Page 65 of Game Plan

I nodded and moved further inside the house. There were people everywhere, even some dancing on the kitchen table. The beat of the bass pounded in my head, and I could barely hear anything. My feet stuck to the wooden floor with each step forward, and I suppressed a grimace. Someone hollered something on my right, and a bunch of people started cheering and clapping. From where I stood, I couldn’t see what was going on.

I passed the kitchen and noticed the countertop was trashed with empty bottles and crushed plastic cups. There were at least two dozen pizza boxes piled in one corner, and I wondered if there were any left. My stomach grumbled at the thought, but I would never dare to eat food in a place like this.

The house smelled like a mix of weed, perfumes and aftershaves, and stale beer. A whiff of incense reached my nose, but I brushed it off. Tonight, nothing surprised me anymore.

I crossed what I assumed was the living room and spotted Cassidy next to the DJ booth like Declan had said. She was surrounded by three guys and two girls I recognized from one of her psychology classes.

Our eyes met, and she called me over. She handed me a water bottle when I reached her, before jumping into my arms. “You made it.”

I smiled. “Yes. Seriously, how many people are here? I can’t believe the cops haven’t shown up yet.”

“Roomie, we are the police. We don’t need them.” She scanned around her. “Wait until you see the backyard. There are even more people crammed there. I’m not sure what these guys bribed the neighbors with so they wouldn’t report them.”

A guy wearing only a pair of boxer briefs covered with fake green palm leaves jumped from the second floor, holding on to a rope, hitting his chest with a fist, screaming at the top of his lungs. A mass of people cheered him on.

“It really feels like this is the jungle tonight,” one of Cassidy’s friends said. “I’m out of here. See you guys on Monday.”

“Seen anyone you know?” my friend asked me once she left.

“No. There is like too much sensory overload in here. I got dizzy the second I stepped inside. I know Mase is supposed to be here...or I think he is. If this is the party he told me about.”

She grew serious. “Do you wanna see him?”

I shrugged, uncapped my bottle of water, and took a long swig. “I don’t know. I’m not sure where we stand.”

“Only one way to find out.”

I sighed because I knew she was right. I couldn’t avoid him for the rest of time. As if I had summoned him, a silhouette wearing a bright-orange jumpsuit stopped in front of me. I blinked. “Mase?”

“Hey, Shepard. Miss me already?”

“I just arrived. Cassie, this is Mason. Mason, this is my friend and roommate, Cassie.”

They exchanged handshakes.

“I’ll let you two catch up. Find me when you’re ready to leave.” Cassidy walked away, and when she glanced back over her shoulder, I mouthed, Traitor.

She smirked as a reply, so I returned my attention to Mason. “Are you dressed as a prisoner?”

“Very intuitive, Shepard.”

“You cheated. You knew how I’d dress and made sure we would match.”

“No. It’s a pure coincidence. We already ruled out it happens a lot with us.”

I poked my tongue out. “You wish.”

“Believe me, I do. Go ahead and arrest my heart. I’m begging you. Please, just put the handcuffs on me already, Shepard.”

“Gosh, cheesy much. Do you know how many times I’ve got served lines like these tonight?” I raised a brow, waiting for him to answer.

“But none of these fuckers meant it. I do. I mean it all. Arrest me, torture me, do whatever you want with me, but don’t ignore me.”

“Jesus, Mase. Are you for real?”

His proud grin reached both ears. “Always. Also, I was thinking… If you don’t wanna do some role play with me, then we should exchange costumes since you’re the one who stole my heart. I should arrest you.”

“Mase, you’re impossible.”