Page 18 of Disorderly

“You don’t need to skip the party for me. Go. Have lots of fun. You deserve it. After all, you won the game for us.” When he went to protest again, I continued, “Maybe we can get together tomorrow afternoon to celebrate.”

“Are you sure?” Mason scratched the back of his head. “You’ll still be alone.”

“She won’t be. I’m home for a quick visit.” Jason shrugged.

At Mason’s narrowed gaze, I quickly made introductions, knowing that Jason looked dramatically different than he had as a young teen. While he’d sported a couple of tattoos back then—not like the body art he wore now—I doubted Mason would have known about them. “Mason, this is Jason. You might remember him from when we were younger. He was P, I mean Mr. Evans’ best friend. He was the one who helped you make the birdhouse.”

A light of recollection flashed in Mason’s eyes. He held out his hand to Jason. “I remember you. My mom was so happy getting that birdhouse for Mother’s Day. She still has it.”

“You played great tonight. Always fun to watch a possible future NFL player.” With practise ease, Jason sidestepped Mason’s compliment to pay one of his own, bringing another blush to Mason’s cheeks.

“And this is Jarrod. A good friend of theirs who just moved to town. He’s running the new accounting office,” I boasted.

Jarrod shook Mason’s hand after Jason released his hold. “Nice to meet you. Awesome game.”

“Go. Have fun at the party. As you can see, I’ll be safe.”

“Fine. But we’re getting together tomorrow.” And before I could stop him or even guess what he was going to do, Mason leaned in, placing a kiss on my cheek. It happened so quickly; I didn’t even have time to tense up at the unexpected touch. “It’s a date.”

My mouth dropped open. How could he? Did I do something to encourage that or was he just trying to get a rise out of me? Yes, that had to be it. He was always joking around with me, so this had to be another one.

Ands that’s how I was going to treat it. Because I couldn’t deal with anything else right now.

Chapter Thirteen

Katy

“Do you have a ride home?”

No, I didn’t, but did I want Peter or the guys to know that? I’d arrived with Kailee but had told my mom that I’d catch a ride home with Peter since I knew I wouldn’t want to go to an afterparty. And I doubted mom would have allowed me to go either. Since the waterpark, mom treated me as if I was grounded. She wanted to know where I was all the time and didn’t want me going anywhere on my own. And even though she said she was proud of me for joining the cheerleading team, she’d been hesitant about me going tonight since she was working nights. Only telling her that Peter would drive me home eased her mind. But now that I knew they had plans, I didn’t want them to feel sorry for me and change them. I wanted them towantto spend time with me, not do it out of a misguided feeling of obligation. Not when Peter still felt guilty over leaving me alone at the waterpark.

I shrugged. “I was going to hitch a ride with someone.”

“You can ride with us.” Jarood motioned between himself and Jason. “Or with Peter if you have to stay around for a bit.”

“Thanks, but I don’t want to interfere with your plans.” I straightened my shoulders. I wasn’t weak even if my body wanted nothing more than to collapse on my bed and block the whole world out. The adrenalin from performing fled faster than the clean up from the fish flies and people cleaned those disgusting carcases as fast as they could, leaving me wiped out. “I can find someone else.”

A grimace passed over Peter’s face before the smile he used every time he wanted to comfort me plastered to his lips. It set me on edge, wondering if I could believe what he was about to say since I knew he’d say just about anything to make me feel better. “We don’t have plans except to sit at home. I only said it to shut down Krissy. I’ve learned not to give a definitive plan to them. They tend to take it as an invitation or challenge, showing up when I’m out. And I really don’t want themaccidentallyshowing up at my door.”

I nodded even if I didn’t fully believe him about the lack of plans for tonight. The rest, I knew all about. For the past couple of years, if we were out anywhere, we were often approached by female students saying hi or asking questions about homework. While they batted their eyelashes and smiled sweetly at him, I received glares. Some had even been bold enough to hand me money to go “grab myself something” while they spoke to him.

“It’s settled then.” Jason wrapped his arm around my shoulders. “You’re coming with us. Do you need to go grab anything?”

“Just my pompoms and water by the stands.”

With Jason on one side and Jarrod on the other, we headed off the field towards the parking lot, stopping to grab my gear on the way. Peter had started to come with us, but was stopped by Ms. Stevens, my math student teacher. When she’d grasped Peter’s forearm, asking to speak with him, Jason’s hand pressed tight into my shoulder. I wasn’t sure if he was trying to keep me from reacting or himself. I knew things had been strained between him and Peter before he left, but I didn’t know the cause. All I knew was that they hadn’t made up. Whenever I tried to slip in a question about it over our calls, Jason either changed the subject after the muscles in his face tightened or he refused to answer.

Conversation during the short car ride was lighthearted, discussing some of plays made during the game and how our poor mascot, a walleye fish, was tripped when their feet became entangled in one of the equipment bags on the sidelines. For some reason, seeing a fish slide across the grass, wiggling, and shrieking in a high-pitched voice while the band playedThe Imperial Marchfrom Star Wars put everyone into hysterics. Thankfully, Kevin hadn’t been injured, but I was sure videos of his misstep would become viral.

“You’re coming over, right?” Jarrod turned to look back at me after shutting off his car. “We can watch a movie and pig out or relax in the pool and hot tub. That might be better, using the hot tub since you’ve been working out a lot the last few days.”

“And then I’ll give you a massage,” Jason added, sweetening the pot. I wanted to agree, to spend time with them, but still I hesitated. I didn’t want to intrude. A new feeling for me when I was with them. Normally, I always felt welcome, but for some reason, I was second guessing myself. I wasn’t the same as the other girls, throwing myself at the guys, and yet I was the same. I had more than a crush on each of them. I wanted to spend time with them. Instead of finding a different way to and from school, Jason and Peter—now Jarrod and Peter—drove me when needed. Jarrod went so far as to tell me to come to his office after school, allowing me to help out with the set up so that he could drive me home when it wasn’t one of mom’s days off.

Jason reached into the backseat, grabbing my hand. “Do you honestly think I would have come all this way only to watch you out on the field, but not spend anytime with you? Even if these guys’—he thumbed Jarrod—“had other plans, I didn’t. Except to spend time with you.”

A sigh left my mouth. His reassurance made me feel better even if I still wondered if I wasn’t like all those other girls. Besides, sitting in the hot tub and then a massage called to my aching muscles. “I accept. I just need to go home and change. Then I’ll be right over.”

“I’ll come with you,” Jason called as I climbed from the car.

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