Page 47 of Game Plan

“Okay? Good? That’s all you’re going to say about it? No flippant or I-told-you-so reply?”

“Nope.” He shook his head. “Let me drive you home. You’re soaked.”

“I spend half my waking hours in a pool, Mase. I’m not scared of some rain.”

“Geez. I don’t want you to catch pneumonia. Better?”

I sighed. “Watch it. I’m really not in the mood for your concern right now. Are we done?”

“You tell me. You’re the one who barged in here, looking for a fight, interrupting my study session. Not that I’m complaining, though.”

“Jesus, Mase. Can you be more aggravating?”

A slow smile spread across his lips. “I can try.”

I dropped my shoulders. “Stop. I don’t wanna play games with you. Gosh, I’ve forgotten how good you were at this.”

“At what? Getting under your skin? Making you feel things? Having you all worked up?”

I watched him, but said nothing, not sure how to answer that because yes, I had missed all those things.

“See? You can’t deny it. I bet your relationship with Clarke was missing some serious chemistry.”

“Don’t talk about him. He’s not here to defend himself.”

Mason raised his hands in surrender. “Whoa, I haven’t attacked him. Not yet at least. For the record, we can do just fine without him around.”

If my eyes could launch missiles, Mason would be a target now.

“Murdering me with your eyes is so high school, Shepard. Untie your tongue. You’re better at this. I saw you in action at Lola’s.”

“At what?”

“Arguing with people. Bantering with me. Expressing how you feel. Passion. Rousing emotions inside me. Ones I can’t deny and want to bask in… How did Clarke make you feel? Alive? Like you were flying when you were together? Like he understood you like no one else ever did? Like he was your endgame?”

I balled my fists at my sides. “You have no idea what you’re talking about. Jayden and I… It-it wasn’t like that.”

“Wasn’t like what?”

I stomped my foot on the pavement. Why did I always end up in the hot seat? How had our roles reversed? I came here for answers, and now I was the one being grilled. I didn’t feel like explaining Jayden to Mason. If I did, he would be able to tell our relationship wasn’t meant to last. He would know even if I didn’t admit it out loud. I should walk away… I really should. But for some reason, I couldn’t leave, and I hated myself for being so weak when it came to Mason Pierce. “Forget it. You won’t understand.”

He folded his arms. “Try me.”

“No.”

“Were you guys fake-dating or something? Is that it? Was he an excuse for you to push me away?”

“Arghhhh. Mase, I would never go to such extremes to stay away from you. I thought you knew me better than that.”

“I thought so too, but I’m not so sure anymore.”

I felt defeated under the intensity of his stare. “I-I think I should go now.”

“No.”

I stared at him. “No?”

“No. We’re not done with this conversation. Why is it that every time we’re having a heart-to-heart, every time we’re talking about us, you run away?”