Page 65 of Kickoff

Tanya

Study time. Help a girl out, I need some real-life biology practice.

*picture of her in red lacy underwear, her tits pushed-up*

Claire

Wanna spend the weekend at my place? My parents are out of town, and we could have some fun. I have booze.

Gwen

Haven’t heard from you in a while. Someone told me you needed a date tonight. I’m available. We always have fun together *winking emoji*

My gut told me Melinda had seen the first three messages earlier when I was trying on shirts. That was why she insisted I invite someone else tonight. I locked my device like it contained some classified information I should avoid, pushed it into my pocket, and scratched the back of my head. Should I say something, or should I pretend I never saw those?

My armpits were sweating while the gears of my brain engaged. I had no idea what the right course of action in this situation was. I hated feeling like this. Like I was stuck in a dead end with no recourse. If I said something, would Melinda believe me? If I stayed mute, did I look guilty of something I never agreed to? I received a bunch of messages like this every day, and I usually deleted them without a second thought. It had been happening since I became the starting quarterback when I began high school. Dirty texts and tit pictures, girls offering themselves for a booty call. None of them surprised me anymore. Once, I even received a dick pic. No idea if it was a wrong number or a prank. I had dropped my phone on the kitchen counter then as if it was made of hot coal before picking it up and deleting the photo before my parents or my brother peeked at it.

“Are you okay?” Melinda asked as we entered the food court. “You look concerned.”

“I-I…huh… After we eat, we could hit the petting farm in the town square,” I offered. Nice save, Mase. “If you’re up to it. They’re here for the weekend only. I haven’t been to one in ages. It could be fun to go together.”

“For real?” Without releasing my hand, Melinda spun to face me.

“Yep. What do you say?”

“Yes, a thousand times. I love the goats and miniature horses.” Her smile lit up her face. “I heard they even have a miniature pig this year. I’ve always wanted one. They’re adorable.”

The girl got excited about the smallest of things. I had caught that about her in the short time we’d been hanging out together. This morning, I had checked my options after she agreed to run errands with me in case I needed a plan B for us after our shopping spree. When I saw there was a petting farm in town, I deduced it would be a safe choice after I heard Melinda speaking in a baby voice to an alley kitten the other day. And maybe, just maybe, the excitement about going there would make her forget I had girls sexting me minutes ago.

“I thought you would like it.”

“Are you kidding? I already adore it. Thank you.”

I squeezed her hand still snuggled in mine, hoping she could understand in the simple gesture what my words were unable to express out loud.

18

Swimmy. New word. It fits you

“Here you go, kids,” Mrs. Shepard said, placing a plate with brownie squares on the desk and two glasses of orange juice. “How’re the studies going?”

“By the end of this day, I should be the King of Algebra,” I said.

Melinda elbowed me in the ribs. “Cocky much?” She raised a brow, and I chuckled.

“Just around you, Mel.”

“Well, I’ll leave you to it. Keep up the good work, you two.” Mrs. Shepard disappeared through the door, the sound of her footsteps echoing down the stairs.

“Your mom loves me,” I said.

A loud sigh echoed in my ear. “Mase, you think everyone loves you.”

“What? It’s part of my charm. Moms love me. It’s a fact. What can I say? I’m irresistible.”

“You wish.”

“C’mon, Mel, be honest here and now. Even you can’t resist me. See, you’re spending your Saturday tutoring me in math because you want me to succeed. You’re not indifferent to my boyish charms. Stop lying to yourself.”