by E. K. Blair
When I got home and after I had gone for a run, it was late. The place was empty, not a shocker. It always seemed empty except for the random sandwich wrapped in saran wrap that Mousteff would leave in the refrigerator for me. After I showered, I headed downstairs to the media room with a glass of water. I found Mason on the couch with the sports channel on the television and I hesitated in the doorway.
“Sit.”
I jumped at his command, but I did.
He lounged back on the couch with a beer on the table beside it. The television lights played across his face. It gave him a dark look, a somber one that added to the alarm I always felt around him. His eyes were on the screen and then they were on me. I tensed at the sudden change, at the intensity in them, but steeled myself. I was starting to think this was what he’d always be like, primed and alert.
“Logan and Nate went to some party.”
“Oh.” I winced at how timid I sounded.
He yawned and looked away.
I was released from his gaze and my body sagged from the relief of it. “What party?”
He jerked a shoulder up. “Don’t care.”
“Oh.”
Then he smirked. “Your mom wants to take Logan and me to dinner Sunday.”
I narrowed my eyes. All the nerves I felt around him hardened at the mention of her. “Why?”
He looked back at me. The same caution was in his gaze as I felt in my body. “I was going to ask you the same question.”
Then it clicked. “That’s why you didn’t go to the party. You wanted to question me about her.”
He didn’t blink. “You’d do the same.”
He was right and I nodded. “If you want to know my mom’s agenda, I’m guessing it’s because she wants to get to know you guys.”
“She told you on the patio that afternoon she knew us well enough.”
So they had heard. I’d been wondering.
I sat up straighter in my chair. “She was lying.”
He didn’t say anything.
My voice grew bolder. “My mom wants everyone to do what she wants and she said those things so I’d do what she wanted. I think she wants to take you guys out for dinner to try and charm you.”
“It won’t work.”
He said it so bluntly, but I knew it was the truth. A shiver went down my spine as I held his gaze in that darkened room with an empty mansion around us. Mason Kade was not stupid, far from it, and I wondered if I’d known it the whole time, if perhaps that’s why I stayed away. He watched behaviors, he didn’t listen to words. I wondered if Logan was the same and something in my gut told me he was.
“It worked on your father.”
“My dad has a weakness for weak women.”
Again, there was no judgment. It was a fact and he said it as such. The truth of it held more power because of the lack of emotion with him.
My throat had gone dry. “You called my mother weak.”
“Isn’t she?”
His gaze was searing into mine.
My chest tightened. My throat clamped up. “I—uh—”
He snorted in disgust. “You think so too, but you can’t say the words, not to me. That’s alright. I understand. She’s your blood.”
Then he looked away and again, my whole body almost fell from the chair. It was as if he had pinned me in place and I was free from the hold.
My hands curled in on themselves and I couldn’t stop my fingers from trembling. I tucked them between my legs and took a breath. I needed to gain control of myself again.
In that moment, I realized that he always had that affect on me. The ice façade I reined over myself was plucked away whenever his attention was on me. He reached over and took it away like I was a baby with candy.
“Does my mom know you don’t like her?” It was a weird question, but I wanted to know how he thought. I wanted to understand him.
He grinned at me. The power of that look with his piercing eyes, perfect teeth, and square jaw had me pinned against my chair again. I couldn’t breathe for a moment.
Then I heard him laugh. “Your mom doesn’t care. She cares if we’re going to make a stink or not.”
I snorted. That sounded just like her. “And are you?”
He shrugged and went back to the television. “As long as she doesn’t screw with me and Logan or with our mom then I don’t care who my dad pounds.”
“And if they get married? My mom’s not stupid.”
“Your mom’s a shark.”
“Your father is wealthy.”
Then he laughed again and the genuineness of it struck me. “My dad has money, but my mom is wealthy.”
My eyes widened a fraction. I would put money down my mom had no idea about that tidbit. It made things a lot clearer, why the boys didn’t seem to care too much about the marriage.
“Do you care?”
I was struck by how he seemed to really want to know. I shook my head. “Why would I?”
“Because your mom’s going to look a fool when she learns how rich my mom is.”
I hadn’t considered it, but he was right. Analise was ambitious and she’d grown more ambitious since leaving my—David. It would burn her ego, in some way, and then I realized why he was telling me this. I was the one who’d pay for it. Analise would take her anger out on me and I sucked in my breath. I was grateful for his slight warning, because it was one that I’d need to keep tucked in the back of my mind.
We heard a door open upstairs and Logan’s near-hysterical laughter followed a second later.
Mason grinned to himself before he stood up and left with his beer in hand.
“Mason! Dude, there was a girl with boobs out to here. I couldn’t believe it.” Logan’s voice carried down the stairs. His laughter wouldn’t stop. “Nate bagged her.”
Mason’s and Nate’s voices joined in at a low murmur.
I tuned them out and turned the television to a different channel. When a bunch of rich women came on the screen, I settled back. My mom would’ve loved that show; she would’ve loved to have been on that show. When they started fighting with each other, I closed my eyes and fell asleep.
***
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Becky gushed about her ride with Adam the next morning when she found me at my locker. She gushed about the charity football game at lunch. The next day was a similar chain of events except Adam sat with us at our table. It didn’t faze Becky from raving about Saturday’s game. On Thursday a few of his friends joined him at our table and one seemed amused by Becky’s passionate monologue about the Kade brothers, who was better, who was better looking, etc. He teased and prodded her along until Becky seemed like she was going to shout from the rooftop how hot Mason and Logan Kade were. At one point I thought she’d been about to proclaim they could beat our entire football team, only the two of them.
She caught herself, blushed, and her head went down.
The guys didn’t hold back their laughter and she turned to me. I patted her arm when she sighed, “I sounded like an idiot, didn’t I?”
Even Adam couldn’t hold back his grin.
And then things turned awkward when Jeff stopped at the end of our table. He had a tray of food in one hand and his backpack over the other shoulder. He hitched it higher and gave me a small wave. “Hey, Sam.”
I leaned back.
Adam leaned forward. “What are you doing, Sallaway?”
Jeff looked around the guys and ended on Becky. “Hey, cousin. How’s your mom doing?”
She glared. “She’s fine.”
“That’s cool.” He bobbed his head up and down.
“Jeff!”
Jill strode towards us with stiff legs. Her chin was clenched and her eyes glittered in anger.
One of the guys whistled under his breath. “Catfight.”
Jeff shot him a look, but turned towards his girlfriend with a wide smile.
I saw it slip a little.
“Hey, babe. What’s up?”
She latched onto his arm and her smile froze in place. “Nothing. What are you doing over here?”
He jerked his arm towards me. “I wanted to say hi.”
“Why?” Her eyes seared at me.
Becky’s hand rested on my arm under the table. I suppose she wanted to support me, but I was entertained. I grinned back at Jill and her mouth twitched a bit.
He shrugged again and tried to remain cool. “Because I think it’s stupid that we’re not talking. Lydia and Jess too. They were best friends.” He stole a look underneath lidded eyes at Adam and the guys.
My back straightened. He was lying.
Jill’s fingers curled into his arm and Jeff froze under her grip. Then he frowned and flung her hand off. “Ouch! Crap, woman. That hurt.”
“So, Adam,” Jill turned towards him. Fake warmth oozed from her pores. “How do you think the game will go on Saturday?”
One of the guys scoffed, “We have a real game on Friday.”
Another added, “No one cares about that one.”
Adam shot both a look and straightened in his chair. “I think we’ll be fine.”
“Why is that?” She leaned forward to give him a view of the upper curves of her boobs. Cleavage heaven was on display.
Jeff was eagerly lapping up his view.
Becky yipped out, “You don’t think the team will win?”
Jill settled back on her heels and turned ice eyes towards her. “They did get creamed last week by them.”
“Yeah, but that was a real game. It counted.”
Adam shot Becky a dark look.
She didn’t see it and plodded on, “This game doesn’t really count. I heard the Kade brothers might not even play. They didn’t come for the charity event last year.”
“They have to come.” Jill’s eyes were sharp. “That’s why we chose the football team, so they’d come.”
Jeff moved back. “You want them to come?”
“What? I mean, you’re going to do fine, honey.”
“I don’t play in a real game.”
“Yeah, but it’s for charity.” She pressed herself against him and cooed again. “I bet their third string plays too. Charity for everyone.”
Becky’s mouth closed with an audible snap. The guys were silent for a second and then burst out laughing. Even Adam wiped at something in his eyes. Jill’s eyebrows shot up and her smile froze in place.
Jeff tore himself away. “So I’m the charity? Is that what you’re saying?”
“No, honey. Jeff! That’s not what I meant.” She hollered and went after as he stalked out of the cafeteria.
One of the guys whistled. “Man, Sam. You didn’t even say a word. How’d you get out of that?”
I offered up a shoulder. “Talent?”
Both of Adam’s friends laughed while Becky’s eyes went wide. “You didn’t, did you? I thought Jill was going to leap at you with her nails.”
Adam shook his head. “I think that’s why Sam kept quiet.”
“Yeah, that pissed off Decimator even more. Good thinking.”
“It hadn’t been my plan, but I’ll take it. Decimator?”
The guy struck a cocky pose. “She decimates her way through guys. The Decimator.”
“I agree with that. She is a decimator.” Becky went back to eating as she nodded her agreement.
Adam gave me a half grin. “You okay?” He lowered his voice and inched closer across the table.
I shrugged, but I didn’t say anything because I didn’t have anything to say. I didn’t care about Jeff and I hadn’t for a long time.
Adam kept giving me concerned looks through the rest of the day and the day after, but it didn’t matter. I didn’t care anymore and Jeff picked up on that too after I walked past him and Jill in the hallway. I hadn’t known they were there until I almost bowled them over. They were with Lydia and Jessica. After I muttered a quick apology, one that I’d give to anybody, I hurried on my way. It wasn’t until I was about to turn the corner that I looked back and realized who I had run into.
Jill seemed upset, but Jessica and Lydia stared at me. They watched me.
Jeff’s shoulder slumped and he had a downcast expression on his face. When his eyes met mine for a brief second, I saw an apology flash through his.
It was over. Really over and he knew it as well.
My step had a lighter bounce to it for the rest of the day. That lasted until the end of the day when Lydia cornered me later. She’d been waiting at my car. I slowed when I saw her, but what could I do? I wasn’t stupid enough or crazy enough to try running home again.
“Hey.” She shot up from my car and twisted her hands together. “How are you?”
“What do you want?”
Hurt flashed in her eyes, but she looked down. “Nothing, I just—how are you?”
I let my bag drop to the ground before I unlocked my door. “I’m fine. You?”
She gave me a tentative smile. “I think Justin Beardsley might ask me out.”
I nodded. “Cool.”
“So you and Adam, huh?” A strand of her hair was wound in her hand and she began to twirl it around. “That’s exciting, really exciting. I tried telling Jessica we should be happy for you, but—”
“Why would she?” My tone was flat. “She slept with my boyfriend for two years to get back at me.”
Lydia fell silent.
“She doesn’t care, now or then.”
“Yes, she does. I know she does.” But she sounded as if she wanted to convince herself.
“Jessica doesn’t care. At least she has the decency not to fake it anymore.”
Lydia’s mouth opened, but nothing came out.
And Becky bounced up to us at that moment. “How’s it going?” I knew she spoke to me, but her glare was directed at Lydia.
Lydia’s hands started to twist together again. “Hi, Becky.”
“Hi, Lydia. What are you doing?”
“I’m just...saying hi to Sam.” She sighed. “Is that okay?”
Becky jerked her shoulder up and frowned, but she looked away. “I guess. It’s Sam’s decision. I mean...you guys were friends after all...before me.”
I rolled my eyes. “Are you serious?”
Both girls jumped at my tone.
I tried to gentle it. “Are you two pissing on each other for my friendship? I don’t deal with that. You both should know that.”
Lydia seemed frozen in place as she watched me, but Becky hung her head. “I know. I’m sorry.”
“I have to get home.” I started to reach for my car door again.
“Are you coming to the game tonight?” Becky rushed forward.
“Probably not. Why would I?”
“Because they’re playing Roussou. There might be a bunch of action tonight, with the guys being in town after what we heard the Kades had done to their coach’s house and some of the other guys.”
I frowned at that. “I haven’t heard anything.”
“Oh.” She seemed confused. “I thought I told you about that.”
“Well, you didn’t.”
“Anyway, are you coming tonight?”
“No.” I didn’t hesitate.
Lydia looked away. Her eyes had been glued to me, like I was a television show for her. Now her whole body seemed to retreat away.
I frowned at her, but was distracted when Becky asked in an excited breath, “And tomorrow? You have to come. It’s for charity.” Her voice turned into a whine.
I sighed, but I already knew I’d go. Logan had been harassing me over the past week with the same question. Mason never asked, but Nate told me once that he wanted me to come. I hadn’t a clue why.
“I don’t know. Probably, okay?”
Again, Lydia seemed struck by something. She fell back a couple of steps before she caught herself.
I snapped at her, “What’s your problem?”
She blinked rapidly a few times before she rasped out, “Uh, nothing. You’re, just, you’ve changed.�
�
“Yeah. Life does that to you.” Then I swung my door open and got inside. I couldn’t explain it, but both annoyed me. And when I was able to get home and go on my run, my mind finally started to clear after a couple of hours. It took that long before I calmed myself down. When I returned home, the evening’s darkness had started to creep in.
My mother waited for me at the dining room table. She had a large glass of wine before her and every room was lit up around us. Her fingers kept tapping the table in a nervous manner—or, as I got a better look at Analise—in an irritated manner.
I didn’t even wait for her to say anything. I dropped to a chair at the table and waited.
My headache had come back.
“I am taking the boys out for dinner on Sunday after church. If you are able to refrain from physical violence, I’d like for you to join us.”
Her tone felt like whiplash against me.
I jerked away, but readied myself again. She couldn’t hurt me unless I allowed her. “Why do you want me there?”
She gave a dramatic long-drawn out sigh and whirled the wine around inside the glass. “Because you are my daughter. Mason and Logan are going to be my stepsons, your stepbrothers. You don’t think I think about this? I’m concerned for you, Samantha. I really am.”
“Really?” My tone was dry, I couldn’t keep it out.
She winced against it, but swallowed it down. Then she forced out her bright sunshiney fake act. “How are things at school? Have you seen David at all?”
“Once.”
“Oh.” She seemed to pull away from me, though she didn’t move in her chair. Then she threw the rest of her wine down the back of her throat. “That’s good that you still have him in your life. Have you ever considered going to public schooling? Mason and Logan seem to do very well there.”
I rolled my eyes. They would’ve been fine anywhere they went.
“So you want me at this dinner thing?”
“You are my daughter.”
“And you can refrain from slapping me?”
She winced, but I knew the movement cost her. A slight curse slipped from her lips and she tried to hide it.
“Mother?”
“What?” She lifted glazed eyes to me. “I think the dinner will be great. I could cook something, maybe? No, that didn’t end well the last time. You’re right. Dinner out is the best idea. I’m so happy you think so.”
