Page 48 of Game Plan

He was being stupid on purpose. That had to be it.

“Because there is no us.”

“Because you won’t give us a chance. Because you’re scared of being honest with yourself about your feelings.”

“It’s not that… It’s really not. We’re just wasting time right now. I thought I’d made myself clear already.”

He snorted. “I would believe you if you actually looked like you meant it, which hasn’t happened yet.”

“I do mean it.” Why did my reply sound weak even to my own ears? I hated how he was always able to read me. It was annoying as hell.

Mason stepped closer and brushed my hand with his fingertips. Shivers traveled through the length of my body. “Then, Mel, tell me why you shiver every time we touch.” He cupped my cheek with a big, muscular hand. “Or why your bottom lip trembles every time I do this.” He smoothed its length with a thumb, releasing a flock of butterflies deep in my core.

Despite myself, a soft moan escaped my lips, and I pressed my cheek into his palm, my eyelids fluttering shut. Gosh, I really was weak around him.

“Or maybe you can explain this?” He locked his gaze on mine, and I couldn’t think, couldn’t talk, couldn’t do anything as I lost myself in the pools of his eyes, their power over me trumping everything else around me, even the control of my own mind.

After what felt like infinity, I snapped out of it with a shake of my head, taking a step back. “I’m not… It’s not…”

He raised one eyebrow, his gaze not faltering while he studied my face. “Not what?”

I swallowed and remained silent, not sure what to say.

Mason took my hand in his. “Mel, I’ll ask you one question. Why did you and Jayden break up? The truth.”

I jerked away from his touch. “None of your business.”

“Try again. Did he dump you? Did he mistreat you? Did you grow tired of pretending he was the one?”

“Again, none of your business. To be clear, he never mistreated me. He loved me, so… Anyway, I’m here, and he’s far away… The distance didn’t help.”

“Did you love him?”

“He was my boyfriend for eight months. What kind of question is that?”

“His being your boyfriend means nothing, and since when do you answer questions with questions?”

“Why are you asking so many questions, then?”

“Why won’t you answer them, then?”

“Because…”

“Fine. Whatever. Keep lying to yourself. Come find me when you decide to be honest.”

I hesitated a little, but the words spilled out of my mouth before I could lock them in. “Jayden and I…we…we never…it wasn’t like that. I wasn’t… We didn’t….”

“You didn’t what, Mel?”

“Nothing. Forget it. It doesn’t concern you anyway.”

“You sure? I have a feeling it does to some extent.”

“Well, don’t get ahead of yourself because it does not. This conversation is over for real now. I’m leaving.”

“Okay.”

Neither of us moved, still staring at the other, the weight of the thousand confessions we hadn’t shared sitting heavy between us.