Page 51 of Game Plan

“First, I love you too. No past tense.” Love. “And second, it was all a lie. Whatever these girls said happened never did. It’s important to me you know the truth. There was only one girl I wanted to be with during those last few months, and it was certainly not Tanya—and even less, her minions. No matter what, I wouldn’t have touched any of them. Even my dick agreed.” He huffed. “Just to be extra clear, I haven’t dated anyone since we broke up.”

“We didn’t break up. Geez, you’re so stubborn. By the way, you’ve never been the dating type, so you not dating anyone means nothing.”

“So we’re speaking the same language, and there is nothing left unsaid between us. You didn’t see me with any other girl at school because I haven’t been with anyone since you.”

“It seems like I’m not the only liar here.”

“The thing, Mel, is that I’m telling the truth. You were the last girl I held in my arms, the last one I danced or shared a bed with. The last pussy I touched. My life has circled around football, and football only, since you flushed me out of your life like an old pair of socks.”

“Don’t say things like that.”

“Like what? The truth? You want me to lie to you?”

I shook my head and exhaled. “No, but...”

“But what?”

“I thought—or rather, I hoped—you were over us. Have been for a long time.”

“Then, think again. There’s unfinished business between us, and until I have the certainty we are truly over, I won’t move on.”

I snorted. “This is stupid.”

“Not in my playbook.”

“We would never work. Better to move on now than lose precious time finding the one, Mase.”

“Mel, do you want me to move on?”

“That’s not the point. I’m not the boss of you.”

“Keep telling yourself that. I once told you I was in love with you…that I’ve been for years. Since I was eleven years old, to be precise. I don’t see that changing in the near future.”

“You can’t say things like that to me.”

“It’s a free country, so yes, I can. Do whatever pleases you with that piece of information. I gotta go. See you around.”

“Mase—”

We stared at the other for the longest time. As if we were seeing each other for the very first time. I could tell from the way he swept his lips with his tongue and scratched his temple that he was swallowing every piece of information we’d just shared. We were being brutally honest with each other for once, maybe a little too much.

“We’ll finish this conversation another time. I really need to get to practice now. Let me drive you to your place.”

I looked away. “I don’t want to⁠—”

“I never pictured you as a coward.”

His words were the same ones he had spoken to me the last time we’d had a heartfelt conversation in our high school hallway—the day he told me he loved me for the first time. My heart pinched in my chest. I needed to be over Mason Pierce—I really did—but when he stood in front of me like that, opening his heart to me, I had a hard time recalling why I had to keep him at arm’s length.

“Get in the car, Shepard.”

“Nah. I can walk.”

“It’s pouring. Don’t be ridiculous. It’s October, not July. At this rate, we’ll both be in bed with pneumonia before the night is over.”

“Says who?”

“Nurse Pierce.” He grinned at me. “Don’t make me scoop you over my shoulder, Shepard. I don’t feel super caveman right now. I’m wet, I want a shower, and the team will be waiting for me.”