Page 73 of Game Plan

I cupped my heart with a hand. “You cooked for me?”

“Yep. I had some free time after training this morning.”

“Wait. How did you find out I was sick?”

“Cassie. I bumped into her outside Hot Shot.”

Cassie? Was my roommate and Mason now friendly enough that she had told him about my catching a nasty bug? “You bumped into my roommate?”

“Yeah. We started talking, and she told me you were feeling under the weather.”

“It’s just a virus. I was feeling feverish all night, so I decided to rest today. I don’t wanna miss the meet on Sunday.”

We sat next to each other on my bed, and Mason’s hand flew to my forehead. “You don’t feel hot.” He gave me a slow once-over. His eyes rounded, and a hint of a smile graced his lips. “Shepard, are you wearing the hoodie I gave you back in high school?”

I twisted the drawstrings around my fingers. “Yeah.”

“Consider me flattered.”

“It’s mine, no?”

“Sure.” The glint in his eyes told me he was holding something back, but whatever it was, it clearly made him proud. “You do you.”

I moved to grab two bowls from the small cupboard Cassidy and I also used as a pantry and set them on my desk. Mason handed me the bag, and I poured soup into both before warming them up in the microwave set under Cassidy’s desk.

“It’s all for you,” Mason said when I offered him a bowl.

“Come on, you made it. I won’t eat alone. Have some.”

“Fine. One condition, though.”

“Name it.”

“When you want more, you let me drive you to my place. I have a full pot waiting for you there.”

“You do?” I blurted out and slapped myself mentally. If I looked too excited about it, Mason would imagine stuff and believe we were really back to being an almost couple. I had to tread carefully with him because the last thing I wanted was to lead him on or break his heart. I tried to project nonchalance instead. “Cool, but I’m sure your roommates will love a home-cooked meal later.”

“No chance. I put a note next to it saying I will hunt down anyone who goes so far as to even taste the product.”

I chuckled. “You think they’ll listen?”

“My brother knows better than to mess with my food. I’m sure he’ll warn Bailey and Rutherford to keep their hands, or rather mouths, off.”

I ate a few spoonfuls. “Mmm… I needed this. It’s really good.”

“Glad you approve.” Mason eyed me with a weird expression.

“What?”

“Are you sure you’re all right? That it’s just a virus? Perhaps I should drive you to the clinic…just to confirm it’s nothing serious.”

I rested my palm on his corded forearm. “I swear, it’s viral. Give it a day or two, and I’ll be as good as new.”

“You’d tell me if it weren’t the case, right?”

I bobbed my head. “Stop worrying, okay? It’s just a bug. Some people on the team were feeling off last week.”

“Did you call in sick to work?”