Page 43 of Game Plan

I couldn’t care less about stats and fantasy football or cup winners. Or the college hockey Frozen Four tournament.

My shoulders sagged, and I peeked at my phone in my purse, trying to check the time as subtly as possible. We weren’t even an hour into the date. How could time pass so slowly? I wished I could teleport myself far from here. At least the food was good. The only saving grace of this awful night.

At some point, a hand reached for mine under the table. It shot me with tingles and filled my lower belly with liquid heat. Something I hadn’t felt in a very long time. Almost a year, to be exact.

I kicked his foot and gave him a pointed look, but Mason watched me with a raised brow. I poked my tongue out and made a show of yanking my hand away just to win this round, but his fingers tightened around mine, keeping them prisoner. I hit his knee with mine under the table, and he shrugged, barely able to contain the smug curl stretching his lips. I sighed. I wasn’t in the mood for a fight or to have the last word just for the sake of it, so I dropped the act and relaxed under his familiar touch. If he couldn’t have my heart, at least he could have my hand for a few minutes.

Jett laughed at something Craig said and draped one arm around my shoulders, drawing me closer. He hadn’t even spoken to me in almost ten minutes, but it was nice to see he remembered I was still here. I used the distraction to free my hand from Mason’s grip. Even though it wouldn’t be leading anywhere after tonight, I was on a date with Jett. Not Mason. My brain and my body had to come to terms with the fact and remember it. Depending on Mason right now would be a terrible idea. Sure, it would be easy to do so and fall into old patterns, but it would also send all the wrong signals. Knowing him, he would believe I was going along with his shady excuses to spend time together tonight. No, I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of thinking he had won me over.

“You’re all high school friends?” Jett asked between bites.

“Yep. Same hometown.” Mason winked at me. “Actually, Mel here is our neighbor. We kinda grew up together.”

“For real?”

Both brothers nodded.

What am I even doing here? I should just go to my dorm and watch a movie or something. Tonight was my only night off this week, and I can’t believe I got dragged into this circus.

For a second, I hoped Jett would snap out of his fangirling moment and realize he had invited me to have dinner with him in the first place. By now, it was probably wishful thinking. I could make a scene and leave, because I was really tempted to, but I’d been busting my ass all week, and I was tired and needed a break. From engagements, schoolwork, and my everyday existence. You should get that break elsewhere with someone who cares. And now my thoughts had too much room to drive me nuts. I toyed with the food on my plate. Not because I was counting calories, but because it seemed like the only way to entertain myself right now. If I sent Cassidy a 9-1-1 text message, would she pretend she needed me in order to save me from this nightmare? Or she could come here, and we could get a table together. Or maybe Donovan was free and had some time to kill too.

Jett angled himself to face me, and I pushed my escape thoughts aside. “I thought you said you hated football players the other day…” His tone was low, almost a whisper. “But tonight, I learned you’re friends with two of the best ones in the history of Michigan.” He rubbed his clean-shaven jaw, his eyes locked on mine.

Why did he make me feel like he cared all of a sudden? He was Jules’s brother. She’d vouched for him. We had fun the other night. Why was the chemistry lacking tonight?

“I’m confused.”

“It’s complicated,” I muttered under my breath. “Long story.”

He studied my face a little longer. “Wanna talk about it?” And now he sounded like he really did care. For the longest time tonight, he didn’t acknowledge my existence, and now he wanted me to confide in him. Guys were so confusing—or idiots—sometimes.

I shook my head. “Not really. And certainly not now.”

“Mel dated a Cowley High player back in high school. He broke her heart.” Craig nodded at me, coming to my rescue, and I thanked him by nodding back. He didn’t know what had gone down between Jayden and me, but I was thankful he saved me from explaining Mason’s and my complicated relationship to my date.

Jett’s eyes traveled between us. “Oh, I get it now. I won’t pry if you’re not ready to talk about it.”

“Thanks,” I muttered, my eyes locked on my plate. At least he was decent about it.

“You guys wanna know about my hockey stats this year?” my date offered after he polished his food, excitement clear in his voice. “I swear it’s my best year yet, and we’re just a few weeks into the semester.”

Mason encouraged him with a nod. “Do tell, man.”

The rest of the night unfolded pretty much the same. Jett laughed as the Pierce brothers regaled him with football stories from their high school years, slipping in his own accomplishments in between, while I sat amongst them, mostly silent, nodding here and there when addressed.

This time, when Mason’s fingers intertwined with mine under the table, I didn’t yank my hand away. They felt like a lifeline, and I enjoyed the feeling. The left side of my body pressed against his, and when he extended an arm along the backrest behind me and twisted a strand of my hair around his finger, I relished the contact of our bodies. My date was ruined, and for now, I was done fighting the sizzling chemistry Mason and I shared.

Jett and I wouldn’t go out again since he was more interested in my neighbors than in me.

“Ready to go?” he asked me after he insisted on paying the check for the four of us.

I shrugged. “Yeah. Sure.” I was sure my face said I’ve been for a while if you hadn’t noticed, but I faked a smile nonetheless, still not willing to have bad blood with my friend’s brother.

We all moved to stand, and some discomfort enveloped us as we stared at one another, nobody saying a word.

“Hey, it was nice meeting you,” Craig said, offering Jett his palm and breaking the awkwardness of the moment once again. “I’ll make sure to catch one of your games.”

“You too. It was a great surprise. What a small world.” Jett smiled like a fool. At least one of us had fun tonight. “Come on.” He grabbed my hand and motioned for me to follow him.