Page 136 of Game Plan

I swallowed, my throat feeling like it’d been carved in rocks. “A while.”

“His shoulder is nagging him?”

I nodded once, glancing down and hating how I was betraying Mason’s confidences. What other choice did I have? Lie? I had promised myself I would never lie again after hitting rock bottom last year.

“How many times?” Craig asked. “How many fucking times? You’re a health freak, and you’ve never even smoked a blunt in your life. You think injecting poison straight into your veins is smart?”

Mason’s features contorted with rage, and he pivoted on the mattress to face his brother. “It helps my game.”

“No, it does not. It makes you jumpy, and you develop tics. I could tell something was off for a while, but I was hoping you’d come to me and be honest about it. I believed it was the stress or something. It never even crossed my mind that it would be drugs, though. Soon, your dick will stop working properly, your heart will miss beats, and you’ll kill yourself slowly. Is it worth the risk? You finally have the girl you’ve been chasing since you were a kid, and you have a chance to get recruited to play pro once you graduate. I even heard a rumor you could be named captain next year. Why would you risk it all for a high? Explain it to me. Make it make sense to me, man.”

Mason spoke between clenched teeth. “You can’t understand.”

“Try me.”

“No. It’s none of your business. Let it go. You can’t just walk in here and stage an intervention.”

“Watch me.”

He cocked his head, shutting us out. “Whatever.”

“By the way, it’s my business because one, you’re my little brother, two, you’re my teammate, and three, I love you, man. I don’t wanna see you lose everything you’ve ever worked for to some drug that sooner or later will destroy you and your dreams.”

Mason brought his attention back to his brother. “I’m off my game. The guys hate my guts. My shoulder is…was bugging me. It’s not so bad anymore. I’ve been doing some aquatic therapy with Mel, but it isn’t progressing fast enough.” He dragged a hand over his face. “I needed a quick fix. I haven’t shot anything in weeks. I’ve been clean.”

“Clean? This word doesn’t even fit you, Mase.”

“You sound just like Mel. Can’t you guys trust me to make the best choices for my life, my health, and my future?”

“No. You clearly can’t. Maybe I should call Mom.”

Mason’s eyes grew big. “DON’T. I’m telling you. Don’t fucking do that. She’ll go nuts and move in here and make a mess of my life.”

“Then, prove to me you’re telling the truth. If you get drug tested tomorrow, no trace of whatever anabolic steroids you are using would show in your urine sample, right? Is this what you’re telling me?”

“I’m not stupid. Gimme more credit than this. It’s only supposed to be detectable in urine three to four weeks at the most, so no, there would be no trace if I were to be drug-tested tomorrow.”

“Good.” Craig linked his hands together, his forearms braced on his thighs, and leaned forward. “Okay, we can work with that.”

“I don’t need you to work with me, bro. I’m all good. Everything is under control. Stop harassing me.” He pointed an accusing finger at us. “Both of you.”

“You’re kidding, right?” I asked, not sure I heard him right.

“Yeah. Tonight’s dinner is canceled. Leave me alone.”

Craig snorted. “And you think we’ll listen to you when you order us around now? You fucking need us in your corner right now, man. More than you think.”

“He’s not wrong, Mase. You can’t ask us not to care about you because you don’t like being in the hot seat. You started it. You chose to use drugs. You can’t ask us to forget about it because it suits you better. I’ll go downstairs and throw something together for dinner while you two talk. Come get me if you need me.” I opened the door but watched him over my shoulder before leaving. “Hear my words, Mason Pierce. I need you. With every fiber of my being. With every bit of my heart and my soul. Don’t screw this up.”

Tears shone in his eyes at my words, and he erased the moisture with his fists. “You can’t use my own words against me, Shepard. That’s not how it works.”

Mason had said the same exact thing to me the night he’d come to my bedroom after all my secrets had been revealed, and I’d told him we were done.

“Sure I can. Because I’m aware you meant it all back then, and I mean it right now. You’re not alone, and you won’t ever be alone again. You’re stuck with me, Mase. For better or for worse.” I closed the door, releasing the breath I was holding, not sure if I should give my emotions free rein now and risk being drowned by them, or just push them aside for the time being.

Craig’s and Mason’s voices resonated through the door.

“Mase, you found the perfect girl for you. Mel is strong and cares about you. Don’t fuck it all up because you think she’d be better off without you.”