‘Hmm,’ she contemplates, tapping her chin. ‘How confident are you?’
‘I don’t miss often,’ he teases.
‘Okay.’ She shrugs. ‘Why not?’
Grinning, he aims and elegantly shoots the ball straight into the cup. Cami rolls her eyes as she strides around the side of the table. Planting her palms on either side of his face, she stands on her tip-toes and presses her lips to his. As she goes to pull back, he wraps his hand around the back of her neck, securing her there as he kisses her harder.
‘Oh my God.’ Nora laughs.
The two spend the next minute making out, oblivious to everyone watching them.
‘What’s his name again?’ I ask.
‘Er – Jake? Jim?’ Nora guesses, looking as clueless as I feel.
The front door bangs open, and loud whistles flood the air as the football team enters. My throat feels dry and I step away, attempting to fade into the background. Cami and Jake/Jim finally detach from each other, and she has a playful smirk on her lips as she struts back around to our side.
‘Get it girl,’ I say teasingly.
‘Well played, Jack,’ she says.
Nora and I look at each other.
‘Oops,’ Nora says. ‘I was close.’
Purposely keeping my eyes off the team, I focus on the game, anxiety simmering underneath my skin and churning in my gut as if I’ve eaten something bad.
After a minute or so, I nervously peek a glance. Fire ignites inside me when I hit Mason’s cold stare, already in my direction, as if he pulled my gaze to his like a magnet.
‘Oh dear,’ Nora mutters, casting me a worried look. ‘He’s pissed.’
‘Yup,’ I reply, my blood turning to ice in my veins.
‘Fuck him.’ Cami snorts dismissively, tossing her shiny hair over her shoulder as she turns her attention back to the game. ‘You did nothing wrong.’
I wish her words were a comfort to me, but they’re really not.
The volume of chatter in the room increases tenfold now the team is here. A migraine throbs behind my eyes. Quietly, I step away from the group and duck my chin as I hurry through the room, beelining to the stairs. I manage to sneak up them uninterrupted. A couple are heading towards my room and I shake my head.
‘No,’ I snap, stepping in front of them. ‘My room is off limits.’
Scowling, they resume the hunt for privacy down the hall. I dart inside my room and lean against the wall, placing a hand on my chest. Not a moment later, it swings open, and I close my eyes, feeling Mason’s presence like a physical touch.
‘What thefuckwere you doing wearing his jersey tomygame?’ he seethes, and a bolt of electricity runs down my spine at the rough raspiness of his voice.
Swallowing, I force my eyes open and track his long strides as he eats the space between us, towering over me.
‘The only jersey that belongs on your body ismine,’ he murmurs, his warm breath kissing my cheeks.
I tilt my head back, lifting my gaze to meet his. ‘Since when?’
‘Since always.’
With that, he presses me back against the wall and kisses me. His lips press into mine, desperately and urgently. I kiss him back just as hard. His hands run down my sides, then cup my ass as he lifts me, turning us and stumbling forwards. We fall back onto my bed, and I wrap my legs around his waist.
He pulls back from the kiss; our foreheads stay pressed together; our breaths mingle as one as we both exhale.
‘It’s me and you,’ he whispers, breathless. ‘I’m not fucking around this time. Me and you. You got that?’
