Page 46 of Game Plan

I looked away, breaking the daze I was sure I would fall into before it could capture me. Remembering why I came over, I straightened my posture and poked his chest with my finger, forcing him to step further back into his bedroom.

“Tell me the truth, Mase. Have you been following me? Are you spying on me?”

“No. Why would you say that? You’re the one standing in my bedroom right now, aren’t you?”

My fists found my hips. I was determined not to let him play mind games with me. “Don’t change the topic. I’m not in the mood.”

He scanned the length of me. “Are you here to ask Coach Pierce to train you once again? Gimme a sec. I’ll get changed, and we can go. I have practice later, though, so we have about twenty minutes.”

“MASE.” He was messing with me. There was no way he didn’t know why I was angry at him. “STOP.” I lowered my tone, trying to keep my annoyance at bay. “You’re not listening to me. I’m here because I’m mad at you. Super extra mad.”

His cockiness dissolved, and he became the Mason I used to know, his jock suit gone. He held out his hand for mine, but I stayed put, refusing to give in.

“Talk,” he said.

“Why were you at Henri’s last night? How did you know I’d be there?”

He glanced down and tapped his foot against the hardwood floor. “I’m a resourceful man and a lot of things, Mel, but I’m not a creep. I have my ways, but I would never be a sly fucker just to trick you. You know better. You know me better than that.”

I stood still, trying to process his words. “You are telling me you had no idea I’d be at Henri’s last night, then?”

He quirked one brow. “That’s not what I said.”

I pointed an accusing finger at him. “So, you admit it was all a setup.”

Mason pinched his lips together and shook his head. “I won’t admit to that because it’s not exactly true. I may have heard things. That’s all I’m willing to admit.”

“I don’t care. All the same to me.”

“Nope, it’s not.”

I flung my arms above my head. “You’re impossible. Stay out of my business from now on.” I wished I could look menacing, but I probably didn’t pull it off, so I forced a more serious expression onto my face. “I’m warning you.”

“Or what?

“Arghhhh. You know you are infuriating, right? Anyway, don’t get involved.”

Before he could add another smart-ass comment, I whirled around and rushed down the stairs, heading outside. Only to realize it had started raining by the time I reached the driveway. Great. Just what I needed: crappy weather and no car. I eyed the sky, silently begging Mother Nature for a break, when the clouds opened, and rain poured down, drenching every layer I was wearing. She must have been kidding me. How could the weather have switched so fast? Now it was as sour as my mood.

The front door opened and slammed shut behind me, and seconds later, Mason stood in front of me, the rain soaking him. “I didn’t spy on you, okay?” He shoved his hands inside the front pocket of his red hoodie. “I asked around… People were happy to provide me with the information I needed.”

I blinked, the drops of water hanging onto my eyelashes blurring my vision. Mason tugged at my arm and walked me toward the side of the house, shielding us from the downpour.

“Spying. Asking questions to people I know. Following me. Whatever, it’s all similar. Stalker isn’t a good look on you, Mase. It’s a new low.”

“I’m no stalker. I just wanna make sure you’re safe and sound. It’s not a crime. I did nothing wrong. Last night, I proved to you Jett was way more interested in my football stats than dating you. As I already said, I saved you from wasting valuable time with the dickhead, and you should be thankful.”

“I. Am. Not.” I breathed in. “Thankful, I mean.”

He shrugged. “Craig and I were due for a sibling bonding night. It turned out our restaurant of choice was the same as yours on the same night. It could just be a coincidence after all. This town is small. I always bump into people I know wherever I go. Anyway, I’m not sorry I ended up at Henri’s.”

“Well, you should be. It was wrong of you. And for the record, Jett isn’t a dickhead.”

“Are you telling me you would have gone on another date with him?” He studied my reaction.

I bit my tongue, tempted to lie to him, but knowing he would call me out on my bullshit. “No. But it doesn’t mean he’s a jerk. I was just done with him because I thought he was my type, and he’s not.”

He bobbed his head once. “Okay. Good.”