Chapter 28 #3
“No. She was supposed to ride here with me. She wasn’t feeling well when we drove back after the game. She said her stomach bothered her, and she felt nauseous.”
“Dammit. I should go to her. See if she’s okay.”
She laid a hand on my chest. “She made me promise to tell you not to leave the party. She said you deserve to have fun tonight and enjoy every second and that she would talk to you in the morning. I think it’s that time of the month.”
“Oh.”
“Mase. I don’t wanna be a party pooper, but I think something else is going on with her.”
I took a sip of my drink. “What do you mean?”
She hesitated for a second, twisting a strand of her hair around a finger. “Forget it, okay? I’m sure I’m being paranoid.”
She moved to leave, but I stopped her. “Babe, what are you not telling me?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll let you know if it’s serious. It’s better if you don’t get mixed up in this, or she’ll get mad at you.”
“Paige. Talk. Now.”
“Mase, I’ll deal with it and let you know if you need to get involved. It’s going to be okay. I’ll catch up with you later.” She weaved through the mass of people toward the living room where I knew most of my teammates were.
An unknown sensation weighed heavily on my heart. Had I missed something? What had Paige noticed that I hadn’t?
Before I had time to think it through, two sets of arms lifted me up, and the crowd parted as the guys carried me further into the house. “Mason Pierce, the best captain this team has ever had.”
Deafening cheers and wolf whistles resonated all around me. A bottle of beer was handed to me, and a cardboard crown decorated with fake blue and gold gemstones was placed on my head.
Chase stood on a chair and motioned to everyone to shut up with a hand. From the width of his smirk, I could tell he was wasted.
“Are you giving a speech?” I asked, not drunk enough not to remember tonight.
“Tryinnng to.” He slurred his words a little bit.
“Mase. You are my bestest best friend. I-I’m not sure I wouldn’t be in juvie right now if you hadn’t been in my life and convinced me to give…
to give football a try when I used to be a little shhhit back in middle school.
I’m glad you stuck by my side all these years.
Even when things got…huh…tough and I couldn’t go home, you never made me feel like a burden.
Youuu’re not only my best friend, sorrry, Craig, but also my brother and a guy everyone should look up to.
You-you’re royalty on the field and one hell of a QB.
” He lifted a finger. “Seriously, I’m not sure that right arm of yours is human.
Anyway, I’m proooud we won State today.” He raised his hand over his head, showing our championship ring.
“Whatever I do next, I…I can say that for once in my life—or twice if we count last year’s victory too—I’ve been a…
I’ve been a freaking champion. My dad wouldn’t agree with this…
huh…statement, but right now, he can go to hell.
Anyway, I am a champion and I feel like one and I have youuu to thank for it.
And Pierce Senior, because he-he caught that pass and youuu guys made history today.
It was wilddd, and I still…I still can’t believe we won. I lovvve you fucking much.”
My throat closed, a bunch of emotions stuck there. It was weird having my best friend make a speech about me. Sheldon and my brother lifted their drinks in my direction and nodded. I did the same.
“Thanks,” I told my best friend. “I love you too, man.”
The guys lowered me to the floor, and I adjusted my shirt.
“Now that the season is ovvver, people, let’s get this party started.” Chase stumbled when he tried to jump from the chair, and two girls broke his fall, nestling themselves under his arms. He grinned like he had won the lottery before leading them away.
I shook my head. I didn’t need this—a girl under each arm ready to be at my beck and call. I had something more special to protect now. A relationship—or an almost-relationship, if you cared about semantics. A special someone to care for. One who would love me back too.
When Paige dropped Craig and me home around two, I contemplated climbing the house next door to Melinda’s room.
I wanted to sleep beside her, holding her, and to wake up with her in my arms. Then I recalled the last time I’d climbed the wall to her bedroom while drunk, which had almost killed me, and I chose to wait until I was sober to give it a try.
If she was sick, she was probably already asleep by now anyway.
Waking her up for my own selfish needs wasn’t my best idea.
After I studied the Shepards’ house for a bit longer, I followed Craig inside after Paige drove away.
“I-I’m in lovvve with her.” I kicked my shoes off once the door clicked behind us. “And it hurts when I can’t…when I can’t see her for more than a few hours.”
“It’s about time you admitted it out loud. Now you know how it feels.” My brother said nothing else as we both climbed the stairs to our bedrooms.
I hated it when he was wiser than me.