Page 62 of Kickoff

17

I’m not a heartless jerk

“Wow, this is beautiful,” my date told her best friend as we walked into the gym and took in the decor. Printed in gold letters on a navy-blue background, the Elk River High logo was surrounded by an arch made of different-sized balloons in the same shades—the colors of our varsity teams. A photo booth with accessories from mustaches on sticks to yellow and bright-pink vintage speech bubbles was set up in a corner. Giant, clear balls filled with golden fairy lights lined the space.

“Babe, you guys did good,” I told Paige, who scanned the gym as if to make sure it looked as it was supposed to. We fist-bumped, and her smile widened.

Beside me, Craig sighed and pulled his girl closer. He was so fun to rile up.

“C’mon,” she told him, leading him further inside the gym. “Let’s dance. We cannot ruin a good song.” She watched us over her shoulder. “You guys coming?”

“Absolutely.” They disappeared into the crowd. With a swirl of my arm, I offered Melinda a hand. Before she could glide her palm into mine, Tanya slid between us. Anger rippled from her, and she pushed me back with all the strength of her petite size.

“What the hell, Mase. I asked you twice if you were coming to Homecoming and offered we go together, and each time you said you were not setting a foot in the gym tonight. Since when are you a stupid liar?”

She crossed her arms over her burgundy dress, pushing her tits up, not even being subtle about it.

I scratched my forehead. “Well, something came up.”

“It’s tradition for the homecoming king and queen to attend together. What will people say? You are making me look bad.” She closed her eyes and inhaled. When she reopened them, determination flashed in her gaze. She fisted her hands at her sides, and I could tell she was about to deliver one of her poisonous spiels. “Drop this loser, and I’ll tell my date we’re over. No need to play hero to your brother’s sloppy seconds.” Her fingernails clawed my sleeve. “Come on, follow me. You’re late, and they’re gonna announce the winners soon.”

Standing behind her, Melinda gasped.

Tanya pulled at my arm, but I didn’t budge. “C’mon, Mase.”

I jerked my arm away, and a growl passed her lips.

“Did it ever cross your mind I didn’t agree to go with you because I didn’t want to go with you?” I quirked one brow, waiting for that piece of information to register in her head.

There. Tanya’s eyes rounded, and a curse left her mouth. Hurt filled her eyes. “You don’t mean that.”

“Yes. I do. In fact, I’ve been wanting to invite Mel all along.”

Before I could anticipate her next movement, Tanya’s tiny palm connected with my cheek, the sting radiating across the left side of my face.

“When did you become such a jerk, Mase?” Her high-pitched voice injured my eardrums.

The smirk I often used as a shield over the years curled my lips. “Never said I wasn’t one.” With an arm, I reached around her for Melinda’s hand, who stood still behind the cheer captain. “Sorry about that,” I told Melinda, winding an arm around her waist and erasing the gap between our bodies. “By the way, Tanya, call Mel a loser once more or insult her in any way or any form, and you’ll see what I’m really made of. And also, don’t ever hit me again. You’ve been warned.” I turned to my date. “Let’s go.”

I ushered Melinda away, caging her body with mine, evading Tanya’s blood-chilling shrill and dagger-throwing gaze. We stopped by the refreshment table. “Mase, you sure you wanna do this…you know…if you prefer to be with her…huh…it’s okay.” Her voice quivered in hesitation, and she avoided looking at me. I hated the resolve painting her features. My brother’s words from earlier replayed in my head.

Prove to her you’re willing to change. Be who you really are, instead of a jackass. Make her see that she can count on you. And that you’re over the bullshit you feed everyone else. If you’re honest and show her the real you, I have no doubt she’ll fall for you too…if she hasn’t already.

Determined to prove to her I was sincere, I cupped her face with both hands and tilted her neck, forcing her eyes to meet mine. “Mel. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be here tonight. I only agreed because it was you. I wouldn’t have come for anyone else. Already told you. Don’t let her jealousy and her insecurities get to you.”

Her bottom lip trembled, and I hoped she understood everything I was saying and all that I wasn’t. Her turquoise irises stayed glued to mine as if asking a bunch of silent questions. “But⁠—”

“No but, Mel. I don’t care about Tanya or anyone else. I swear. And I meant what I told her. Every word.”

“Oh.”

Like a magnet, my gaze fixed on her plump glossy-pink lips, parted in surprise. The ones I wished I could kiss right now. Too soon. Baby steps. I had to be sure Melinda was seeing me for who I was before I attempted sweeping her off her feet or else I risked scaring her the same way I did when we were middle-schoolers. I had learned my lesson back then, and I was resolved not to make the same mistake twice.

“You know what? If we’re doing this, we’re doing it right.”

“W-what do you mean?” Her voice sounded so small I could barely hear it over the music.

“Let’s dance.” I steered her toward the center of the gym, never releasing her hand. The feel of her skin against mine was powerful enough to inject me with calm, and I hoped everyone would understand Melinda Shepard was mine and not to be messed with. It was a bit possessive of me, but I couldn’t care less. For once in my life, I would stake a claim, and so be it. The only difference between now and five years ago was that I wouldn’t call dibs on her with my words and put her on the spot. I would let my actions speak for themselves.