Fallen Crest Alternative Version (Fallen Crest High #2.1)(14)

“He’s not being honest. He wanted to charm us, make us feel comfortable, get information about whatever and then bam. The guy would turn into your father and we’d be duped into doing what he wanted. I don’t like it. He’s a snake.” Mason turned and regarded me. “I’m not lying when I say your dad was trying to play us. No one plays me, or you, or Logan.”

I frowned at that mention. “What was Logan’s deal?”

He shook his head. “He’s convinced your dad really is jerking our mom around.”

“Are you?”

He shrugged. “I have no idea. If he is, then he’d better watch his back. My mom’s ruthless. Since he knows that, I don’t think he is jerking her around.”

“Why does Logan think that?”

“Because she won’t talk about him at all. She’s gone radio silent on that matter. That’s not normal for her. It makes us think something’s going on.”

“That doesn’t always mean that.” I shifted so I was more comfortable on my side and raised myself up on an elbow. I looked down at him now. He lifted a hand to trace the side of my face, and I closed my eyes at the contact. Goosebumps broke out as I struggled to remember what I’d been about to say. “Oh yeah. So just because she’s not saying anything doesn’t mean he’s what? Stringing her along? They’ve been together since she and your dad separated? That’s been two years, right?”

Mason gave me a duh look. “And he’s been married the whole time.”

“I thought he found out his wife had cheated on him.”

“I just don’t think it’s so black and white with your dad and his wife. It’s weird, Sam.”

“Yeah,” I had to admit as I lay back down. “It is weird.”

“Anything new happen since I saw you last?”

His question was an innocent one. It was something any boyfriend would ask a girlfriend, but my eyes snapped open. Dread filled me next and I groaned. “Uh…yeah…I have some things to tell you.”

CHAPTER SIX

It was Friday night and the inevitable had come. I stared at the house across the street and took a breath. I couldn’t explain why I had a sense of dread in my stomach, but I did. I went through the list of people who would be attending.

It was at Malinda’s house. She seemed odd but friendly enough. Mark would be there. He had never given me reason to doubt his sincerity or tentative friendship. There was Adam, who seemed to have moved in with them. His family life had taken a toll for the worse, or so Malinda said. Becky was next. The knot loosened an inch. She was fine, but the other two females added that inch back. Amelia seemed all right as long as I never looked at Mark, breathed near Mark, or spoke a word to him. I swallowed. That’d be easy enough. That brought me to Cassandra. She was still hostile in private, but it was all smiles in front of the student body at Fallen Crest Academy.

One person left. David. I froze again. He was my father while I was living in the home of my biological father.

“Are you going over there?” Garrett asked as he came from his office. He had an easy grin on his face and a pile of papers in one hand. “I thought the dinner started ten minutes ago?” He checked his watch. “Make that twenty minutes ago.”

“You look nice.” My limbs couldn’t move.

“This?” He glanced down at his dress pants and grey sweater. “Date night with the woman I’m apparently jerking around.” The humor failed to show in his eyes. He blinked and a dark glimmer appeared. “Your week’s almost up. Why don’t you stay another week? We haven’t spent much time together.”

I looked back at the house. A car pulled up and Cassandra and Amelia hurried inside. They wore dresses. I wore jeans. I could hear their laughter through the glass before the door opened and Malinda welcomed them in. She kissed both on their cheeks. She kissed them on their cheeks…why did my gut tighten at that motion?

“Sam?”

“Huh?” I jerked back.

Garrett gave me a thin smile. It seemed strained. “Are you okay?”

“Yes.” No.

“What’s wrong?” He moved closer and gentled his tone.

I bristled on the inside. He had no right to try to invoke that trust from me. “Nothing. I’m fine.”

“Of course.”

He didn’t believe me. I didn’t care.

I saw my father every day at school. He coached there. Goodness sake. What was wrong with me? My hand splayed out over my stomach, and I tried to soothe the storm that rose inside of me. My pulse picked up as I clamped my eyes closed when my fingers started to tremble. My voice would be next. That meant I couldn’t speak, and I had to speak. I had to go over there. I had to be normal. No one could know—

“Don’t go.”

“What?” I whirled around again. My eyes were wide, and I knew he saw the terror within me.

He cursed and ran a hand over his face. “You’re pale. You’re shaking. Don’t go over there.”

“I promised Malinda,” I said faintly. It was true. “I can’t back out. Becky will be there too…”

He gave me a rueful grin. “I’ve met that girl before. She seemed like the girl who could bounce through any gathering. She struck me as a rabbit on crack, and I mean a rabbit. They’re the horniest animals on the planet.”