Chapter 16
Don’t get on my bad side because I’ll have to handcuff you
“Okay, now it feels stalkerish. Why are you even here?”
“I swear it’s just a coincidence.”
“I don’t believe in coincidences... Neither do you.” I pivoted and stared at Mason standing behind me at the checkout counter in the campus bookstore. The mandatory reading material for my English class, I had ordered two weeks ago, had finally arrived.
“Then, it’s fate. We’re destined to see each other and spend time together. How is this as an explanation for both of us being here right now?”
“You’re so… God. You’re so…”
“Irresistible? Charming? One of a kind? Wonderful?”
“No.” I clutched my brand-new books against my chest. “Infuriating. Why do you act like I’m happy you’re here?”
His grin widened. “Because I know deep down you are. You’re just too proud to admit it.”
“Stop smiling. There’s nothing funny.”
“Well, I agree to disagree. Coincidences don’t exist, so we’re here because destiny put this meeting into motion. See? I have many reasons to smile right now.”
“Whatever.” A tiny smile of my own tipped my lips up. This boy.
“Nah. I think what you mean is Mason, I’m so happy I ran into you here.
We should do something since we haven’t spent an afternoon together in so long, and I’ve missed you so much.
Your walking me home every night I work late isn’t enough to get my Mason-fix anymore.
What do you say?” He shrugged. “See? Easy-peasy. And yes, Mel, I think it’s a fantastic idea to spend time together.
Did you have something in mind? I want to repaint my bedroom and would like your opinion on which shade of blue would fit better.
I was hesitating between denim blue, a more grayish-teal blue tone, and a dark cerulean blue.
I have some free time right now. Do you want to help me out? ”
“Wow, did you rehearse that spiel before?”
“Nope. I saw you, and I got inspired. What do you say?”
“I already have plans.”
“What plans? Care if I join? I long for some company. Everyone is busy today. This fall’s three-day study break is no joke. Even the team has paused training.”
“Mase, you’re not some Golden Retriever in desperate need of being petted. I’m sure there’re plenty of things you could be doing right now.”
“Nope. Nothing. It’s rare, but it’s true.
Just for the record, I would never say no to being petted.
Anyway, we could also grab a bite. Catch a movie.
Take a walk. Or check out my bedroom for that paint job.
Try that new skydiving simulator twenty minutes from here or drive home for a few hours and come back this evening.
It’s lasagna night, and you know I can’t resist my mom’s cooking. ”
“Some things never change. Are you still letting your stomach rule your life?”
“Pretty much, yeah. Anyway, what do you say? A warm home-cooked meal sounds good? I’ve always loved driving around with you. Unless you don’t wanna share me with anyone else and you fancy a night in instead. Pizza? Mexican? We can also do Chinese or Indian.”
“Mase, I said I had plans.”
“I heard you. But I can also read your nonverbal cues, and I know you are bullshitting me right now.”
“No, I am not. How can you say that?”
“I just know it. Sixth sense or something. I—”
Three girls walked up to him, pushing out their chests and batting their eyelashes. “Masssson,” they purred, trying to latch onto him.
The scent of one of their perfumes made me lightheaded. It reminded me of Tanya and all the other girls Mason used to spend time with, and it felt like high school all over again. A sturdy knot tied my stomach.
“Can you sign our notebooks?” one asked, flipping her hair over her shoulder. She was wearing a tiny black skirt with a silver belt, paired with a white cropped tank top and four-inch heels.
Another one, dressed in low-rise skinny jeans and a petal-pink baby doll top, pushed her notebook into his chest with a rehearsed smile. Mason looked terrified as they kept boasting about his achievements on the field.
I was seconds away from bolting and escaping the scene. As if he could read my mind, Mason tugged at my sleeve to keep me beside him. Don’t leave me alone with them. Please, he mouthed.
Okay, I mouthed back.
He stretched an arm in front of him to keep his fangirls out of his personal space. “I’m touched that you all took the time to come talk to me, but I only have two minutes because I have somewhere to be,” he announced while autographing blank pages.
One of the girls pouted.
Another grinned at him in a flirty manner I recognized and had witnessed too many times before. “We’ll be at your next game. And tonight, we’re going to that party on Greek Row. Want my number so we can meet up later?”
“As I said, I have plans. It was nice meeting you all.” He spun to face me, blocking them out. After a few seconds, they appeared to get the message because they walked away. “Sorry about that. It’s not like before, I swear.”
“I believe you.” The difference between High-School-Mason and College-Mason was hard to miss. The first one had been an attention hog—or he had pretended he was for the show—and the second one looked uneasy facing these girls.
“Where were we? Oh yes. What will it be? Night in with a movie or a drive to Elk River to enjoy my mom’s lasagna?”
I shook my head. “Neither. I can’t go anywhere. I have a shift at five thirty.”
He checked his watch. “Which means we have almost four hours to kill. Or three hours plus one hour to have dinner afterward.”
I sighed, pretending to be annoyed. “I never agreed to any of this.”
“You never disagreed either.” He pulled at my hand, and our fingers intertwined together like no time had passed since the last time we held hands.
My heart danced in my chest. It had no right to be so enthusiastic about this simple fact, and yet, it had stopped listening to me a long time ago when it involved Mason Pierce.
Mason must have read my mind because he added, “Muscle memory. Our hands didn’t forget.” He rubbed my skin with the pad of his thumb, and fireworks erupted inside me.
Before I could bring myself to pull my hand away from his grip, he led me to his car parked in the lot between the bookstore and the science building.
“Any plans for Halloween?” he asked when we settled in his car after I dropped my books on the backseat.
“My friend wants us to attend a party at some fraternity house, but I am working that night. She’s making us costumes. I’m supposed to join her once I’m done.”
“I think it’s the same party the team is going to. The one on Middle Row Lane?”
I shrugged. “I’m not sure.”
“What are you dressing up as?”
I mimicked zipping my lips. “I promised Cassie I wouldn’t tell a soul.”
“C’mon, Shepard, it’s me. You can tell me anything.”
“Not this time. Sorry, Mase.”
He tapped the steering wheel with both palms in an overly dramatic manner. “Fine. You won’t get the chance to have my incredibly useful feedback, then.”
I snickered. “I think I can risk it.”
“Your loss, baby.”
He turned to look straight ahead after the term of endearment left his mouth, and I couldn’t tell if it was a slip-up or if it was intentional.
I buckled my seatbelt, not sure how to feel if it was not an accident.
Minutes later, Mason parked in front of his townhouse and opened his door. “You coming?”
“Huh? What are we doing here?”
“Told you already. I want your opinion on repainting my bedroom.”
“Oh. I thought it was a joke.”
“Nope. I would never joke about shades of blue, Shepard. Come on, I’ll make you a sandwich.”
Sitting on the kitchen counter next to him, I watched Mason as he prepped us lunch. “You sure you don’t want any help?”
He moved with ease in his kitchen, and he looked very hot doing so. It reminded me of the time I got appendicitis, and he cooked for me in my own kitchen, watching over me that night. And ended up saving my life.
“Nope, all good.” He sucked on his mustard-coated fingertip before cutting our sandwiches into triangles. “Carrot and celery sticks?”
“Yes, please.”
He rummaged through the refrigerator, fetching a bag of baby carrots and a bunch of celery, slicing the pieces with a sharp knife. Next, he stirred mayonnaise and chili powder in a bowl and added a squeeze of lime to make a dip.
“Look at you, being all domesticated.”
“Domesticated?”
“It’s my ten-point word of the day.”
Mason grinned at me. “Could you grab two sparkling water bottles from the cupboard over there?” He pointed to his left.
I jumped from the countertop while he fixed two plates. “Sure.”
With our dishes in hand, we made it to his room upstairs.
I sat cross-legged on his bed while Mason sat on the chair by his desk.
His bedroom was way more spacious than my dorm room.
I scanned around me since I hadn’t done so the last time I was here.
The comforter looked like fake grass, and the pillows were shaped as footballs, helmets, and cleats.
Mason must have picked up on my thoughts, because he said, “Don’t comment on it.
I lost a bet to Chase. It was his going away to college gift to me.
I gotta keep it for the next four years, or I’ll owe him two hundred bucks if I fail.
He’s supposed to make surprise visits to check on it now and then. ”
I stifled a laugh. “I wouldn’t expect anything less from him. It’s not that bad. It’s… It’s very much you. The kid version of you.”
“Yeah, well, it’s growing on me. I use it as a visualization technique.”
“Why doesn’t it surprise me?” I twisted on the bed to check the rest of the room when I noticed the three small patches of blue paint on the wall next to the en-suite bathroom door. “So, you were very serious about this paint thing?” I brought my attention back to him.