Chapter 32 #2
“No.” I sighed. “She asked me not to contact her, and I kept my promise. We haven’t talked since the night I went over to her house, and she said we were over.
Her mom told me she was hopeful about her progress the other day so…
” I scratched my temple. “Mom, do you think we can go back to what we once were? Or do you think our relationship will be forever broken?”
“Is that what you want? To be with her in a romantic way?”
“Yes. Why do you even ask? It’s not even a question.”
“Oh, Mase.” My mom caressed my cheek. “You’re a special one, my son.
Don’t rush her, okay? She’s been through a lot.
I could tell every time I saw you two together that she cared about you a lot, too.
Give her some time and some room to breathe.
For now, be her friend and see where it takes you.
She’ll need all the support she can get.
I’m sure deep down she knows you only want what’s best for her too. ”
“Yeah. I wanna care for her.”
“I know. It comes with great responsibilities, though, and I don’t want you to put too much pressure on yourself.
You are no doctor, and you’re not supposed to be one either.
Your job is to be there for her if she lets you in, but not to try to heal her.
Don’t take over someone else’s job because you think you have to. ”
Her words simmered between us for a minute.
“Since the day she moved next door, I’ve always thought there was something special between the two of you.
I’m glad you found your way to each other after all this time.
This chemistry, it won’t fade because of a bump in your road.
If you two are meant to be, you’ll find your way back to each other again one day if now isn’t your time. ”
“You think so?”
“I truly believe that.” Her words beelined straight to my heart and confirmed what I already knew. Melinda and I shared a connection. Our getting together had been a long time coming.
“Thanks, Mom. I gotta go. I don’t wanna be late.”
“I love to see you so enthusiastic to return to school after a month-long break.” Her laughter wrapped around me like a warm ribbon as I made my way outside, relishing the crisp winter air as it hit my lungs.
Two inches of freshly fallen snow covered the ground like millions of tiny diamonds gleaming under the sun’s rays, giving the street a fairytale appearance.
The weather wouldn’t make a dent in my day. The sun was shining high, and my heart was bursting with hope—and love. Nothing could go wrong today. I had a plan and I would follow it and everything would unfold perfectly.
For long minutes, I watched the house next door, waiting for a movement—or a sign. Anything that would make it easier for me to engage with my neighbor before we arrived at school.
Craig joined me on the front porch. “Are you chickening out?”
“No. She’s worth it. I was waiting to see if she came out so I could have offered her a ride to school.” I sighed. “Are we riding together?”
“Nah. I’m going to pick up Paige. I don’t like the idea of her driving when the roads haven’t been plowed yet.”
“You know she’s a big girl, right?”
“Yep. I have to do this since I may not be able to be there for her next y—”
“Wait, what? Why wouldn’t you be able to do this next year?”
“Nothing. Forget I said anything.”
I blocked his way down the steps. “It’s not nothing. Talk to me. What did you mean by that?”
“It’s complicated. Nothing you gotta worry about.”
“Does Paige know?”
A mixture of sadness and resignation swam in his eyes. “Don’t say anything. It’s messier than you think. Don’t bring her into this.” I saw the plea in his gaze. “Please, Mase.”
“Don’t lead her on. If you do, it’s your ass I’ll kick and her side I’ll choose when it all goes to hell. Don’t screw this up.”
He nodded, pushed past me, and seconds later, his engine roared to life. After he cleared the snow off his car with a brush, he pulled out of the driveway, not sparing me another glance.
“Fuck,” I said, not sure what to do with the information I’d gotten from my brother.
Parked in the school lot twenty minutes later, I repeated everything I wanted to say to the girl who owned a big chunk of my heart.
Six weeks without seeing her had felt like forever.
I was ready to have her back in my life.
Full time. Mom’s words from this morning replayed in my head.
They’d been invading my thoughts every second since I left the house.
Since the day she moved next door, I’ve always thought there was something special between the two of you.
A sports car stopped in front of the main entrance.
Black with orange stripes. Tinted windows.
Chrome wheels. I had never seen it around before.
Was it a new student? Or some kid showing off the new ride he got for Christmas?
Students gathered around the idling vehicle, probably trying to guess who was hiding inside.
Standing still, I kept my gaze trained on the scene, my feet heavy as if they had been encased in concrete.
My pulse accelerated. Goose bumps rose on my arms. My insides twisted.
Something was off.
I had no idea why, but my gut told me I wouldn’t be happy about the whole thing. That I should brace myself for whoever climbed out.
A guy exited the driver’s side, and when he spun around, I recognized him as Jayden Clarke, linebacker for the Cowley High Cobras, our biggest rival, and the one guy I couldn’t stand.
It’d been a while since we last crossed paths.
Annoyance bubbled deep inside me. My instinct hadn’t been wrong.
Cowley High’s and our school’s football teams had a long history of feud over the last fifty years.
The rivalry was no joke. Cobras and Bears didn’t mix well together.
We each stayed in our respective towns and avoided running into each other as much as we could.
Jayden Clarke was a cocky son of a bitch.
Not that I wasn’t one myself, but he took the word cockiness to an all-new level.
He had no reason to be on our school grounds.
If he knew what was good for him, he would flee our parking lot before all my teammates arrived and shit hit the fan.
Unless he had transferred schools. Had he? None of my teammates—me included—would welcome him with open arms if he walked the hallways of Elk River High. It would be a catastrophic scenario. I watched him like a hawk, waiting for his next move.
The passenger door opened, and someone climbed out. A girl with long brown hair. Time stopped. A piece of my chest splintered, and it hurt like hell. I almost fainted right there. Mel? What the fuck.
Clarke rounded the idling vehicle to meet her, handing her the book bag he had fetched from the backseat.
Melinda smiled at him, and he leaned in, capturing her lips in a kiss after grazing her cheek with his knuckles, the gesture sweet and gentle.
Like he really did care. He wrapped one arm around her shoulders and pulled her to him, murmuring something in her ear before kissing her one more time.
I blinked a million times. What. The. Actual. Fuck. What did I miss?
Craig and Paige, who I hadn’t seen arriving, stood next to me. They turned to follow my line of sight.
“What’s going on?” my brother asked. “Why is Jayden Clarke here? Is he looking to have his ass kicked?” He must have taken the entire scene in because he stiffened beside me. “Is that Mel? Oh shit—”
I breathed around the growing rock clogging my airways. “Yep.”
My brother nudged my side. “Since when?”
“Fuck if I know.”
Paige remained silent between us, watching the debacle unfold in front of us.
“No. This isn’t happening,” I said. “It’s.
Not. Happening. This must be a mistake or a prank.
” I stepped forward, ready to intervene and put an end to this circus.
I could feel the sweat lining my temples even with the cold winter breeze hitting my face.
My body grew hotter by the second. Soon I’d combust if I didn’t do anything.
“Mel, wait up.”
Paige backhanded my chest, forcing me to a stop. “Mase, no. Don’t do anything stupid. Please don’t make a scene.”
I motioned to the train wreck happening in front of us. “Paige, what’s going on? Tell me it’s all a big mistake and that I’m not seeing what is right before me.” Rage flooded my bloodstream now. My fists clenched so hard I feared my nails would draw blood.
“Mase. I swear I didn’t know. He’s a friend of her cousin.
They have a band together or something. They spent their break together.
The three of them. I saw pictures online last night.
She told me nothing. We haven’t talked since that morning when…
you know. I tried to contact her a few times, but I think she blocked my number. ”
“What? What are they? Don’t hide anything from me.”
She glanced at her feet. “They are dating… I think. Three days ago, Jayden posted a picture of them kissing on that photo thing online with the tag My girl is hot. I’m so sorry, Mase.
I thought it was a sick joke or something.
A way to get back at you somehow. I never believed they were actually an item and that it was serious. ”