Page 149 of Game Plan

“We cannot ruin a good song.”

“Okay then. Remember, you asked for it.” He sang at the top of his lungs, not a care in the world he was off-key, and his rhythm was completely off.

We both burst into a fit of laughter.

Swaying his hips, he took my hand in his and twirled me around. “I’m happy, Shepard.” He held me at the waist, keeping me close as he ground against me before stepping back and twirling me again.

“I am too.” For once, I felt completely and utterly at peace. The dark clouds shadowing our lives had parted. “Thanks for never giving up on me.”

“Say it, Shepard. Be honest.”

I moved closer, rising to my tiptoes, kissing him. “You were right. All along, I should have listened to you. I’m also glad we waited, and we both are fully invested in this. Did you⁠—”

A loud voice resonated from the front of the house.

“Do you think our friends are here already?”

He checked the time on the oven’s digital clock. “They’re not supposed to arrive for another twenty minutes or so. I gave them strict instructions.”

“Oh, you had planned to get me naked, then?”

“Yep. Always on the agenda, Shepard. What can I say? I just can’t get enough of you.”

“That’s so sweet.”

The voice kept screaming, louder and louder.

“It sounds like someone is upset,” Mason said. “Stay here. I’ll go check.”

“You think I’m not curious? I’m coming with you.”

We rushed to the front door.

“You fucker, I know you did this.” The voice boomed louder when Mason opened the door.

He turned to face me and frowned before I could see what the commotion was about. “It’s a guy from the team. I think he’s wasted. Don’t get involved.”

“If your whore and her stupid friends had minded their own business, Pierce, things wouldn’t be such a mess right now, and I wouldn’t have been humiliated in front of everyone. And my old man wouldn’t be disowning me.”

Mason stepped outside, and I followed him.

“Who are you calling a whore?” he asked.

“Your girl, man. She’s a fucking cunt. You two make such a great pair.” He snorted. “Yeah, a match made in heaven. You think you’re the football king with your oh, so virtuous no drink no junk food policies, and she’s just a stuck-up nosy bitch who can’t keep her stupid mouth shut.”

Mason jumped onto the pathway, skipping the steps leading to the front porch. “Nichols, I am giving you two seconds to reword your accusation, and I’m only being nice because we play for the same team. If you have something to tell me, now is the time. Otherwise, get the hell away from my house. No matter what, don’t disrespect Mel ever again. I’m warning you for the first and last time.”

“I’ll call her your whore as many times as I see fit. You should put a leash on her before she causes more trouble. Or maybe a muzzle. Yeah, that would do the trick. That’s what that bitch deserves. If I were you⁠—”

Mason’s fist connected with the side of Evan Nichols’s jaw before he had time to finish his rant. It was a Nathan Bellevue déjà-vu all over again.

Blood oozed from the corner of Nichols’s mouth.

“I’ll get a washcloth and some ice,” I said, unable to tear my gaze away from the two guys, panting, fists clenched and ready to punch.

“No. Don’t.” Mason’s voice drowned the hammering of my heart. “Stay here. Or better, stay inside. The fucker doesn’t deserve your help. He’s leaving. Unless he’s looking to get his ass beaten by the rest of the team at practice on Monday.”

“Mase, watch out.”