by Tijan
I gulped and doubled over. Scorching pain ripped through me. It was as if she threw a pot of boiling water on me, drenching me. I couldn't breathe.
Her voice sounded strangled. "I went mad, Samantha. I knew it was wrong, but I kept hurting you. I forced myself to stop. I had to. I knew they wouldn't come back, and they told me that they'd leave me again if I didn't stop hitting you."
Oh god. She heard them? "You talked to them?"
Her face was closed off to me. She seemed void from all emotion. "I know they weren't real. I know I was imagining them standing there. But they comforted me. They still loved me , even though I killed them. That couldn't be imaginary, could it?"
"And that's why you stopped?"
She lifted a shoulder in a shrug. It was so easy for her. Hurting her child was something to shrug about. I couldn't believe her. Who was this woman? Then I asked, gutted, "Did you ever love me?"
She frowned. "Of course, honey."
"But—what?"
Then she looked away as her eyes grew vacant. The distant expression came over her and her voice softened. "I did two horrible things to both of my babies. I hurt them and I hurt you, but I learned from both mistakes. I will never have children again. James is my life now. I am dedicated to becoming a good wife to him, the best wife I could possibly be, and I know he misses his boys. I know I'm the reason they're not with him. It's why I responded to your text message. I knew you wanted a compromise."
She was insane. I had no other thoughts. This was my mother? This was a stranger.
She nodded, satisfied now. "I'll do as you say. You can move back in. I'll stay away. I will only focus on James and being his wife. I will stay away from you, and from Mason and Logan. You're right. They should be with their father. James feels the same. He wants his boys back. He knows he can't stop your relationship with Mason. You can all live here. That's fine with us."
Madness. That was all I could think as I gaped at this woman, but then I cleared my head. I still needed answers. "I remember being questioned by social services, but I was never taken from you." I never remembered being in the hospital. "Why not?"
Another shrug. Again. "You told them that some girls from school came to the house, and that I found you like that. I supported your story and David never knew. He suspected. I knew that, but I never hurt you again. I put it all behind me and we were fine for years after that."
"Until you started cheating on him. Again."
She nodded, but didn't respond. It wasn't worth commenting about.
I couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe her. "What about Garrett? What did you threaten him with?"
"Oh." A smile this time. For some reason, he got a smile while I seemed an after-thought to her. "I didn't say much, but I told him I would make you hate him. He didn't believe me, so I went and visited his ex-wife. I told her Garrett still loved her and he loved her when he was with me. I told her all about Helen and made her sound so evil that she'd never allow him to go back to her; therefore he wouldn't be allowed to see you. It worked." She grinned to herself and chuckled even. "I didn't think it would work, but I guess it did. He hasn't even called for you, Samantha."
A shiver ran down my spine as she said my name.
Before I could launch myself at her and do to her what she had done to me, I shoved back the chair. I couldn't feel my legs. I couldn't feel anything. I blinked and then turned away. I didn't remember leaving the house, but I stopped in the driveway. I had driven my car. James was standing beside it in his pajamas and a robe. He was frowning at my car with the morning paper in his hand. When he looked up, his frown deepened. The sun had started to rise, I wasn't sure the time, but I knew it was early.
"Mason and Logan will never move back without me." My own voice jarred me. It sounded haunted. "And Helen would make Logan leave, you know that."
His frown only deepened further.
"I fixed it. I'll move back in here with them."
His eyes grew bleak.
I kept going as my chest tightened, "I won't let them hurt her either."
He rasped out, "They won't do it."
"I'll make them do it."
Then he nodded and looked away. "I'm sorry, Samantha, I'm sorry for everything you've gone through."
I frowned. Why was he saying this to me?
"I love your mother very much and I want to help her. I can't help my family anymore, and I can't help my marriage anymore. It was my fault that Helen left me. It was my fault my family was torn apart. I won't let that happen again. I can help your mother. I really can, and I'm going to. I love her and I'm going to stay with her, no matter what."
He had no idea what he was getting himself into, but I kept my mouth shut. It was his life. It was his decision.
She'd make him miserable.
I didn't get in my car. I ran home instead.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
"Your shift's over." Heather smacked a towel on my butt. When I turned around to glare, she gave me a crooked grin and wiggled her eyebrows. "Your dreamboat's here anyway."
Oh.
The fight in me subsided. I was ready to argue with her since it wasn't closing and I hadn't worked Friday, but when I looked over, all of that turned into a gushy mess. Mason had stepped through the door with a look of intent on his face. That made me pause. As he made his way through the tables to our back corner, I couldn't tear my eyes away. Confidence and power rippled from him. I couldn't fault the other girls who stopped and watched him as well. He was beautiful.
"Disgusting." Heather shook her head. "You're both disgusting."
"He's early. Did you call him?"
"I might've." She winked at me before she grabbed the next plate of food and put on the window, ready to be served. "But can you really blame me? It's your first day at FCP tomorrow. You're going to need all the rest you can muster when you're with that hunk-o-rama over there."
"Thanks, Heather."
She flashed me a blinding smile. "Just give me a heads up when you decide to tell them about our visitors the other night." She gave me a pointed look and I knew she was referencing the Broudou siblings.
She wanted me tell Mason now, better to get it over than deal with his anger about why he hadn't been told sooner. I had a different idea and I wanted to embark on one battle at a time. Convincing Mason and Logan to move back in with their father had been a big enough battle. It took me all weekend, and I still didn't have an answer. But as he stepped closer and caught my hand, he gave me a look as if to say, 'I hope you know what you're doing.' He shook his head. "Fine. We'll move back in."
"Really?" I started to launch myself at him.
He caught my arms and held me back. "But it's only because you're right about Logan."
I chuckled. I had called it. Helen called both of them the next day. She said they had two choices, live in Los Angeles with her or she would move back to Fallen Crest. Those were her two options and when I argued with Mason that Logan living with her our senior year would leave me without a home, he started to soften. I knew he was doing it for me.
"Thank you," I murmured as I tipped my head back for his lips.
He groaned, "You're going to be the death of me. I'm doing all this nice shit for you."
I pointed to my lips, still puckered and waiting.
With a soft chuckle, he touched his to mine and I was swept up. Squealing from surprise, he wrapped his arms around my waist and lifted me high. My legs swung up and I was thrown over his shoulder.
"Mason!"
He slapped my butt. "Logan's ordered the pizza. If we're not back in twenty minutes, he won't hear the end of it. He's got it timed within the minute."
Only Logan would time something like that. I wiggled to get free. "Come on. Let me go."
"Nope." He turned around. "Can you clock her out, Jax?"
We heard from the back, "Will do! Don't make babies."
Mason shuddered underneath me. I remembered the look on his face when I told him I was late for w
ork and giggled. He slapped my butt again. "That wasn't funny. I aged an entire year that day."
Serves him right after this. "Come on, let me go. Please."
"Nope." And he didn't, not when he marched to his car and put me inside. He even strapped my seat belt on and off when we turned into the driveway to Nate's home. When he stopped the car and rounded to my side, I jumped out before he could grab me. I started to run for the door, but it didn't matter. Mason had me in two steps, and I was slung back over his shoulder.
"Mason! This is enough."
"Logan said to carry you home so I have to carry you home. He's very excited for something."
"For pizza?"
Mason shrugged underneath me. His arm tightened around my legs as he walked over the front patio. "I have no idea. You know him. The stupidest ideas are adventures to him."
"But—"
But then he shoved the door open and swung around. A chorus burst out, "SURPRISE!" And my mouth fell open as I lifted my head to gape at the crowd in the center area.
Logan was in front with his arms outstretched. "Happy birthday, Sam!"
Becky waved from behind him. "It's a week early, isn't it?"
"Oh my god!" I pounded Mason on the back. He chuckled as he flipped me back in his arms, and then lowered me to the ground. All the blood had rushed to my head so he kept me against his chest. His hands held me by my hips, but I could only look at the group they assembled.
Becky and Raz, who had a glazed look in his eyes.
Adam. He grinned and gave me a small wave. "Can you believe they even invited me?"
I grinned but looked around some more. I relaxed as I saw most of the Academy Elite hadn't been invited, but Mark had been. I tensed a bit, just a bit, at the reminder that he thought his mom was going to marry David sooner rather than later. But then I tensed even more. They could've gotten married by now. David and my mom had been divorced, for…I wasn't sure. I hadn't asked either of them about the divorce. I didn't want to know.
Mark nodded his head towards me. "Hiya, Sam. I asked to tag along. I hope that's okay with you."
"Sure…" It wasn't like we were family…or were we? Was David still family to me? I wasn't sure anymore.
Then Lily gave me an excited wave with a smile that stretched from ear to ear. "Surprise! I bet you thought you didn't have to deal with me, but nope. Here I am. It's my night off and I'm ready for some birthday cake."
"You're welcome to my piece." Then I leaned back and asked, "Did Logan get cake?"
Mason's hand tightened around my hips. His thumbs started to rub up and down. "Of course. A birthday party without cake is a crime to Logan."
"Oh."
He grinned down at me. "You don't like cake?"
I shrugged. "It's an acquired taste."
He chuckled, shaking his head. "Pretend to eat a piece for him. I think he made it from scratch."
"I'll eat two pieces."
"Happy birthday, Sam," Nate called out as he started over.
"Hell no! I get her first." Logan shot forward and plucked me from his brother. He threw me over his shoulder and turned back to the group. "Everyone gets to spank her except Mason. He does that all the time."
He bounded to the kitchen and I looked up in time to see Nate and Mason share a grin, both shaking their heads. As Nate lifted a hand to put on Mason's shoulder, Logan turned the corner. I couldn't see anymore, but he deposited me in a stool at the counter. A large white cake sat in front of me with eighteen candles on top. None of them had been lighted, but then I peered closer.
"Logan!"
"What?" He'd been waiting for my reaction, brimming with excitement. "Don't you like it?"
Those candles didn't look right. "Tell me those are not joints." Please tell me they aren't.
He started laughing. As he continued, the laughing got louder and louder. Then Becky's boyfriend bounced to the cake and pulled them out. He wiped each clean and put them back in a baggie as he gave me a sheepish look. "He thought it'd be funny." He looked like he had more to say, but then he smiled and snuck back to Becky's side.
"I'm sorry," she murmured.
Logan was still laughing. "That would've been awesome."
"Too bad you haven't gotten tested for basketball season yet," Nate noted as he and Mason rounded to the other side of the counter.
A wistful sigh left Logan. "Tell me about it."
Nate flashed him a grin and for a moment, I didn't see the tension between the two anymore. What had changed? When I caught Mason's gaze, I made a mental note to ask him, but was distracted as he gave me a heated look, dark promises in his depths.
My eyes widened. A jolt of desire burst through me, and I clenched my legs together. It was my birthday party. A private party would have to wait a few hours. I licked my lips as I thought about it.
He smirked back at me, our gazes locked together.
Then Nate spoke up, "This is also a farewell party too, a small one. Since you three are moving back home."
Logan's smirk turned smug.
And I knew why the tension had been lifted between the two. Mason was now home, with Logan and me. Nate couldn't move in with us. Though, I bet he would've.
"Thanks for letting me stay here."
"Any time, Sam. I mean it."
His words sounded genuine so my smile turned genuine as well. Maybe the old fearsome foursome would come back with the move. I had missed it.
Lily moved next to me as Logan started to cut the cake. She gave me a small hug. "Heather and the rest of the staff are coming after closing."
"That's late. Are you sure they want to do that?"
She shrugged with a delighted spark. "I think Heather said they were going to close early. She said you're worth it."
I was taken aback. That was a lot of money since the diner was full every night now. The gesture spoke volumes to me and for a moment, I couldn't speak.
Then she started giggling beside me.
"What?"
She pointed at the cake. Logan hadn't cut the cake in small sections. He cut it into the exact amount of pieces needed. There were nine people there, so the cake was cut into nine large pieces. Six of the pieces were double in size and he delivered those to the guys. The last three were smaller, but still bigger than I wanted.
Lily groaned as she took hers. "I gained five pounds just looking at that thing."
"You gotta eat it!" Logan barked before he raised his hands again. "Okay, everyone! I have an important announcement to make." He grinned to himself. "Today is not Samantha's birthday." He pretended to wave off any boos. "I know, I know. This is a shock of a lifetime to you, but we'll get over it. We'll band together and we'll make do. Raz, where are the joints?"
"Logan!"
His grin doubled and two dimples appeared. "Okay, okay. In all seriousness, we did this a week early to shock Sam's panties off her. Which my big brother will be doing tonight." He lifted an eyebrow to Mason.
"Logan."
He continued, "But anyway, I'm doing the speech because I baked the cake, with all sorts of natural goodies." He pretended to scowl. "I wasn't allowed any of the fun stuff, but whatever. We'll get over it. Peace and prosperity, right Raz?"
"Right." A fist was thrust in the air.
Logan laughed to himself, but then a somber expression came over him. The jokes were done and he lifted his piece of cake to me. "Happy birthday, Samantha. I love you. You're going to be my stepsister and maybe my sister-in-law someday, but until those days come, you already know you're family. And I think I can speak for everyone in saying, you're going to get wasted tonight!"
He lifted his cake in the air. "Salute to Sam getting wasted!"
Everyone saluted. Then they tried their best to sing the birthday song to me, which was interspersed with Logan and Mark rapping "In Da Club" in the background.
I shook my head. My throat was thick with emotion and I turned away. I wouldn't start crying, not again.
Two arms came around me, both s
lender and soft. Becky was on my right and Lily on my left. They gave me a hug, squeezing me with soft smiles. "Happy birthday, Sam."
"Thanks, guys." I patted both of them on their hands and looked down. I really felt the tears now.
The doorbell rang at that moment.
Logan went to answer and came back with five boxes of pizza. They were put on the table and the lids were flipped open. Steam rose from each of them. Paper plates, napkins, and plastic silverware were already on the table and he gestured to the table. "Dig in, guys."
Nate called out, "We've got beer, some soda…I think, and other drinks in the bar outside."
The guys went first. After they trailed outside to grab a drink, the three girls followed with our own plates full of food. Everyone had taken a seat around the tables as Nate turned into the bartender. He made sure everyone had a beverage. Logan hopped around to make sure none of them ran empty.
It was easy.
I hadn't expected it to be easy, but stories were shared. The guys joked and no one was ready to bite someone's head off. The guys congregated around the bar with easygoing grins. Even when Becky sat beside me, I was glad that she was there. She'd been a good friend at a time when I needed her. I hoped she would still be a friend, maybe not the one I thought she had been, but one nonetheless. Lily surprised me the most. She had a crude sense of humor with one-liners delivered at the perfect time. The rest of the Manny's staff joined us two hours later. Anne settled next to Lily and cackled together as Heather shook her head with a small grin on her face.
When Mason folded me into bed later, I grinned up at him and whispered how much the party meant to me.
He slid in beside me and pulled me close to him. He tucked his head behind me and took a deep breath. His hand flattened under my breast and he held me there, tight to him. Then he whispered back to me, his lips a soft caress against my neck, "We just love you. All of us."
"Everything will be fine," I murmured, sleepily. "You. Me. Logan. Even Nate. All of us. And Heather."
