Page 16 of Kickoff

Chick magnet is my only asset?

Craig pulled his Jeep into Melinda’s driveway. The girls were sitting on her front porch steps, deep in conversation. Just then I realized my brother and I were dressed almost identically: boardshorts, white T-shirts, and baseball caps. “Did you do it on purpose?” I asked, gesturing between us with a finger. “You copied my go-to outfit. I don’t care if we’re born in the same year, we are not twins. And even if we were, I would never do the twins-dressed-alike thingy. Find your own style.”

“I can’t help it, Mase, if you feel like always copying me because I’m the most handsome between us and you idolize me too much. It’s okay. It should pass when you grow up. I can’t believe mom thinks you are her fashionista son.” He snorted. “Yeah, right. Everyone knows I set the trends and that you’re just a follower.”

“Do you hear yourself? Identity theft is a real thing. By the way, I recognize the shorts you’re wearing as being mine, so please don’t pretend you bought those.”

“Well, I found them in the stack of fresh laundry on my bed this morning. I assumed they were now mine. Honest mistake, man. Or what we used to say? Finders keepers?”

“You wish. What are you? Five? We both know you always steal my shit because you think I’m the better-looking sibling. It’s time you admit it.”

“Mase, Mase, Mase… Stop complaining.”

I sighed. “Sometimes, it feels like I’ve landed an annoying sister instead of a brother.”

“Shut up. You know you can’t live without me. You’ll realize it next year when we attend different colleges.”

I said nothing because I possessed no argument to deny it.

Craig honked, and Paige’s cheeks flushed when my brother killed the engine and waved at her.

I turned to him. “Really? You saw her like five hours ago.”

He shrugged. “What can I say? I love her so much, man. You’ll understand when you find the one.”

As he spoke, I locked eyes with Melinda. Where Paige was willowy, Melinda was athletic. Her shoulders were defined, and her curves more generous. One hundred percent my type. Something flashed in her gaze. Defiance, anger, indignation? We hadn’t seen each other in months, so unless my morning fight with Lydia was common knowledge already and it affected her somehow, Melinda had no reason to be upset at me. I didn’t care about her attitude, though, because the sight of her, looking pretty in denim cut-off shorts and a red top, stole every molecule of my breath away. With her sun-kissed complexion and the caramel highlights she’d gained by spending the last three months at the beach, she looked alluring. I was so weak when it concerned her. In my twisted mind, even when she pouted or rolled her eyes at my lame jokes, I found her irresistible. Yep, there probably existed no cure for this kind of sickness.

She flipped her ponytail over her shoulder, and the scene imprinted on my mind in slow motion. My heart raced in my chest. Paige told her something, and Melinda’s lips dipped in a crestfallen expression. Something was bothering her, I could tell, and I wished I could bring happiness back to her features. If only she’d let me in. In my wildest dreams maybe, not in this life, though. After a moment, Paige moved to stand, and Melinda broke eye contact with me. I rubbed the column of my throat and looked away, trying to appear unaffected when inside I was all but calm. I had missed our staring contests while she was away. Whenever we engaged in one, it was like neither of us could break it, and yet it never evolved into a conversation or more.

Slipping my cocky suit on, I climbed out of the car when the girls neared us. “Hey,” I greeted them with the biggest smile I could muster. I winked at Melinda before I spun around to face Paige. “Babe, why don’t you sit at the front?”

“You sure?”

I shrugged. “Yeah. Lover boy is lovesick when you’re not around. I’ll ride at the back.” I discarded my cap and ran my fingers through the mass of light brown waves also known as my hair, messing them up probably more than they already were. Girls usually loved my just-woken-up look, and it kind of became one of my trademarks over the years. A stupid part of me wondered if Melinda loved my tousled hair too…or if she liked anything about me at all.

“Mase, there’s more room for your stupidly long legs at the front,” Paige said.

“I’ll be fine. It’s only a twenty-minute ride.” I held the door open for her while she slid onto the passenger seat. “And I’ll be in great company.”

Melinda’s eyes transformed into weapons—aimed at me. I winked again. Even though I wanted her attention on me, when she did give it to me, I wasn’t sure how to act. When we all rode together, I usually sat at the front with my brother, because yeah, my legs were squashed at the back, but a guy had to suffer sometimes for the greater good. Doing my best to pretend to be interested in the scenery, I felt Melinda’s gaze on the side of my head. Glad to know I wasn’t the only curious one. Perhaps she wasn’t so indifferent to me either. The hammering of my heart quickened. The thought of her date last night ending like mine sent a weird feeling through my body. It felt as if someone had blocked the airflow to my lungs. I knew I was being a hypocrite about not wanting her to date other guys, but I couldn’t care less. I hated the idea of Nathan Bellevue’s hands all over her body or kissing those pink lips. I clenched my jaw, my molars about to fuse together under the pressure. Relax, Mase, I told myself. She could have been with that sucker right now, but she’s not.

“Did you hear about Rusty’s latest feat?” Craig asked, putting a stop to my inner turmoil.

I directed my attention to him. “No. What did he do this time?”

“He was high as a kite last night and jumped into Johnny Wilson’s pool from the roof, pretending he was flying. The rumor is that his dad is trying to do some damage control with Coach so he doesn’t kick him off the team. You know how it is. Mr. Street usually brings his checkbook along when Rusty messes up. Maybe we’ll get those new jerseys after all.”

I dragged a palm over my face. “Geez, sometimes it feels like I’m the captain of a bunch of first-graders.”

Russell’s family owned three of the four car dealerships in town. His father was known to buy his way out of any situation.

“Remember when the golf balls prank went horribly wrong last year during rivalry week?” Paige asked.

“Yeah, well. It’s football, babe. Coach has forbidden us to partake this year. I’m sure some of the guys will still try to get into trouble, though. I can’t believe Mr. Street will pay the fine this year again if things turn to shit.”

“Well, it’s your job, Captain,” my brother teased, “to keep your guys in line.”

I shrugged. “A bunch of stupid and horny teenage boys thinking they’re indestructible. Easier said than done.”