Page 132 of Game Plan

My boyfriend rolled his eyes. “Let me do the honors next time.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Chase walked away.

A mirror ball was hanging from the living room ceiling, dozens of colorful balloons were pinned to the walls, and what looked like a photo booth had been set up near the door leading to the backyard. “How did this happen? When we arrived, it wasn’t like that.”

“You sure?” my date teased with a crooked grin.

“Seriously, it’s like we’ve stepped into an alternate universe. The setup looks too fancy to be just a birthday party.”

Mason opened his arm, gesturing to the space. “Mel, I promised you a prom do-over. Let me present you with Elk River High Prom 2.0.”

“But I thought we were celebrating your birthday. It’s kind of a big deal, Mase. You’re turning eighteen. We could do prom another time.”

He shrugged. “We are celebrating my birthday. Who said we can only celebrate one thing at a time? When I told Chase about my idea the other day, he decided we should have a prom do-over here tonight, and he put everything into motion.”

“He did that? For us?”

“Yep.”

People were either drinking by the punch bowl—which was spiked, no doubt—and a few couples were dancing in the living room. A group of girls was chatting in the kitchen. Everyone seemed relaxed and happy to be here. For a second, my heart pinched, and I wished Paige could be here too. If only we could go back in time, like she’d mentioned the other day, and fix everything. Other than that, tonight was perfect.

I marveled at every detail. “Mase, it’s beautiful. Tell me. How did you get my dress? I’d remember you rummaging through my closet when you came to my dorm room.”

“Cassie. She packed it for me yesterday, and I picked it up at Hot Shot. She added the shoes, which was a great touch since I’d forgotten to ask her for a pair. Donovan was there too. We chatted for a while.”

“You met with my friends to surprise me?” Happy tears built up in my eyes, and I blinked them away. “Mason Pierce, you’re always full of surprises. It’s the best prom do-over I’ve ever attended.”

“You attended many prom do-overs, Shepard?”

“Nah. I would only go to one if it was with you, Mase. Anything with you.”

He lowered his head until his mouth met mine. “Let’s dance.”

We lost ourselves in our own bubble, dancing to the first song, a Curtis Burns classic, the same one we had danced to on Homecoming night a year ago.

“Do you remember your birthday last year?” I asked.

“How could I forget? You surprised me with a cupcake and licked my chest, Shepard. It was a fantastic way to wake up. And then you fell asleep in my arms that night. It was epic.”

“I didn’t plan to spread blue icing all over your chest. It was an accident.”

“Yeah, keep telling yourself that, love. We both know you were dying to taste me even back then.”

“Gosh, you’re one of a kind, Mase.”

“I know I’m irresistible, love. It’s okay to admit it. I’ll forgive you.”

I grinned like a fool. “You make me happy.”

“That’s the idea.” He paused, tilting my chin up with a finger until we stared into each other’s souls. “Tell me, on a scale from one to ten, how good am I at this boyfriend thing?”

“A twelve. You are perfect.”

His lips descended on mine, stealing my breath away.

A strong hand landed on his back, breaking the moment, and Mason leaned away from me.

“Lovvvvers,” Chase slurred, holding on to our necks. How did he get drunk so quickly? “It was about damnnn time. I’m so happpy you two closed the deal. Unlesss you stilll need Unnncle Chase to givvve you the birds aaand bees talk. Aaand some pointerrrs.”