Page 37 of Escape Velocity
“And I’m sure there’s nothing or no one that causedthis change, right? All just an opportunity to impress your parents?” she asks, her eyes narrowing. Her eyes narrow a lot recently whenever football as a subject comes up.
“It’s fun to watch,” Mason says as he digs his hand into his popcorn bag and munches on some kernels.
“Hmm,” Jenna hums once again. There’s so much she’s not saying, and Mason’s waiting for when she lets it loose.
To be truthful, Mason knows he overreacted to him and Callum’s last interaction on the bleachers.
Callum was trying to apologize, and Mason didn’t even let him. Maybe he still holds a grudge and a truckload of resentment, but the least he can do is hear the guy out, and maybe he can start listening by watching the games.
The crowd starts to cheer, and Mason snaps out of his own head, immediately putting his popcorn bag down and stands up. The familiar boom of the commentator fills his ears, and he gets this rush of excitement flowing through him, like he’s been struck by lightning.
Jenna also gets up slowly, and starts to clap, craning her neck to try and see where the players are.
The team bursts onto the field, and Mason joins in with the crowd’s cheers. The team all run past the bleachers, raising their arms into the air to get them to cheer louder and they do.
The team has the whole stadium in the palm of their hands.
Callum goes closer to the bleachers and does his own arm waving, and he gets even more cheers back.
The stadium is Callum’s alone.
Callum’s smile is wide, and he’s enjoying every single drop of attention he’s getting. In all honesty, Mason can’t blame him.
If Mason was down on that field and showboating forthe crowd, he’d love the attention just as much. He wonders if Callum would do the same showboating if he felt confident in himself without the crowd.
Callum walks over to the far left of the benches, where Mason and Jenna are cheering and he looks up at them.
His smile lessens from its initial brilliance, but a sheepish grin creeps onto his mouth, like their scrutiny makes him shy.
Callum gives them a single wave. They wave back and Mason expects Callum to run off, but he stays still. His body is already on its way to the field, but he decides to turn back to the pair, and his gaze is focused on Mason.
Callum pats his chest with his fist while staring at Mason.
Heat pools in Mason’s stomach and face. Shivers run up his arm as he realizes what just happened.
Mason’s eyes widen and he clears his throat, doing a two-fingered salute awkwardly back to Callum, not knowing what to do under Callum’s gaze.
Callum chuckles and runs back to the field, his usual confident stature and run back in business.
Spectators from the rows in front of him turn around to look in their general direction, wondering who Callum was making gestures to, and Mason looks around too, pretending like it wasn’t him.
Jenna gasps. “Was that for you?”
Mason’s cheeks flush even more. He doesn’t blush. Not ever. “No. I don’t?—”
She clenches his shoulder with a vice-like grip. “Oh my God it totallywas, wasn’t it? Youstillhave it sobad for him, you little liar.”
“I donot,” Mason says, gritting his teeth.
“So, it wouldn’t change anything if I said I think he has something for you too?” she asks innocently.
The teams assemble into their positions and Mason sits down as the rest of the crowd does.
He shovels another handful of his popcorn. “No, it would not.”
Jenna scoffs. “Would.”
“Wouldn’t.”
