Page 60 of Kickoff

I begged my brain to save the situation, but instead, I blurted, “I-I thought I would see you at the party afterward.”

“The party? I barely ever go to those.”

“Well… Paige came, so I assumed that…I don’t know…you might show up too, or…”

“I-I didn’t feel like going.”

I weighed my words before I spoke them. “Is it because of what happened the last time…you know…Nate and his actions?”

Her face blanched, and I felt stupid for mentioning that night.

“Sorry… I didn’t mean to…you know…bring that up.”

I felt her palm slipping away from my forearm, so I flipped my hand around and intertwined our fingers before she severed the connection without looking away from the road in front of us. I breathed easier now that we were touching, our hands the only thread of connection between us.

We remained silent for a little while, but even our silence wasn’t awkward. As if she couldn’t take her eyes off me, Melinda turned in her seat to watch me, and I wondered how much longer I could pretend we were only friends when she stared at me with big eyes full of sparks. I felt myself melting under the intensity of her gaze. My Nathan comment seemed to have been forgotten because she smiled at me, the small action beelining straight to my heart and filling it with a fondness I didn’t know I possessed before she came into my life. Feeling self-conscious, I let go of her, my hand landing on her thigh and squeezing the flesh underneath it. Her breath caught in her lungs. I realized what I had done and brought my hand back around the steering wheel. The heated imprint of her skin lingered on mine, and I missed the contact.

“Hey, Mase. I gotta tell you something…”

“What?”

“Please don’t let that ego of yours take over, but I said something the other day, and I’m realizing now it’s not entirely true. The thing is…I once said you look better in jeans, but the truth is you look very sharp in a suit.”

I hit my chest with a fist. “Thanks. I didn’t expect a compliment, and I’m glad the suit pleases you. I’ll add ‘looks sharp in a suit’ to the list.” The corner of my mouth lifted into a mischievous smile. “Just for the record, I’ve put this much effort into my appearance tonight for you and only you.”

“Well, you nailed it. The secret-service-inspired look you’re sporting is really hot.”

“You think I’m hot?” The temperature in the car felt warmer than it did seconds ago.

She mimicked my smile. “Don’t flatter yourself. Most guys wearing suits look hot. That’s the way it is, I guess. It’s like men in uniforms. I still believe jeans should be your go-to fashion choice, but…”

“But dressed to impress, I affect you. Noted.”

Paige opened the door wide the moment we stepped on her front porch. “Ohmygod, you two are beautiful,” she said, grabbing Melinda’s hand and pulling her inside.

A light flush colored Melinda’s cheeks, and I wondered if the cool night air put it there or if it was Paige’s remark or our earlier conversation.

“Where are we going?” my date asked.

“Bedroom. I forgot my purse.”

I joined Craig, who stood by the staircase, both of us in matching black suits.

Paige spun to face us. “Guys, we’ll be right back. And thanks, Mase, for doing this.”

“Anything for you, babe.”

Hiding my nervous, wrecked state under a bright smile had become second nature to me. Just like throwing a ball and flirting. This special set of skills wouldn’t help me get a full ride to college, but maybe it could help me out tonight. I had no idea the last time so many knots had tied my stomach. So tight that my insides almost hurt.

Trying to look unaffected, I busied myself with the cuffs of my shirt as we waited for the girls to come back downstairs so we could go to Homecoming all together.

“You okay?” my brother asked.

I rubbed the column of my throat, pulling at my bowtie, trying to ease the tension coiling there.

I swallowed. Hard. “Yeah. Sure.”

“No offense, Mase, but you look like you’re gonna pass out. Do you need to sit down?”