Chapter 38
Want me to kiss it better, Mase?
“Are you scared or excited?” Jules asked from beside me.
The last quarter was in full swing, with twenty seconds left on the clock and eighteen yards to cover. The Phoenix were losing by three points.
I was wound tight, my hands clasped in front of me. “I’m not sure.”
I could barely suck a full breath in, my attention locked on the quarterback calling the play and his players dispersing on the field below.
Mason was in the zone. I recognized all the signs. His words were clipped, his back straight, his gestures precise, and his eyes never drifting away.
The game resumed, and he positioned himself, ball in hand, and steadied his breath.
He looked so hot when he was in full game mode. I had missed watching him play after our friendship went up in flames last year.
He wiped his left hand on his powerful thighs, snug in tight football pants, and rotated his right shoulder back. To everyone else, it looked like he was loosening his joint, but I knew he was testing its stiffness, just like he had done several times during the game.
I mouthed a silent prayer when he tossed the ball into the air toward the end zone, and his players sprang into motion, scattering across the field and getting into position.
The seconds vanished one by one.
Around me, the crowd of navy-blue and teal supporters fell silent.
I could feel Mason’s burning stare on me, but I couldn’t tear my gaze away from the football sailing through the air to acknowledge him.
All my senses were on high alert.
The varsity-colored puffy jacket I was wearing suddenly felt too warm, and I was tempted to rip the knitted hat off my head. The cold breeze kissing my cheeks felt amazing.
Twelve seconds to go. Why did they feel like hours?
The pigskin was still airborne, and Bowman, one of the receivers, had his arms stretched high, ready to catch the ball.
Something didn’t feel right, though. It was a hunch, but from the way my spine prickled, it was impossible to ignore. I watched Mason and could tell I was right. His face contorted as if in pain.
He blinked, and I felt like we were in a car, hurtling toward a collision on the highway at full speed, the crash inevitable.
Near the end zone, Bowman caught the pass with his fingertips. The crowd exhaled in relief, but just as he was about to cradle the ball to his chest, his grip loosened.
“Ohmygod.” Jules dug her nails into my skin through the thick fabric of my jacket. “This is so stressful.”
I was too engrossed in the scene unfolding before us to shrug her off.
Before the receiver could secure the ball, a cornerback from the opposing team blocked his path and charged. Bowman tried to dodge him with a sharp jerk of his hips, but it was no use. The defender slammed into him.
People in the bleachers jumped to their feet.
Tension hung in the air, and a nervous energy settled over us.
I was relieved to know I wasn’t the only one on edge.
Bowman stumbled forward, still barely gripping the ball with his fingertips.
Jules linked her arm with mine. “Seriously, Mel, it’s like a train wreck.”
“I was thinking the same thing.” I tightened my hold around her arm, not brave enough to let go just yet.
Bowman swayed on his feet, spun to the right, and lost his balance.
The football flew out of his grasp.
The word Nooo was on everyone’s lips.
Bowman’s eyes flashed with horror as he followed the ball with his gaze. This had to be the longest twenty seconds in football history.
As he fell face-first onto the turf, he threw his arms up, trying to catch the pigskin once more. When it grazed his fingertips, it sent the ball flying further away.
In a commotion of tackles, the opposing player captured the ball and tucked it away. Without wasting any time, he pivoted toward his team’s end zone, Phoenix’s players hot on his heels.
He was crossing the thirty-yard line when the referee blew his whistle.
Time was up. My heart sank in my chest.
Could our team still intercept the ball and score a touchdown?
Instead of ending the game by tossing the ball down, the opposing player kept running.
Two players from Crestwood University’s Phoenix closed in on him and stopped his run, tackling him to the ground. The ball slipped from his grip as he tumbled to his side.
“Oh no.” Jules stood rigid next to me. “That was intense.”
I finally released the oxygen locked in my lungs. “Yeah. I can’t believe they lost. They were ahead the whole game, right up until the last quarter.”
From where I stood, I could see the crestfallen expressions on Mason’s and his teammates’ faces.
I pried Jules’s fingers from my arm. “I’ll go down there and talk to him.”
“Are you meeting us for a snack afterward?” she asked, gesturing to some friends from her support group sitting one row behind us.
“I don’t know. Can I call you once I find out? I’ll see if Mase is okay first.”
“No problem. Tell him I’m sorry for their loss, but that he did good.”
I waved at her. “I will. Bye.”
From afar, I spotted my boyfriend talking with Rutherford.
He removed his helmet and raked his fingers through his tousled mass of dark hair.
The sight of him stole my breath away. How did I end up dating the most handsome guy I’d ever laid eyes on?
Even though he tried to hide it, I could tell today’s loss hit him hard.
I quickened my pace, eager to be near him and ease the weight of his crushing blow.
His brother walked over to him, pulling him into a tight hug.
I was happy that, no matter what, the Pierce brothers had each other’s backs through thick and thin. I smiled as I watched them, and right now, I wished Paige were here too. Her absence in our lives was felt the most on game days.
Craig let go of his brother when I marched toward them, shaking his hand in that familiar way I’d seen the team do a few times before.
“True,” Mason replied to whatever Craig said before the latter jogged away.
“Mase.” As if my voice had the power to reach his ears despite the ruckus surrounding us, he turned toward me, a sad smile tugging at his lips.
Without a word, he opened his arms, and I buried myself in his warm embrace. He planted a kiss on the crown of my head and relaxed against me.
I tightened my arms around his hard body, the sharp scent of sweat and aftershave hitting my nostrils. “I love you.” My voice sounded like a murmur, muffled by his chest. “It was still a good game. I’m sorry about the last pass.”
“It’s fine. We’ll get over it.” With his palms pressed against my shoulders, he leaned back, locking eyes with me. My heart skipped a beat as we got lost in each other’s contemplation. “Are you waiting for me, or are you doing something with Jules?”
“If you wanna go back to your place, I was thinking of joining you.” I watched him with a raised brow. “I thought it might help ease the sting if I kissed it better.”
“Shepard, are you propositioning me?”
My cheeks burned under his stare. “What do you say? Want me to kiss it better, Mase?”
“Fuck, you won’t have to ask me twice.” He motioned to the athletic building behind him with his thumb. “I’ll be fast. Super lightning extra fast, love.”
A snicker escaped my lips. How had I not allowed myself to fall for him sooner? “You sound like your eleven-year-old self.”
“Because the girl of his dreams is about to rock his world, just like he’s wished for all these years. The kid in me is bouncing with joy right now, Shepard.”
“I’m glad I’m the reason.” I closed the distance between our bodies and molded my mouth to his. “Hurry up. I have a full playbook of make Mason feel better strategies I wanna try on you.”
“I love it when you talk game plans, baby.”
His hand connected with my ass, and I let out a loud gasp. “Let’s meet by my car in twenty?”
“I’ll be there.” I was ready to leave when I decided otherwise, shifting my focus back to him. “Hey, Mase? Even if you lost today, you played well. I’m proud of you.”
I walked away, soon swallowed up by the crowd scattered across the field.
My heart fully belonged to the football player I was sure was still watching me from where I’d left him standing.
It pounded so hard inside my chest that I was certain we were meant to be.
No matter how much I’d tried to deny our connection in the past, never again would I be able to keep Mason Pierce at arm’s length in the future.
We were it, and I was at peace knowing I had found my person.
The one I was destined to love through everything life would throw at us, for as long as I lived.
Mason and I were in his kitchen a few days later, and I was sitting on the counter—wild hair and bare legs just how he liked it—only dressed in one of his practice jerseys, as he emptied the fridge, trying to figure out what we could cook for dinner.
Since our first date, we had spent most of our nights together at his place, our little bubble away from our busy schedules.
“Nachos?”
I smiled. “Yes. You’re sexy when you talk Mexican food. Maybe we could watch a movie while we eat.”
“Only if it’s Naked Tuesday Night from now on,” he proposed, wiggling his eyebrows at me.
I tapped my finger against my chin. “Hmm, it sounds great. We already did Naked Tuesday Late Afternoon earlier.” We both had a free period before our training sessions and met here for a little exercise session of our own—one that involved no clothes and a lot of bare skin.
Mason put a container of queso on the counter, and I unscrewed the lid and dipped a finger into the creamy melted cheese mixture. With my eyes glued to his, I brought my finger to my lips, sucking it clean before releasing it with a soft pop.