Chapter 11
I’m not being cocky, just stating facts
“You’re aware of how she is. She can be intense sometimes. I was about to go nuts. We argued for an hour last night before she even considered it. I know she means well, but she’s just suffocating me,” I heard Melinda tell Paige as they were getting their textbooks from their lockers.
“I’m glad you’re back.” Paige looped her arm through hers. “You tell me if you don’t feel well, okay?”
Before she could say anything, I stole Melinda’s bag from her grip and moved to stand behind her, speaking close to her ear. “Tsk-tsk, Mel. What do you think you’re doing?”
She sucked in a breath, and shivers lined her spine and lit up my entire body as my front brushed her back. I was glad our proximity affected her as much as it affected me.
“Hello to you too.” She spun around and folded her arms over her chest, a frown creasing her forehead. It was cute when she pretended to be angry. “What do you think you’re doing?”
I mimicked her stance. “I asked you first.”
She extended one arm to grab her bag, but I held it above my head, which made it impossible for her to reach. She sighed and dropped her arm down with a grimace. “Huh…coming back to school. Isn’t it evident?”
I rolled my eyes as if she was exasperating me, not hiding the smile forming on my lips. “I mean, why are you doing the heavy lifting? I was there when your dad said you’re not allowed to train or lift anything over ten pounds for at least two weeks.”
She stretched her arm in my direction again. “It’s a book bag, not some heavy weight. Give it back.”
“No.”
“No?”
“That’s what I said. I’m not in the mood nor do I have time to weigh this thing of yours, which means I’m confiscating it. Until further notice. Not risking it.”
Paige snickered from beside her, and Melinda blinked in surprise. “You what? Stop with the nonsense.” The first bell rang. “Mase, I gotta go to class. Are you going to follow me around like a shadow and deliver my books to my classes all day?”
I smirked. “Yep. That’s the plan.”
“No. I refuse. I’m not a baby. And I certainly don’t need a sitter.”
“Well, I’m your caregiver so.”
Paige blinked. “Since when?”
“Since I’ve turned into Nurse Pierce.” I flashed them a bright smile.
“Nurse Pierce?” Paige asked, her eyes drifting back and forth between Melinda and me. “You guys are weird. It sounds like a porn reference. What am I missing?”
Melinda shook her head and sighed. “Nothing. Mase, can we not do this here?”
“If you have a complaint to lodge, you’ll have to talk to my superiors after hours.”
She sighed, looking part amused and part exasperated. “Fine. You wanna play delivery boy all day? Suit yourself.” She pivoted and removed Paige’s bag from her grip and pushed it into my chest. “Since you’re insisting, I’m sure Paige would love your services too, Delivery Boy.”
My smile turned into a full-blown grin. “My pleasure, ladies.” I waved them forward. “After you.”
Melinda held my gaze for a long moment, her annoyance vanishing.
As we walked toward their homeroom, my brother joined us, draping an arm around Paige’s shoulders and pulling her in for a kiss. “Where are you guys going?”
“Class,” Paige said.
“And what’s with all this?” He gestured to the bags hanging from my shoulder.
“Book delivery,” Melinda said.
“Using Mase’s services,” Paige added.
“Why?” My brother’s eyes traveled between the three of us.
Paige elbowed my side. “Because Mase is feeling chivalrous this morning. I think he’s scared his arms required some more weight training before Friday night’s game.”
“Whatever, I’m stealing you,” he told his girlfriend. “Just for a minute.” They disappeared around the corner, and just like Craig had done minutes ago, I rested my free arm around Melinda’s shoulders, doing my best to look confident and praying she wouldn’t push me away.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming back today?
” Wanting to test a theory, I spoke close to her ear like I had minutes ago, and once again, she shivered.
Yeah, she really was affected by my proximity.
I filed that piece of information away for later.
Along with her nurse fixation and how good I looked wearing jeans.
“I would have driven you to school myself.”
“I only learned about an hour ago that my prison sentence had been lifted.”
“That bad, huh?” I asked when we got in step
“They worry. All the time. But I’m doing much better. I had to get out of the house for my sanity. By the way, were you also listening to my conversation?”
“Never. I walked in when you were complaining about your mom.”
“I have a visit scheduled with the surgeon in three days to remove the stitches on my abdomen. Mom didn’t want me to come back to school before then.
What she doesn’t understand is that the sooner I return to my life, the happier I’ll be.
She’s like this helicopter parent who won’t let me breathe on my own.
I had enough. I miss the pool and I miss swimming.
While I was at home, I missed being here too. ”
“How long until you can resume training?”
“Two to three weeks. It’s way too long in my opinion.
I feel fine. All I did while being on bedrest was watch TV and read books I wasn’t invested in.
Mom kept checking up on me every thirty minutes.
She fed me comfort food, as she called it, and I’m pretty sure I’ve gained twenty pounds.
I have eaten enough in the last week for years to come.
I’ll have to up my training game now if I want to perform and go back to where I was or else I’ll spend my season eating other swimmers’ dust. No, thank you. ”
“I may be able to help you with that,” I offered. “Some jogging, a bit of yoga, weight training. I’m sure we can get you back in shape in no time.”
“You think?”
“I believe it. Call me Trainer Pierce.”
“Jesus, you won’t let it go, will you?” She snickered, the sound addictive. “And tell me, since when are you a yoga guru?”
“When I hurt my shoulder sophomore year, it actually helped with my flexibility, and I regained the momentum I had lost. I like to include a session or two weekly in my workout routine.” And even more so since I injured it again last summer.
“Mason Pierce in a pair of yoga pants. Never would I have thought I’d witness this one day.”
“You’ll see. People say my ass looks awesome in those. And the color of the spandex makes my eyes pop. It’s a win-win outfit. I should wear it more often.”
“Stop throwing yourself flowers. They’re almost the same as football pants.”
“And how does my ass look in football pants, Mel?”
The slight blush on her cheeks confirmed my suspicion.
My grin must have reached both ears. “Yep. No need to tell me. I can read it on your face. See? I’m aware my ass is extraordinary. I’m not shy to admit it.”
Melinda backhanded my chest. “That ego, Mase. Better watch it before it swallows you whole.”
“All under control. I’m not being cocky, just stating facts. Anyway, let me know when the doctor clears you to train again and if there are restrictions, and we’ll start from there. With the training, I mean.”
Her eyes sparkled, and she squeezed my forearm.
“Thank you, Mase.” Neither of us moved for what felt like an infinite minute.
Her fingers glided to wrap around my wrist, her thumb caressing my pulse point.
Could she feel the pounding of my heart?
Melinda stepped closer, narrowing the space between our bodies.
A loose strand of hair fell over her right eye, but before I could tuck it away, she did, and the spell that had descended upon us dissipated.
I swallowed hard as I said, “Anytime.”
We stopped by her homeroom. “Let me know if you’re sick or anything. I can hide you at my place if you don’t feel good enough to be here and you don’t wanna go home either.”
“Paige already called shotgun on that role.” She offered me a hint of a smile. “Thanks, though. For offering. I didn’t know jailbreaker host was also one of your many titles.”
“Just so you know, Paige isn’t a certified nurse. She won’t know what to do with a jailbreaker. She may report you. Just sayin’. It would be much safer to run things by me instead.”
She raised one brow. “And you are?”
“I’m the most qualified person to take care of you. No doubt about that. I think I proved it to you the other night. You can’t deny it.”
“How poetic.”
“Hey, Mrs. Belleville,” I greeted the teacher when Melinda and I walked into the classroom.
“Mr. Pierce? Have you transferred to my class and I’m not aware?”
“You wish. I know you miss me this semester, Mrs. B, but no. I’m here to deliver book bags.”
Paige joined us, her lips red and swollen and her face flushed. “Sorry,” she whispered to Melinda.
“Book bags?” The teacher’s eyes ping-ponged between the three of us like my brother’s had earlier. “Whatever. Nothing surprises me anymore when it concerns you, Mr. Pierce.”
“Thank you,” I said with a huge grin, deciding to take it as a compliment.
Mrs. Belleville stared at me over her glasses. “Who said it was a good thing?” The curl of her lips betrayed her humor. “Make it quick.” After a moment, she waved us off and turned around to answer a student’s question.
“See you after class, ladies.” I faced Melinda and took her hand in mine. “Wait for me. I’m serious.”
“Fine.” She sighed like I was asking her the impossible, but then she grinned, and I knew she would do as I said.
Feeling light on my feet, I sauntered away, humming.
When I entered my homeroom, I bumped into Lydia Santos. I’d done my best to avoid her since school had resumed. “Ugh, Mase. Watch where you’re going. Or better, stay away from me.”
Before I could prevent myself, and feeling my classmates’ stares on me, my cocky persona took over. “That’s not what you used to say.” I winked at her.
Lydia gave me a slow once-over, her red-painted lips parting. “I’m with Dave now, so you better not try anything.”