Chapter 26

LILY

Once again, we walk into the massive house for the team’s party.

“Who owns this?” I can’t help but ask. The mystery of it really bugs me.

“The college. It’s for anyone on the football team that wants to live here,” Mason explains, giving my hand a small squeeze as we walk through the front door.

“Really?” The thought never crossed my mind that a bunch of football players would live together in one giant house.

“Yep. But you can’t have girlfriends move in.” He winks as we make our way through the living room into a corner where someone has set up a makeshift bar.

“Happy New Year!” The drunk man standing behind the bar slurs, holding up a plastic cup at us.

“Happy New Year!” I smile back as Mason grabs us both a cup filled with a fruity-smelling drink.

“Mason!” The drunk man cheers, holding his arms out wide. “I haven’t seen you in so long!” he slurs, walking around the bar and bro-hugging him.

“We’ve all missed you, man,” he says before stumbling back to his spot.

“Happy New Year.” Mason smiles down at me before clinking our cups together and taking a swig of the very, very strong drink.

“Jesus.” Mason coughs, looking down at his cup. “That’s strong.” He shakes his head, and his eyes go wide.

“Really strong,” I agree, licking the sweetness from my lips. “I kinda like it, though.” I take another big swig.

“I think I’ll stick with beer,” Mason says with a laugh, handing me his cup and grabbing a can of beer.

Mason and I stand to the side of the bar while we have another drink together, not really saying anything as we watch people dance.

“Want to dance?” Mason asks, taking my empty cup out of my hand, not giving me a chance to answer before he grabs my hand and leads me to the dance floor.

I wrap my arms around his neck, his arms going around my waist, pulling me against his body. He leans in close.

“You really do look beautiful tonight,” he tells me as we slow dance to some upbeat song.

“And you are very handsome.” I smile, trying to twirl my finger around his hair, but it’s still too short.

“You hate my hair short, don’t you?” He chuckles as we sway together.

“I don’t hate, hate it,” I say. “It’ll grow back,” I add, making him laugh again.

I don’t know how long Mason and I are dancing together for. It’s like we’re in our own little bubble. It’s just us until we’re broken apart by a very drunk Brittany.

“Lily Billy,” she slurs, making me burst out laughing. She’s never called me Lily Billy before.

“You’re my best friend. I’m so glad Mason met you,” she says, squishing my cheeks together.

“And Mase,” she says, finally letting me go and grabbing his face just like she did mine, “you’re an idiot, but I love you too.” She lets go of his face and taps it before demanding we get a drink with her and dragging us with her.

“Happy New Year!” she yells, holding up her plastic shot glass.

Mason and I tap our shot glasses against hers before downing the burning liquid.

Before I know what is happening, we’re surrounded by huge football players. Actually, it’s only Liam and the giant guy who is the size of three normal-sized people.

“You must be Lily. I’m Stan,” he introduces himself politely, holding his hand out to shake. I look at his hand before flicking my eyes to Mason and Liam, who both seem crazy comfortable with this giant.

“Nice to meet you.” I smile while shaking his hand.

“I’m the one that got Mason out of his funk,” he says, sticking his chest out proudly.

“You are?” I ask, surprised.

“No, no, no, no. It was me!” Brittany shakes her finger in his face.

“It was a combined effort.” Mason laughs, resting his hand on my hip casually. He really seems like he’s back to himself—touching me when he wants, kissing me randomly. I love it. It feels so right that we’re back together.

All five of us have another two drinks together, talking and laughing. But it doesn’t last long before we’re interrupted—this time by someone I hoped I would never see again: Cameron Armstrong.

He walks up to our group, slow-clapping like the condescending asshole he is. “So he lives.” He smirks, looking at Mason.

Mason’s body tenses up the second he hears his voice. Mason clears his throat before looking him dead in the eye. “Fuck off, Cameron,” he says clearly.

“Aw, come on, man, I thought we were buddies,” Cameron says before his eyes move to me. He looks me up and down in a way that makes me want to vomit.

“I heard you like to share your girl with other football players, so why not share with me?”

“Fuck off,” Mason repeats, keeping his voice even and calm. Inside, he must be fuming. I know I am.

“Come on, Cooper. Since you’re not on the team anymore, we can fight—you versus me. For that hot piece of ass.”

“Stop being a fucking sleaze,” Stan snaps, taking a step and standing next to Mason. He positions himself directly in front of me, blocking me from the gross asshole.

“Beat it. You’re not welcome here, and you know it,” Liam pipes up, stepping to Mason’s other side.

“Got some new bodyguards, huh, Cooper?” Cameron says. Stan takes a step forward.

“He’s got friends, unlike you, who has Mommy and Daddy buy him friends. Now fuck off before I squish you,” he says. He sounds menacing and really fucking scary.

My eyes widen, and I look at Brittany, whose eyes are as large as mine feel.

“He’s scary,” she mouths, and I nod in agreement. He’s definitely someone I wouldn’t want to be on the wrong side of.

“Don’t worry about him. I’ll deal with him,” Mason states, stepping forward.

“What?” I gasp, wanting to reach for him and pull him back.

“Outside. Now,” Mason barks out.

“Mason,” I say, tugging his hand back. “What are you doing? You can’t fight. You’re still injured.” I rub his sore shoulder.

He keeps his eyes on Cameron and doesn’t answer. He heads for the front door along with Liam and Stan.

“Oh God. I don’t know if I can watch this,” I groan before grabbing Brittany’s hand and dragging her to the door. I don’t want to watch, but I need to see this.

Outside, snow is falling in big flakes, and the lawn is white. Mason strides out first, jaw set, fists clenched, breath puffing in the cold air. He steps into the open space and turns, ready like he’s squaring up for war.

His eyes burn with focused anger as he waits. Cameron follows a moment later, stepping out of the doorway with a smug grin on his face. He’s taller, broader—he’s expecting to win by size alone.

I’m worried about Mason. I know he’s tough, but he’s injured. The whole football team comes out of the party to watch, circling around Mason and Cameron, their phones already up and recording.

Mason takes a step forward, eyes locked on Cameron. “I knew you’d try this. That’s why I came ready.”

Cameron scoffs and rolls his shoulders back. “Ready or not, I’m gonna kick your ass and take your girl.”

Mason doesn’t flinch. “You purposely let me get injured and thought no one noticed. Well, someone did.”

Stan yells, “Oh yeah!”

“And now the whole team knows you can’t be trusted to back your teammates,” Mason continues.

Cameron’s grin falters slightly as he notices that every single player is glaring at him.

“So, we’re actually not out here to fight because I don’t need to fight you,” Mason says. “I just wanted to get you outside so this could happen.”

Mason steps back with a smug smile as water balloons rain down on Cameron. He tries to dodge, slipping on the icy ground, but more and more water balloons explode against him as every member of the team targets him.

When he tries to escape, people shove him back into the circle. Mason turns to me and grins, handing me a water balloon and saying, “Nail him, Princess.”

I cock my arm back and huck it as I yell, “I’ve got a boyfriend, you dick!”

My balloon blasts him right in the side of his head. Hell yeah! I can’t lie; it feels almost as good as winning a volleyball game.

Everyone is yelling and laughing now, phones up, capturing every second. Cameron, shivering and furious, has no choice but to stand there and take it.

Stan grabs Cameron’s shoulder and the waistband of his jeans, picks him up effortlessly, and throws him into a snowdrift.

“Fuck off, Armstrong,” Stan says. “You’re off the team!”

Everyone piles on, flipping him off, mean mugging, and yelling out that he’s a traitor or a little bitch. Stan turns around and gives me and Brittany a boyish smile. He looks nothing like the scary man he just sounded like.

“Sorry about that, ladies. My mom said I should never act like that in the presence of a woman,” he says, looking down at his feet as if he’s ashamed.

Stan is really a gentle giant. I see why Mason likes him. We all head back inside to escape the cold.

“I thought you were going to fight and get hurt.” I sigh, wrapping my arms around Mason’s waist and squeezing him tightly.

“My fighting days are over, Princess.” He laughs.

“Good.” I smile before going on my tippy toes once again, but this time to give him a quick kiss. Then I add, “And I’m glad that asshole got what was coming to him!”

“Come on, let’s go over here!” Brittany slurs before leading us back inside and all the way to the other side of the living room. She stops at a beer pong table, making me roll my eyes. I hate beer pong, mainly because I suck at it.

I screw my nose up when I see Anna and Mandy playing on the side we’re standing at. But when I see who they’re playing against, I can’t stop the gasp falling from my lips. I nudge Brittany, who lazily looks at me, then to where I nod. Her eyes go wide as she looks back at me.

It’s only taken half a year to run into Leah at college. She pushes her lips out into a pout and looks up, locking eyes with me. Her eyes grow wide, and her mouth drops open, clearly shocked to see me. Then her eyes narrow, and she shockingly lifts her middle finger up at me.

Brittany gives me a questioning look, and I just shrug, not knowing why Leah has suddenly shown up now. I watch as she lifts her arm and throws the plastic ball across the table. It bounces off one of the few cups left on Anna and Mandy’s side.

“Did that bitch just flip you off?” Brittany gasps, taking a step forward.

I grab her arm and pull her back. “Forget about her.” We both watch Leah grab Oliver’s face and kiss him.

“Is she trying to make you jealous?” Mason’s voice whispers in my ear, giving me a fright.

“Probably,” I snort, rolling my eyes. “Lucky for me, he’s a prick.”

He chuckles into my ear before kissing the side of my head. Once Oliver throws the last winning shot, Anna and Mandy are both pouting and very drunk. Mandy turns around and stumbles into me. My hands instantly help keep her on her feet.

She smiles at me before she realizes it’s me and narrows her eyes, pulling her arms back. A huge smile breaks out on her face when she sees Mason standing next to me.

“Mason! I’ve missed you!” she exclaims, trying to throw her body into him. But he steps to the side so his body is behind mine, making her stumble again. This time, no one catches her, and she has to regain her balance herself.

“Why is she like that to me?” Mason asks in my ear.

“Because she has a crush on you,” I explain, turning my head to see his shocked reaction.

“What?” he asks, beginning to frown.

“You didn’t know?” I smile, turning around to look at him properly.

“No clue.” He shakes his head.

How can Mason be so smart about some things but so clueless about others? But the lightbulb has finally gone off, and he turns to Mandy with his ~serious face~ and says, “Mandy, you seem really nice, and any guy would be lucky to have you, but I’m with Lily.”

“Okay, I get it. I can take a hint,” she slurs. I don’t point out that she obviously can’t take a hint.

She turns to me with her sad face and says, “Guess you won. You beat me out to get the guy. Congrats.”

“Beat you out? What do you mean?” I say. “Mason and I have been together for over a year.”

She gasps and looks genuinely shocked.

“Cameron told me Mason was single!” she says. “And that you were a creepy stalker that Mason couldn’t get rid of.”

“Of course he did,” I say with a laugh. “He’s been coming on to me the whole year. Guess he was messing with us both. Sorry!”

Mandy shakes her head. “What a dick. Anyway, I guess I’m sorry. If you know of any single hotties to sink my teeth into, let me know,” she says, giving me a goofy smile that I can’t help but laugh at.

“Come on, Mandy. Let’s get out of here,” Anna snaps, pulling her away.

“Cooper!” someone yells, making both our heads snap toward where it came from.

“You scared or something?” Oliver taunts as he jabs his finger toward the refreshed triangle of cups where Anna and Mandy were.

Mason looks at Oliver before looking at Liam and nods. He kisses the top of my head before they both go to stand at the end of the table.

“Nah, nah, nah,” Oliver says, shaking his hand. “Make it fair.” He jabs a finger at me and then at Mason.

“Fucking hell,” I mumble to myself but take Liam’s place.

“I suck, remember?” I say, looking up to Mason, who laughs.

“I remember very clearly,” he says, holding a ball up between us. “You go first.”

I sigh, take the ball out of his hand, and try to aim for the middle and toss it. Surprisingly, it goes in.

“Did you see that?” I exclaim, shaking Mason’s arm, feeling excited.

“Good job, Princess.” He gives my forehead a quick kiss.

“Are you seriously still together?” Leah asks, raising her eyebrows as she looks at us with a smirk.

“Where have you been? I thought I’d see you on campus,” I reply, making her smirk disappear.

“I’ve been working on other things,” she says casually as Oliver throws the ball and sinks it into one of our cups.

“I heard you were dating a biker with like six kids,” Brittany states as she glares at Leah.

“What?” she screeches, her eyes snapping to Britt.

“That’s what Oliver’s been telling everyone,” she tells her, raising one of her eyebrows almost as if she’s challenging her.

“No! I’m still with Olly!” she exclaims, whipping her head to Oliver, who is looking guilty.

“Fuck you, Oliver Kingsley!” Leah screams at him before her hand comes up and slaps him hard across the cheek.

“Fuck you all!” she yells before stomping away.

“Wow,” Britt says before she starts laughing.

“What the fuck was that?” Stan asks, looking around in confusion.

“It’s a long story,” Britt says, patting his shoulder. “Liam will tell you one day,” she adds, grabbing some plastic cups off the table and shoving them into our hands.

We all slowly migrate back to the other side of the living room near the bar.

Suddenly, Stan calls out, “The countdown is about to start!”

I grab Mason’s empty cup out of his hands and shove both our cups onto the edge of the bar before I wrap my arms around his neck.

“Ready for our best year ever?” I ask, smiling as his arms wrap around my waist and pull me close.

“I’m ready,” he replies, rubbing our noses together as people start counting down from ten.

“You are so cute,” I say, scrunching my nose up a little.

“You’re cute,” he replies as the crowd chants, “Three, two, one!”

Mason’s lips are on mine the moment one is said.

At first, it’s a simple, gentle kiss, but it quickly turns passionate, full of love and promises.

It’s as if we’re promising each other the world.

This year will be our best.