Chapter 33
I’m too young to be fed my balls
“Okay, so the guys called, and they’re throwing me a birthday bash tonight,” Mason said as he steered the car, his gaze flickering between the road, me sitting to his right, and his brother settled in the backseat.
I had offered Craig the passenger seat before we left, but he’d turned it down. “Are you guys in?”
“I thought Mom was throwing you a small party and making your favorite dinner, aka lasagna, tonight?” Craig asked.
“Yeah, but Chase called her to negotiate the terms and requested some time with me too. You know him. We’ll have brunch with Mom and Dad on Friday morning instead, before driving back here.
Also, Mom’s making lasagna to-go, which I’ll bring back to Crestwood with me.
” He turned to face me and winked. “Shepard, you and I, we’ll have our own celebration next week as planned. ”
I nodded. “Yes. Can’t wait. Where’s the party?”
“The cabin by the lake.” In high school, Jackson, one of Mason and Craig’s teammates on the football team, always threw big bashes at his uncle’s cabin, and it had become a tradition over the years. We had attended a couple of parties together last year when we were friends.
“I’m not sure I—”
Mason cut his brother short. “Shhh. Jax gave me one rule. Craig isn’t allowed to sit this one out. Broken hearts are for pussies. His words, not mine. Sorry, bro.”
I glanced at him over my shoulder. He was shaking his head, slouching lower in the backseat with his arms crossed over his chest. “Whatever,” he grumbled. “Maybe getting drunk is exactly what I need.”
Mason gave me a worried look. I wish he would talk to me and tell me what went down, he mouthed.
I know, I mouthed back, squeezing the hand he had wrapped around my upper thigh.
We stopped to grab food from a burger joint and decided to eat in the car.
My boyfriend washed down his food with a sip of lemonade. “I can’t believe we’re gonna see everyone tonight. It’s been too fucking long.”
“I don’t wanna see them,” his brother said. “The only person I wanna see won’t be there, so what’s the point, right? No offense, Mel.”
“None taken.”
“Look, it’s my birthday, and it will be good for you to be surrounded by your friends for a night. People who knew you before you became a broody motherfucker.”
Craig pushed a handful of fries into his mouth. “Whatever.”
For the rest of the drive, we remained mostly silent, letting music do the talking as we all got lost in our thoughts.
Mason was pulling into the driveway of his childhood home when Craig’s voice boomed from behind us. “Have you guys told your folks you’re dating?”
Mason and I both shook our heads.
“Wow, I can’t wait to see how it unfolds when Mr. Shepard learns you’re shagging his daughter, bro.” As soon as the words passed his lips, he jumped out of the car, his duffel bag in hand, stomping toward the front door without looking back.
Mason let go of my thigh and rubbed his forehead with a knuckle. “Jesus, what is wrong with him? Can he be more of a fucker right now?”
I traced the side of his face with my fingers. “It’ll be okay, Mase. My dad is not that scary.” I flashed him a big, toothy grin. “Anyway, he’s always been a big fan of yours. You should come over for dinner. Break the ice. Be done with it once and for all.”
“What happens when he asks us where I plan to spend the night? I can’t lie to your dad. He’ll see right through me.”
I felt my face warming up. “Huh, maybe we don’t need to be one hundred percent honest here. Officially, we’re both staying in our own bedrooms for the length of our stay. In reality, you’re coming to my room every night, climbing the wall like a knight in shining armor rescuing a princess.”
“Are you calling yourself a princess, Shepard?”
I chuckled. “I would never dare to do so.”
“You should start using the word Queen instead, because Shepard, you’ll forever be my queen.”
“Geez, you sound so—”
“So what? Fabulous? Smart? Incredible? Right? Pick one, love.”
“All of the above. I love you.” I leaned across the console to kiss him. Soon, his tongue sought mine, and I moaned in delight as the kiss turned dirty and Mason glided his hand under my sweater, spreading shivers all over my abdomen.
“Fuck, I want you. Like, now. We haven’t come up with a plan for when I wanna get into your pants and it’s not nighttime yet.
” He deepened the kiss, his palm molding to my breast as he pushed the cup of my bra up.
He pinched my sensitive nipple between his fingers, and I could barely remember my own name as a million sensations surged through me.
“I want you too. Would it be rude if we didn’t go inside and left instead? You know that gravel road behind the old warehouse? We could drive there.” I watched him watching me with a spark in his eye, probably mirroring mine.
“Oh, I like your dirty mind, love.” Mason kissed me one last time before leaning back in his seat and firing up the engine.
From my position, I could spot the bulge in his jeans, and I got hot all over.
He was just about to back out of the driveway onto the street when a soft knock on the window made us both jump. “Fuck,” Mason spoke through gritted teeth. “Your dad.”
I lowered the window as Mason put the car in park and coughed to clear my throat. “Hey…huh…hi, Dad.” I hoped he couldn’t tell what was on my mind and what we’d been up to moments ago.
His attention ping-ponged between Mason and me, and he frowned.
“Where are you guys going? I thought you just got here. Your mom can’t wait to hug her little girl.
” He opened the door for me to exit. I offered my boyfriend an apologetic smile.
Before I could say anything, Dad pulled me into his arms. “I hope you’re doing great. You look happy.”
“I am, Dad. I really am.”
He released me and stepped back, giving me a once-over, as if checking to see whether I was lying. “Awesome. Let me grab your bag.” He moved to the back of the car and knocked on the vehicle’s frame twice until Mason popped the trunk open. “Mel, which one is yours?”
“The red one.”
Mason joined us at the back of the car, and my father extended his hand for him to shake. “Thank you, Mr. Pierce, for convincing Mel to come home for a few days. And for driving her. I’m glad you two made up and are back to being friends.”
My boyfriend raked his fingers through his tousled hair. “Yeah. Friends. Right.”
Without hesitating, I tucked myself under his arm and looked at my father. “Dad, in fact, Mason and I didn’t just make up, we are dating now.”
My dad’s eyes widened. “Dating? You are? As you two…” He pointed his finger at us. “How long has this been going on?”
“Only a few weeks, sir.” Mason smiled down at me. “But I’ve known for a very long time Mel was the one.”
“I see. For now, go see your parents, son. They’ve been missing you and Craig. Come over later, will you? We’ll have a chat.”
I could see the gears of Mason’s brain turning because mine were working just as hard. A chat? What did my dad want? Would he question us? Tell us he didn’t approve of our relationship? Ask Mason what his intentions toward me were? Welcome him into the family as if he’d always been a part of it?
A chat? My boyfriend asked silently.
It’s going to be okay, I mouthed with a shrug.
I hope so, he mouthed back. I’m too young to be fed my balls.
I snickered behind my fist.
“Mel, you said something?” my father asked.
I schooled my features. “Nope. Nothing.”
He draped one arm around my shoulders and led me to the front porch, and it wasn’t until I was inside that I finally exhaled the breath I’d been holding.
My heart pounded in my chest.
My parents wouldn’t overreact, right? They loved Mason. Was I just being paranoid for no reason?
“Mel, is that you?” My mother’s footsteps echoed on the hardwood floor as she drew closer.
I was about to be hit with a thousand questions. I could handle it.
Deep down, though, all I wanted was for the night—and the awkwardness about to happen—to be over.