Page 128 of Game Plan

I nodded. “Yes. Can’t wait. Where’s the party?”

“The cabin by the lake.” In high school, Jackson, one of Mason and Craig’s teammates on the football team, always threw big bashes at his uncle’s cabin, and it had become a tradition over the years. We had attended a couple of parties together last year when we were friends.

“I’m not sure I⁠—”

Mason cut his brother short. “Shhh. Jax gave me one rule. Craig isn’t allowed to sit this one out. Broken hearts are for pussies. His words, not mine. Sorry, bro.”

I glanced at him over my shoulder. He was shaking his head, slouching lower in the backseat with his arms crossed over his chest. “Whatever,” he grumbled. “Maybe getting drunk is exactly what I need.”

Mason gave me a worried look. I wish he would talk to me and tell me what went down, he mouthed.

I know, I mouthed back, squeezing the hand he had wrapped around my upper thigh.

We stopped to grab food from a burger joint and decided to eat in the car.

My boyfriend washed down his food with a sip of lemonade. “I can’t believe we’re gonna see everyone tonight. It’s been too fucking long.”

“I don’t wanna see them,” his brother said. “The only person I wanna see won’t be there, so what’s the point, right? No offense, Mel.”

“None taken.”

“Look, it’s my birthday, and it will be good for you to be surrounded by your friends for a night. People who knew you before you became a broody motherfucker.”

Craig pushed a handful of fries into his mouth. “Whatever.”

For the rest of the drive, we remained mostly silent, letting music do the talking as we all got lost in our thoughts.

Mason was pulling into the driveway of his childhood home when Craig’s voice boomed from behind us. “Have you guys told your folks you’re dating?”

Mason and I both shook our heads.

“Wow, I can’t wait to see how it unfolds when Mr. Shepard learns you’re shagging his daughter, bro.” As soon as the words passed his lips, he jumped out of the car, his duffel bag in hand, stomping toward the front door without looking back.

Mason let go of my thigh and rubbed his forehead with a knuckle. “Jesus, what is wrong with him? Can he be more of a fucker right now?”

I traced the side of his face with my fingers. “It’ll be okay, Mase. My dad is not that scary.” I flashed him a big, toothy grin. “Anyway, he’s always been a big fan of yours. You should come over for dinner. Break the ice. Be done with it once and for all.”

“What happens when he asks us where I plan to spend the night? I can’t lie to your dad. He’ll see right through me.”

I felt my face warming up. “Huh, maybe we don’t need to be one hundred percent honest here. Officially, we’re both staying in our own bedrooms for the length of our stay. In reality, you’re coming to my room every night, climbing the wall like a knight in shining armor rescuing a princess.”

“Are you calling yourself a princess, Shepard?”

I chuckled. “I would never dare to do so.”

“You should start using the word Queen instead, because Shepard, you’ll forever be my queen.”

“Geez, you sound so⁠—”

“So what? Fabulous? Smart? Incredible? Right? Pick one, love.”

“All of the above. I love you.” I leaned across the console to kiss him. Soon, his tongue sought mine, and I moaned in delight as the kiss turned dirty and Mason glided his hand under my sweater, spreading shivers all over my abdomen.

“Fuck, I want you. Like, now. We haven’t come up with a plan for when I wanna get into your pants and it’s not nighttime yet.” He deepened the kiss, his palm molding to my breast as he pushed the cup of my bra up. He pinched my sensitive nipple between his fingers, and I could barely remember my own name as a million sensations surged through me.

“I want you too. Would it be rude if we didn’t go inside and left instead? You know that gravel road behind the old warehouse? We could drive there.” I watched him watching me with a spark in his eye, probably mirroring mine.

“Oh, I like your dirty mind, love.” Mason kissed me one last time before leaning back in his seat and firing up the engine.