Page 77 of Kickoff

“What’s wrong?” Paige asked her when she came to stand next to her. She scanned the space, and anger blazed in her eyes when they landed on me. “Mase, really?”

My heart sank as Melinda scurried away, Paige after her.

“Fuck.” I pushed Sarah off me and rose from the chair in one swift motion. “Hey man,” I told my brother when I passed him. “Save my seat. I’ll be right back.”

I reached Paige and stopped her with a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t. Please. Let me do it.”

She spun to face me. “What the fuck, Mase. We talked about it. Are you sabotaging your chances on purpose? Or is Sarah Beaufort your sign?”

“No.” I shook my head, glancing at my feet and rubbing my hands on my jean-clad thighs. “She’s not.”

“Well, you had your arms wrapped around her, and she was sitting on you. From where I stood, you both looked cozy together.”

I grabbed the roots of my hair and pulled. “It’s not like that. We were watching some football on her phone. Nothing else. Anyway, why am I even explaining myself to you? I gotta go. I’ll fix this.”

She rested her fists on her hips. “You better, Mason Pierce. Don’t you dare break her heart.”

I wasn’t used to Paige being angry with me. She usually was pretty chilled even when I messed up. “I will.” I weaved through the bodies filling the makeshift dancefloor in the living room and landed in the kitchen. I perused my surroundings. No sign of Melinda. My heart leaped up in my throat. I fucked it all up. Dammit. I turned around and headed for the den on the other side of the house.

I noticed her by the door, wiping her eyes. She looked over her shoulder like she could feel my presence.

I was about to follow in her footsteps when a very drunk Tanya appeared in front of me as I entered the living room, one hand cradling my face and the other fisting my T-shirt. “Masssse, baby. I missssed you. I didn’t knooow you would be here tonight. Why haven’t you callllled?”

From a distance, Melinda blinked and left the room. I lost her in the crowd.

I clamped Tanya’s wrists and lowered her hands. “Not now, Tan. And not here.”

Her bloodshot eyes rounded. “So later then? I’ve missssed you, Mase. I’ve missssed us. There’s a free bedroom on the second floor we can use. Wanna meeeet me there?”

“No. I already made myself clear. Many times. You gotta move on.”

She pouted. “But I don’t wanna movvve on. I want youuu. We’re gooood together.”

“No.” My tone was firmer this time. Her hands returned to my face, and I lowered them once again. “Tan, I gotta go. Find someone else.”

Tears shone in her eyes, and she fisted my shirt with one hand.

I closed my lids for a second and breathed out. “Geez, why are you doing this? We’re not together, and we won’t ever be. I can’t deal with you right now.” I pushed forward, and at that point, she had to let go of me. I searched the space for Melinda, but she was nowhere to be seen. “Dammit,” I screamed louder than I intended.

I crossed the room in a few strides, on a mission to find my girl. I spotted her as she cut in line and locked herself in the bathroom. “Sorry,” I said as I elbowed my way through the partygoers. I knocked on the bathroom door. “Mel? It’s me. Open the door.”

No response.

I tried the knob, but it didn’t budge.

“Mel? Can we talk? That thing with Sarah… It’s not what it looks like. I swear. I-I wouldn’t… I wouldn’t do this to you. Can I come in? I would—” Someone bumped into me from behind, and my chest hit the door. “C’mon, man,” I spoke through gritted teeth. “Get lost somewhere else.” I tried the knob again. “Mel, let me in. Please. I don’t know why I’m begging you… I did nothing wrong. Let’s talk.”

I held my breath at the sound of the door being unlocked.

My heart split in two when Melinda appeared on the other side, wiping mascara streaks down her cheeks with a piece of toilet paper. She raised a hand before I could say anything. “Not now, Mason. I don’t feel like talking to you.”

I raked my fingers through my hair. “Don’t shut me out.”

“Don’t push my buttons. I’m not in the mood.”

“Can we go somewhere else and talk?”

“Nope. Not going anywhere with you. Not now. I need some space.” She cast a glance at her feet. “I thought we… I believed that… It doesn’t matter what I… Never mind.” She looked me in the eye and delivered the final verdict that shattered my heart. “I’m leaving.”