting like it had never happened.

“Headaches are the worst. Last year, when I had that concussion, it took weeks before they totally disappeared. It was horrible.”

“I haven’t had one in a long time. I used to have migraines when I was younger. I just hope it’s not everything catching up with me. The last thing I need is to give my parents a reason to worry about me and for Coach to declare me unfit to swim.”

“Why would they do that if it’s just a headache?”

She sighed, avoiding my eyes. “No reason. My mother is just always on my case since the surgery.”

“It sucks.” The engine roared to life, and I pulled out of the parking lot. “Hungry?”

She winced. “Not really. Headaches always kill my appetite.”

“Do you have any plans tonight?”

She shook her head. “Unless a warm bath and PJs count as a plan.”

“If you decide it is, then yes, it definitely counts.”

She offered me a tiny lopsided smile. “Why? Anything on your mind?”

“What about a movie and takeout? My treat. I would have invited you to eat out somewhere, but I’m not sure noise and fluorescent lights would help that headache of yours.”

“We could go to my place. My parents are out with friends, so it’ll be just the two of us.”

I wanted it to be an invite to continue what had gone down between us the other night, but I doubted it was.

“Pizza sounds good? We could add cheesecake bites for dessert. I usually eat cleaner than that during football season, but I think we both deserve some comfort food tonight. Training was a bitch earlier. Too many burpees and suicides. Peters threw up, and Jackson almost fainted.”

Melinda extended her arm in my direction and took my hand in hers. “It’s perfect. Thanks for being my friend, Mase.”

Yep, I was right. I was still stuck in the stupid friend zone. Whatever. Spending time with her was all I longed for, so for now, it would have to be enough.

Sitting beside Melinda on her bed, we ate while talking about a million different things.

Melinda had changed into pink fluffy pajama pants with gray kittens printed on them while keeping my hoodie on after she’d blow-dried her hair.

Even dressed down with her hair braided over her shoulder and no makeup on, she looked magnificent.

Her turquoise eyes searched mine. “Do you wanna visit the pumpkin patch next weekend? It could be fun. I saw an ad announcing ax-throwing and log-chopping competitions and a giant corn maze.”

“We could hit the fair afterward. Unless you already have plans?”

“Paige and I talked about going together on Sunday because I have a meet on Saturday. Maybe we could go…the four of us…and you know…hang out. Just a thought.”

“It’s a date then.”

“A date?”

I cleared my throat. “It’s a plan.”

She untied her hair and positioned herself against my arm, a yawn parting her lips.

I cupped the back of her head, staring at her. “Want me to go so you can rest?”

“Not yet.” She yawned again. “I’m comfy.”

“Fine by me.”

I was just about to dig into the cheesecake bites when Melinda slumped against my side, the weight of her head heavy on my upper arm, and I realized she had fallen asleep.

I put the container down and pulled the comforter over her figure.

For the longest time, I watched her sleep before moving to my feet and tucking her in.

She had shadows under her eyes, and her silhouette appeared slighter than usual dressed in baggy clothes.

I wished I could pull her into my arms and sleep here, but we hadn’t discussed it, and I couldn’t invite myself over.

I lifted the pizza box to discard it when I noticed she had put her own slices back inside, barely having taken a few bites.

On top of her physical changes, her headache and loss of appetite, it looked concerning.

Was she sick again? Could someone get a complication from an appendectomy weeks later?

Paige had said Melinda was stressed about college applications.

Could that be enough to affect her health? Could it be more than that?

A part of me dreaded to leave her side. What if she really was sick again and I was too far away to help her out this time? I debated my options in my head. I couldn’t panic every time she didn’t feel well, and anyway, the Shepards would be home soon.

I touched her forehead. No fever. I pressed two fingers to the pulse point on her wrist. Her heartbeat was steady. Maybe she was just overdoing it and was tired. We should ease up on the training schedule until she got some strength back. Yeah, I would talk to her about it tomorrow.

I grabbed a pencil and a piece of paper from her desk, wrote a note, and slipped it under her phone, which was charging on the nightstand.

Holding the leftovers in my hand, I made my way to the door only to go back to her side and kiss her cheek. This would have to be enough to get my fill of Melinda Shepard for the day.

“Night,” I whispered as I closed her bedroom door behind me.