Page 86 of Game Plan

“She’s a big fan of yours too.”

“Remember when she asked if you and I were having sex last year when I got sick? Gosh, that was mortifying.”

“Yeah. She was heartbroken when our relationship crumbled. She explained stuff to me about everything you were going through. It helped me understand and accept the fact I had lost you. She also told me that if back then wasn’t our time, it didn’t mean later wouldn’t be. It softened the sting, knowing that in life, things are rarely ever truly over—for the most part.”

“My roommate told me something similar a while back.” I paused. “The day I came to your house with that letter, your mom hugged me for the longest time. She made me feel like I wasn’t so broken inside. We really connected.” I closed my eyes for a millisecond, pushing my emotions down to avoid crying at the memory of the girl I had been and how sick I’d really been, even though I had pretended otherwise. “I know what my third thing is.”

Curiosity brightened Mason’s gaze. “What?”

“All this Crestwood U stuff you bought for me, I brought it here with me. I never could have thrown any of it away. It was the sweetest thing someone had ever done for me, and I felt so guilty for dating Jayden that day. Just so you know, I never meant to hurt you or flaunt my relationship in your face. We just spent a lot of time together during the winter break, and he felt like a safer choice…for my heart.”

Mason paddled with his hands until we faced each other. “Was he?”

“Yes, he was the safer choice…but not necessarily the right one.”

He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat. “Are you two still in touch?”

I shook my head. “Nope. I don’t think we were ever meant to last anyway.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. He was my shield. It wasn’t fair to him, but it’s the truth. I’m sorry I hurt you in the process. I never truly hated you. I was just too proud to let you in after you found out about my situation. I should have been the one telling you about it, instead of your finding out like you did.”

He extended his hand and intertwined our fingers. “It’s okay. We’re past that now.”

“You think?”

He grinned, the pain that had filled his eyes so far today vanishing. “I know it.”

Thirty minutes later, I finished blow-drying my hair and dressed in a pair of leggings and a butter-yellow knitted off-shoulder cardigan. Mason had football practice in twenty minutes, and we were supposed to meet in the hallway outside the locker rooms before going our separate ways. We had spent more time in the pool than planned, chatting without the pressure of the outside world. I was happy with the physical therapy work we had done and was hopeful it could help him heal and get the full motion of his shoulder back.

I hoisted my duffel bag over my shoulder, ready to leave the locker room, when the lights went out. Panic dug its claws into me. Using my phone as a flashlight, I approached the door and tapped the magnetic pad with my key card. Nothing. The light that usually flashed green didn’t this time.

I yanked at the door handle, but it wouldn’t budge.

This was not funny.

All the feelings I’d experienced the night I got locked inside the staff restroom at Lola’s returned, tenfold.

Was someone following me and keeping me hostage in dark rooms for fun?

I tried my key again without success. I paced the room, praying the motion sensor would turn the lights on, but it did nothing. The room was still plunged in darkness, with only the green emergency exit signs on the far wall casting a faint glow. My heart thundered in my chest, and my breathing turned shallow. I was point two seconds away from bursting through the door but held back, knowing it would trigger the alarm. Then the emergency vehicles would arrive, and I’d have to explain myself. All complications I didn’t need.

I kicked the door, pulled at the handle once more, and tried my key card half a dozen times. I wasn’t being paranoid. I was really locked in here. Cold sweat prickled at the back of my neck.

I looked at the phone in my hand, and some of the panic ebbed away. Why didn’t I think of calling someone sooner? I was about to dial Mason’s number when the lights flickered back on. I tapped my key card in one last attempt. I held my breath, counting the seconds in my head. The light flashed green, and I rushed out of the locker room, only to bump into Mason standing on the other side of the door. He caught me with both hands so I wouldn’t fall on my butt in my haste.

“Hey, what’s going on? Why are you crying?”

I had not even realized my cheeks were wet until he mentioned it. “I was…I was trapped. I couldn’t get out. It was dark. I freaked out.”

He drew me into his arms, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. “Hey, it’s okay. It was just an outage. The janitor told me they’re doing electrical work in the basement, and they must have turned the power off for a moment. Then the whole system had to be rebooted. I came here to check if you were all right. I think they assumed no one was in here. You’re safe now.”

My entire body trembled against his. I must have looked so silly.

“I didn’t know you were afraid of the dark.”

I wiped my teary eyes and leaned back. “I am not. It’s just…” I breathed in to calm the tremors in my voice. “The other night, I got locked in the restroom at work. I…I have a feeling the lock wasn’t defective.”