Page 96 of Game Plan

I frowned. “Keep the faith?”

“Yeah. Like the song. See you later. Don’t miss me too much.” And as fast as he appeared out of nowhere minutes ago, Mason was gone.

Donovan neared me. “What was that? Did some magician try to do some voodoo magic on you?”

“Kinda. I’m supposed to be in love with him now. He cast a love spell on me.”

“Did it work?”

“It’s a long story. Can we talk about it another time?”

He stared at me with furrowed eyebrows. “Sure. I can’t wait to hear all about it.”

“If only you knew.”

The next day, I was in my sociology class, listening to Donovan recount the event of his latest date. Our professor was late, so most people were busy chatting. Some students had left, but most had stayed, for now.

Someone dressed as a giant hot dog walked through the door at the back of the room, and people burst into peals of laughter. A hunch told me it wasn’t a coincidence. My heart banged in my chest, and my hands turned clammy.

“Oh no,” I murmured to myself.

“What?” my friend asked. “Do you think the hot dog mascot is part of today’s class?”

“I’m certain it’s not.” My voice sounded like a throaty whisper.

I lifted my eyes, and our gazes connected. Mason stared back at me, and I blinked, not sure what to do.

He mouthed, I’m sorry, but I’m doing it.

I shook my head. Please, don’t.

Hear me out.

“Guys, I’m not here as part of a social experiment, but because I’m madly in love with a girl who is sitting in this room right now. She once told me, a long time ago, romance movies and books have put high expectations on girls to believe in happily-ever-afters and grand gestures. So, this is me, here, proving to her I can do just that. Sweep her off her feet just like in the fictional love stories she enjoys so much.”

“No. No, no, no.” I buried my face in my hands. This was bad. Very bad.

“One day, one of my friends dressed as his date’s favorite movie character to impress her, and my girl thought it was adorable. As you can see, I’ve been taking notes for a while now. She also said that my friend dressing up scored him a second date, so the costume served its purpose.”

And now, he was retelling one of Rusty’s high school stories.

“Melinda Shepard, you’ve known for a while how I feel about you.”

Eyes roamed around the room, trying to find out who I was. My probably dark-pink cheeks were about to betray me.

Next to me, Donovan watched the scene with rounded eyes. “Mel, is he Football Hottie Number One or Football Hottie Number Two? I can’t tell with the mustard bangs.”

I grabbed his hand under the table and squeezed it tightly.

“He’s your mysterious admirer? The magician?”

Mason continued before I could confirm or deny anything. “I haven’t secured a hot balloon ride, and I won’t reenact your favorite movie scene, but I’m here to ask you on a date. Not one of our friends dates, because we have had plenty of those already, but a real date.”

“Why the hot dog?” someone called from behind me.

“When you come, do you spray ketchup or mayo?” someone else asked, laughing.

“Is that sausage as big as yours?”