Devour

by E. K. Blair

  When the four of us got to the mansion, it was nearing six in the morning. I wasn’t tired at all. I was wide awake. The nagging questions of Tate/Logan’s relationship and who Marissa was had me energized. I could’ve gone on a run.

  And then I decided to do it.

  As I went through the kitchen, a big black bag was in the foyer along with a hiking bag. Mason dumped a rolled up sleeping pad beside it a second later. He had changed into ratty green khaki shorts and a sleeveless black shirt. It was tattered along the edges and had two gaping holes in the back.

  “Where are you going?”

  It took me a second to realize he’d asked my question. I frowned at him. “I’m going on a run. Where are you going?”

  He checked his watch. “It’s after six. You were up all night.”

  I kicked at his bag and heard pots and pans rattle against each other. “Where are you going?”

  ‘Who’s Marissa?’

  He grimaced for a moment and then flipped his black sunglasses over his eyes. I could no longer read him. “We’re going camping.”

  “Camping?”

  “Something we do.” And he turned to leave again.

  I was a bit miffed as I stood there. He’d been all buddy-buddy and now—nothing. Camping. That’s it. No other explanation, but then again I had to remind myself—who was I kidding? These guys weren’t my stepbrothers and I highly doubted their father would really marry my mother.

  Everything hardened inside again.

  The truth was that my mother and I’d be out within three months. That was my guess. When that happened, it’d be like none of this happened. No Logan. No Mason. No Nate. Nothing. And I’d have to deal with Lydia and Jessica once again.

  With that thought, I felt another burst of adrenalin surge through me and I could barely hold it in as I jumped through the door and started running.

  None of it matter. I mattered. I was the only one. I had to take care of myself.

  Those thoughts kept flashing through my head as my feet pounded the pavement. I ran and then I ran some more. Sweat was dripping off of me and leaving trails wherever I went and I went everywhere. I soared past Adam and Becky’s house once, and then ran past it again.

  Then I found a park and sprinted over the bridge. Ducks and geese scattered for me and the water felt good as I darted through a small part of a pond.

  When my legs started to hurt, I headed back. And as soon as I approached the front lawn, my body crumbled. I fell to a heap on the lawn and stayed there until my heart and chest slowed down.

  I was barely aware of the sounds of a car pulling out of the garage until it slowed beside me.

  “Samantha?”

  A black Rolls Royce had stopped beside me and my mom peered over James who was in the driver’s seat. She was dressed in a pink dress with a hat perched on top of her head.

  I frowned as I sat up. Was I delusional? My mom looked like she was dressed for a role in a Southern movie. “Where are you guys going?”

  “It’s Sunday, honey. We’re going to church.” She frowned a little. “Would you like to come? We could go to the later service.”

  I couldn’t hold back my full body grimace. “No. I’m okay.”

  “Did you go running this morning?”

  I heard the strain in her voice, but ignored it when I tried to stand. My legs were still wobbly. “No. I just look like I did.”

  “Samantha.”

  I groaned. “What? Of course I did.”

  “Well. Okay. Go inside and drink lots of water. And please eat something, Samantha. You know how I worry.”

  James said something to her and my mom called out again, “Oh, honey. The boys went camping. They’ll be gone most of the week so if you’d like to have any friends over, go ahead. Maybe Jessica and Lydia? Or even Jeff? Are you two still together?”

  James said something else under his breath to her and my mom giggled. “Okay, honey. We have to go. Love you.”

  She waved as he pulled out of the driveway. And then it was just me. I had the mansion all to myself. I trudged through the place and into my shower. After that, I curled under my sheets and rolled over.

  ***

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  The guys were gone for an entire week. I had no idea how they could do that, but they did. I shouldn’t have been surprised. I avoided my mother during the week and only once spotted James. I’d been sitting in the study room, which looked like my school’s library when he walked in.

  The door shut behind him. I lifted my head from the book I’d been reading. We stared at each other.

  He was dressed in a pinstripe black business suit and he had a black briefcase in hand. When I saw a small brown bag in his other hand, I hid a grin. Mousteff must’ve gotten to him too.

  Then he took a deep breath. “I am aware your relationship with your mother is none of my business, but I would like to get to know you at some point. I love your mother very much and I do not plan on letting her go.”

  And then he left.

  He came in as silently as he left and when I watched the door slide shut behind him, not a sound came from it.

  Chills ran down my body and I pushed back from the table and went to where I’d once seen Mason pull some brandy from a counter. It was still there and I took a swig of it. Maybe daytime alcoholism would be my next venture?

  I put the bottle away when my stomach started to churn. Then I heaved a deep breath. Nope, daytime alcoholism wouldn’t mix with me and I went back to my room and for my running gear.

  When I was running back, it had been dark for an hour and a set of headlights approached from behind. I was two blocks from the house and I veered to the side. Most cars swept past, some slowed for caution, but this one slowed so it followed behind me.

  I kept going.

  What else could I do?

  I put on some more speed and soon I was sprinting. One block left.

  The car’s headlights engulfed me and my shadow sprang out in front of me. It seemed to be laughing at me, dancing vigorously. My heart was already pounding, but cold sweat formed on my forehead. It spread throughout my body and my teeth were soon chattering.

  I stopped.

  Half a block from my house.

  I turned and stared at the car. It had stopped, now in front of me. Then I heard the window slide down and someone leaned out.

  I yelled, “What do you want?”

  There was laughter from inside.

  My hands balled into fists and I started to jerk forward.

  Mason’s voice slid over me. “You’re an idiot.”

  My breath spat from me before I could stop it. I grimaced when it landed on my leg, but I couldn’t stop from laughing in relief. “I’m an idiot? You’re the idiots.”

  Logan popped his head from the passenger side. “We could’ve been mass rapists, dude.”

  “Dude?” I shot him a look and walked to Mason’s window on trembling legs. “I’m not your dude.”

  Logan eased back in and smirked at me. “Not yet.”

  Nate chuckled from the backseat as he watched the exchange.

  “Hop in.” Mason nodded to the back.

  I gave him a silly grin, though I didn’t care how silly it might’ve looked. “I’m a half block away. I think I can manage it.”

  He shrugged and flashed me a grin back. “Up to you.” And then he sped off. My eyes widened as I spotted the puddle, but it was too late. He drove through it and I was drenched a second later.

  “Ugh,” I groaned and held my arms out.

  Logan’s hyena laugh sounded out until they turned into the driveway.

  Then I gritted my teeth and sprang forward. When I sprinted around the corner, they had started to climb out and I spotted the hose their gardener left out by the house. Logan had set a few bags on the ground when he turned, but it was too late.

  “Hey—” His shout was drowned out when I turned the hose on and aimed it at him. Before Nate could jump out of the way, I turne
d and got him too. As I looked for Mason, I was shoved to the ground and the hose was pulled out of my hands.

  I looked up and he stood over me with the hose pointed towards the lawn. A wicked look was in his eyes and I opened my mouth to try and stop him, but the front door opened at that moment.

  “Sam?”

  I groaned and rolled to my feet.

  Mason turned the water off and threw the hose back to the corner.

  “Hi, guys...” She faltered as she frowned at me. “Sam, what are you doing on the ground?” Her eyes skirted from me to Mason.

  I stood and brushed off my running shorts. “Nothing. I think I ran too much, tripped.”

  “Oh.” Her eyes never left Mason.

  He narrowed his and the same closed down look came over him.

  I sighed on the inside. “Mom, I’m going inside.”

  “Wait, honey.” She turned to Logan. “Since everyone’s here, tomorrow is Saturday. I was wondering if we could have our dinner tomorrow night.”

  “What?” Logan dropped a bag from his fingers.

  “The one we were supposed to have last Sunday was canceled since you guys wanted to go camping so I thought...” She threw her hands in the air with a bright smile. “How about tomorrow night?”

  “I’m sure we’ll be at a party tomorrow night.”

  “Oh.” Her bright smile faded and she glanced at me.

  I fought the urge to roll my eyes. I wanted so badly...

  “How about you and me, Sam? What do you think? We can have a mother/daughter dinner like we used to.”

  I tried not to let her desperation get me, but I found myself crumbling.

  Then Mason asked, “Doesn’t your school’s football team have their annual dinner tomorrow night?”

  My head snapped up. My football team. My father. My not-father. And the old rage flared inside of me again.

  My mom’s eyes closed and she turned away.

  I didn’t care. I snapped, “I’m good without that, mom. I wouldn’t want us to be fake and not talk about things.”

  “What?”

  “Like how you hit me. Twice.” My eyes were cold. Everything in me was cold again and I remembered the feeling of that first slap.

  “Honey, I...” She stepped towards me with an extended hand.

  Logan cleared his throat and gave us both a forced polite smile. “Don’t mind us. We’ll be showering and going back out. See you.”

  All three of them grabbed the rest of their bags and walked inside. When the door shut behind them, I flinched in reaction. But I hadn’t started to calm my nerves before my mother stepped close.

  “Samantha,” she spoke in a soft voice. “We should talk about that night. We haven’t really...did David ask you to go to their annual dinner?”

  I wanted to snap so badly. She said it as if it were a personal attack to her, that the man who had raised me all my life might have the balls to invite me to a dinner? As if he had no right since he wasn’t my biological father.

  Anger was pumping through me.

  “Sam?” She said it so quietly. She had turned into a timid mouse and my mother watched me with wide eyes, a begging question in her depths.

  “What?” I growled.

  “Are you going to that dinner with David? I know it’s for the families too.”

  I sighed and turned away. “I don’t know, mom. Maybe.”

  When I started to walk inside, she called after me, “It’d be okay, you know. I’d understand. I wouldn’t want him to be alone...”

  And the door shut on her words when I stepped inside. I let it slam harder than normal. When I hurried upstairs and to my room, Mason’s door was kicked open and he appeared. He was shirtless and in jeans. His hair was wet and he held a toothbrush in his mouth, but he watched me approach.

  I whistled under my breath. “You shower quick.”

  He grinned over a mouthful of toothpaste and disappeared inside. A second later, he came back out and wiped his mouth with a towel. Then he grinned, sans his toothpaste, and leaned against his doorway. When he crossed his arms, his muscles bulged out, but it wasn’t a show. That was him.

  I fought the urge not to flinch under his steady gaze. “What?”

  “Come out with us tonight.”

  “I don’t think so.”

  Logan’s door opened down the hall and he stepped out, but he didn’t say a word. He waited.

  “Why not? It’d be fun.”

  I wavered. “Where are you going?”

  He lifted an easy shoulder. “Probably just some bonfire, nothing big.”

  And I hoped that meant there’d be no Lydia, Jessica, or even Adam. The week had been tolerable, but I felt the weight of all of them. Lydia wanted to be my best friend again and Jessica seemed torn. After Logan’s humiliation, she had stayed away, but I still caught the few friendly grins she’d sent my way. Becky loved it. She was eating all the attention up, including how Adam still seemed pissed. She enjoyed being the go-between with him and me.

  “Hey,” Mason prompted me again.

  I frowned as I tried to remember what Becky had said they were doing tonight. It was probably a party. It always seemed to be a party. “Don’t you guys have a football game tonight?”

  “Not for us.”

  “What do you mean?”

  He shrugged again and scratched at his chin. “We skipped all week. No way can coach put us in.”

  “And that doesn’t bother you?”

  “He won’t kick us off.” He frowned. “Why do you care about that?”

  His question threw me backwards a step. Why did I? I shrugged and slid my hands into the back pockets of my running shorts. I was trying to look cool. My sweat had dried, but my nose twitched at the smell of it as it hung in the air.

  “Look,” I started. “I’m not up for another party. Besides, I think that Tate girl is out for my head.”

  Mason shot up from the doorway and the wall slammed over his face again. “Tate?”

  Logan’s eyes clasped shut behind him and his head went down. His shoulders dropped.

  I sucked in my breath and my eyes widened. “Uh...I mean...”

  “You met Tate?”

  I nodded.

  “At the last party?”

  I nodded again.

  “Why’d she be pissed with you?”

  I shrugged and looked away.

  “Sam.” He grasped my shoulder and I squeaked. I threw a look at Logan, but quickly glanced away. Too late. Mason followed my gaze and saw his brother. “Tate’s in town?”

  Logan’s head lifted and a haunted look was in his eyes. “Yeah.”

  “When?” Mason’s voice was biting.

  “She came last Saturday. She was looking for a chick that Sam’s quarterback was banging.”

  Mason looked back at me. His eyes were cold. “What does she want with you?”

  “Becky and I lied to her. She seems like the type to hold a grudge.”

  “What the hell, man?”

  It took me a second to realize Mason wasn’t referring to me. I looked up with his hand still on my shoulder and saw something pass between the two brothers. Logan backed up and gave him a tight smile. “What do you want?”

  “You’re still covering for her.”

  Though Mason’s statement came out quiet, there was a dangerous feel to it. The hairs on the back of my neck stood upright and I was frozen in place. His hands gripped my shoulder tighter. A bruise would appear there, but it didn’t hurt. I didn’t feel a thing at that moment.

  “Sam, honey?” My mom’s voice came up from the stairway.

  Everyone reacted.

  Mason shoved me away. When I caught my balance and looked up both of their doors had been shut. I hurried into mine and locked it when my mother turned the knob. “Sam, can you please talk to me? I’d really like to talk to you about David. And James told me he had a word with you. I’d like to talk to you about him as well.” She waited a moment. “Please, honey?”

 
I stood on the other side and held my breath. My heart was pounding, but it wasn’t from my mother, for once. And then when I heard her walk away, I let out that deep breath and sagged against the door. My hands and legs shook when I made my way to the shower so I slid down the wall and let the water slam over me.

  It was an hour later before I went downstairs in sweats and a tank. My hair was pulled back by a headband and my body felt strong from the latest run. When I went into the kitchen, I expected everyone else to be gone, but drew up short. Logan sat at the table in the dark. A glass was in front of him and a bottle of Brandy beside that.

  He looked up at me and his lip curved upwards in a snarl. “Hey, thanks.”

  “For what?” I eyed him, but relaxed when he didn’t stand up.

  “Tate.”

  “Where’s Mason and Nate?”

  “Where do you think?” he bit out and raised his glass for a drink. He set it down hard.

  “What?” I couldn’t believe this. “Are you being punished? Did they go out without you?”

  He sighed and looked away.

  “Are you twelve now?” Where had the cocky smooth-talker gone? Or the vindictive guy who had humiliated Jessica for me?

  His voice came out low. “There’s a lot of history that you don’t know about.”

  “Why are you telling me that?”

  His eyes found me and the seriousness in them held my breath. “So that you can tread carefully from now on.” He pushed up from the table now. “My advice: shut up about what you don’t know.” He brushed past me as I stood still and finished the rest of his Brandy before he put the empty glass away. The bottle was left on the counter.

  He left a second later and his yellow Escalade tore from the driveway.

  It took me a moment to realize that my heart wasn’t pounding. My legs were strong. And a sense of calm settled over me. What that meant, I had no idea.

  ***

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  My phone woke me the next morning and I groaned when I saw that it was past eleven. “Hello?”

  “Hi!” Becky chirped at me.

  I swore under my breath and buried my head under my pillow. “Whatdoyouwand?”

  “What?”

  “Hold on.” I sat up and wiped at my face. I needed to wake up. I couldn’t handle how alert she sounded at that moment. “Hi...”