Page 107 of Kickoff

“I’ve always liked being in control too. We have that in common. It’s the first time I have let someone else in, and I’m still not used to it. It’s the first time I have let my emotions do the talking too.” I shrugged. “Maybe we can learn how to do it together.”

She wrapped her arms around my neck. “I’d like that, but… I’m not the person you think I am.”

I tried to lean back, but Melinda tightened her grip around me, making it impossible for me to see her face. “What does that mean?”

“Nothing. Forget I said anything.” She paused. “Did you really mean it when you said I was pretty?”

“Mel, I would never lie to you.”

She relaxed against me, and I held her close, enjoying the bond that had emerged between us. For the longest time, we hugged each other, not saying anything. It felt as if our bodies and our souls could mend the distance that had materialized between us in the last ten minutes.

Leaning back, she brushed my cheeks with her fingers and offered me a hint of a smile. “Mase, for what it’s worth, you are pretty too…for a boy.”

A loud chuckle tumbled out of my mouth. A load of memories from our younger selves replayed in my mind. Years later, Melinda Shepard still enticed me as much as she confused me. Maybe we’d be all right after all.

27

We need this. You and me

“Why are we heading toward the cabin?” Melinda asked from the passenger seat. “I thought we were going home.”

“I know, but Jax texted and said he messed up. It sounded urgent. And you know what it means. I’m not going to abandon him when he needs me. It shouldn’t take long.”

“Fine.”

I was almost relieved that when we left Beans, my teammate sent me a nine-one-one text. After Melinda and I argued over my past fuckboy persona, I wasn’t ready to let go of her just yet. I needed more time by her side, wanting us to go back to the way we’d been lately. This awkwardness between us made me uncomfortable in my own skin. I lacked the words needed to convince her we could be it if given a real chance.

I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel. “Sheldon called last night and said he was throwing a party tomorrow to celebrate my birthday. You’re invited too. He told his parents he was having a pre-Thanksgiving barbecue with some friends, and they bought it, so we’ll be meeting at his place around nine if you can make it.”

“I work tomorrow night until eleven, but I’ll try to make an appearance afterward. I took more hours at the movie theater since school is off this week for Thanksgiving. I’ll check if Paige is going, and maybe we can share a ride.”

I nodded. Melinda’s back was ramrod straight, and her smile hadn’t fully returned. She still seemed a bit shaken about our earlier confrontation, but at least now we were talking to each other instead of screaming.

I stretched my arm and enveloped her hand in mine. “Are we okay?” I needed the confirmation we were fine. That whatever our fight was about, we would get over it.

“Yes.”

I didn’t release her hand as I took the exit leading to the cabin belonging to Jackson’s uncle. “I wonder what he did. I swear, the guy only thinks with his dick.”

Melinda snickered. “Like someone I know…or how he used to be.”

I sighed. “Touché.” If her sense of humor had returned, we were halfway back to our normal selves.

I drove on the dirt road along the lake, killed the engine, and turned toward her. “Come inside with me? In case it takes longer than I planned, or he’s handcuffed to a bedpost and I need a witness to confirm it really did happen. One day, he’ll meet his match, and it will occur for real.”

“You think some girl left him there and ran away with the key?”

“Who knows? It’s a possibility. With him, nothing surprises me anymore. And I’m best friends with Chase, so can you imagine?”

“Chase is terrible.”

“I won’t argue with that statement. I swear, these guys always think after they act. I can’t figure out how they can be so good on the field and so idiotic off it.”

“My parents used to say the same thing about my brother when he still lived with us. Like he never thought about the consequences before he acted. I hope he’s done doing stupid shit nowadays.”

“Any news? It feels like he’s never been around much.”

“Nah. He’s in Nashville, playing gigs in bars, hoping to get a record deal. He’s not really the chatty type, never has been, so I’m not sure what else is going on in his life.”