Page 133 of Game Plan

Mason slapped his chest, laughing. “All good, man. You can share your wisdom with someone else. Mel and I are doing just fine on our own.”

“Tsk-tsk. Never underestimate everrrything I can teach youuu. I might not go to college like you two smart humannns, but I have a degree in lovvve. Olddder women shagggging handsome studdds likkke me, to be exact.”

“Man, I already told you. You have mommy issues.”

“Nopppe. I have dadddy issues, Mase. Not the sammme.”

Mason sighed. “Well, those too. Anyway, can I go back to kissing my girl?”

Chase’s mouth formed a pout, and he looked like he was seconds away from breaking into tears. “You always seee her. I never seee you. I’m like a brother to youuu, no?”

“Sure you are.”

“I’ve misssed you, man. A lottt. Do you still have thaaat comforter I gifted youuu?”

“He does,” I chimed in. “It’s really something else.”

Beside us, Chase smirked. “Goood. Very goood.” He spun around and walked away.

“What was that?” I asked, staring at his retreating back.

“Chase being Chase, but I think he’s not as happy as he pretends to be.”

“Talk to him later. When he’s sober. I’m sure he just needs his friend. Like he said, he misses you.”

“I will.”

Mason circled my body with his arms, and we slow danced, forgetting there was an entire world outside of us. “What did my dad want with you before we left?”

His cheek grazed mine, leaving goose bumps behind. “He told me to take care of you and that he trusted me and that I shouldn’t deceive him. He said he was happy we were finally giving it—us—a chance. Oh, and I also informed him you were not coming home tonight.”

“You did? What did he say?”

“Nothing, really. He didn’t invite me to sleep over in your bedroom, but he didn’t tell me to drive you home by midnight either. I think he can tell this is not just a random hookup, but something we’re both ready for and the beginning of something amazing.”

“You’re such a romantic. Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone. Your reputation is safe with me.” I buried my face in the crook of his neck as another love song started playing on the sound system somewhere. “Who made the playlist?”

“Sheldon. He promised it would be the sappiest compilation of love songs known to mankind.”

I giggled. “He really didn’t change.”

“Nope. Why should he? He’s perfect like that.”

“True.”

35

You’ve never even smoked a blunt in your life

I finished curling my hair and gave myself an appreciative nod in the mirror. I couldn’t tell if being in love was changing the way you looked, or if it was just the brightness of Mason’s bathroom, but I swore my cheeks always looked like I’d applied blush these days, and my hair was shinier. I changed into a dark denim skirt and knee-high boots, paired with an off-white tank top under a bubblegum-pink vest. Tonight, I was having dinner with Craig and Mason. They had insisted on inviting me to the Thai place I liked so much to make up for the mess they caused when they’d crashed my date with Jett. Family bonding session, they called it, which was fine by me.

I was about to fix a blue gemstone stud to my ear when it slipped from my fingers and landed in the waste basket by the vanity. “Ugh,” I said, mostly to myself. I would have to empty the entire thing in order to find my tiny earring.

Kneeling on the tiled floor, I sighed and flipped the trash can over. Used tissues and condoms—super gross even if they were ours—cotton swabs, bandage, and tampon wrappers. I should get Mason a trash can with a lid to avoid future encounters with the disgusting content.

I lifted another tissue and stopped mid-movement, my eyes widening and my jaw going slack at the sight of the small object it covered.

A swirl of anger and fear churned inside me. I had no idea how I was supposed to feel right now.