Fallen Crest Alternative Version (Fallen Crest High #2.1)(26)

I bit my lip as I felt a little guilty. I had inhaled the coffee Mousteff handed me. Hers couldn’t compare to his, but he was a chef. I drank hers anyway, and some of the rumbling went away.

“How was the rest of the night?” Adam’s eyes were intense as he studied me.

I looked away. “It was fine.”

Mark’s stopped stuffing his face. His fork went down to the table.

“So they weren’t mad about Cass?”

My cheeks flushed, and I fought the urge to twiddle my thumbs.

“Sam.” Mark was quiet. “What’d they say?”

I swallowed over a knot in my throat and looked up. “No parties with you guys.”

“With us?” Mark waved between him and Adam with his fork. “Or…”

“With anyone who goes to Academy.” It went without saying that I was excluded from that group.

“Are you serious?” Adam’s face fell.

Mark cursed and leaned back. The pancakes had lost their appeal. “Cass is going to be tortured at school. Public parties, man, everyone lives to go to those.”

I twiddled my thumbs now.

Adam asked, quietly, “You can’t talk to Mason?”

I shook my head. “I was attacked. He wasn’t there.”

“You were going to be verbally attacked by his friends before her.” Adam leaned forward.

My shoulder lifted and dropped. “I don’t know what you want me to say.”

“You slapped Cass. Remember? At the Alumni festival.”

“It’s not the same.”

“Are you kidding me? It’s all girl catfight crap. Of course it’s the same,” Adam cried out as he pushed back his chair. “This blows.”

Mark threw him a crooked grin. “Guess you’re going to have to get laid by the Academy gene pool.”

“Shut up.”

Mark shrugged. His fork reached for some strawberries.

“You haven’t even asked about Becky—”

I frowned. “How is Becky?”

He stopped short. “She’s fine.”

I nodded. “Good.”

Then he bit out, “She was worried about you. We kept hearing about you, how you got hit, how you shouldn’t have, how Cassandra was going to hell. Blah, blah, blah. We heard it all.”

Mark grinned with a mouthful of fruit and nodded his head.

“Okay.” Malinda’s voice was bright and cheery. The phone was put away, and she dropped into a chair beside me. “What have I missed? What happened last night?”

Adam looked at me.

I looked at him.

We both fell silent.

Mark gestured between us with his fork. “Those two are mad at each other, but I don’t know why.” He swallowed his fruit with a gulp and speared an omelet with his fork. “After dinner last night, Sam shoved Cass into our bushes. She got mad. She came to the party we were at and slapped Sam. Then her boyfriend got mad and now all of us can’t go to Public parties.” He gave Malinda a mouthful grin. “And that sucks because those parties are awesome. They talked about Becky. I have no idea why.”

She turned to us. Her eyes were bright.

I sucked in my breath.

Mark mumbled around some French toast, “And I didn’t sleep with Amelia last night, mom. I wanted you to know that.”

She melted. “I know, honey. That means so much.”

I blinked in surprise and blurted out my first thought, “Did my dad sleep here last night?”

She froze and then melted again. She patted her chest with a hand. “Oh, Samantha. I would love it if David would spend the night. The good Lord knows that I’ve been trying, and it’s not in vain of His name. I love David. David should be here. I have made my vows in my heart.”

Adam spit out his food and started choking.

Malinda frowned. “I love David very much, Samantha. Someday I would be delighted if you’d live with us as well.”

Mark choked this time.

I frowned at her. “Have you met Mason? I don’t come alone anymore.”

Her smile slipped a bit. “I’ve met Logan, and I thought he was a delightful young man.”

“He’s an ass if he doesn’t like you,” Mark pointed out.

Adam nodded. A dark look came over him.

Malinda touched my hand and leaned forward. “I’ll admit; I’ve always been a bit intrigued by those two Kade boys. They’re so handsome and athletic. Bit of bad boys, aren’t they?”

Mark groaned. His forehead dropped on the table with a thump. “Mom, could you be more embarrassing right now?”

She straightened. “I could. You really want me to be?” Her voice came out razor sharp, and her son lifted his head, gave her a sheepish look, and reached for a piece of sausage.

He mumbled as he popped it in his mouth, “I love you, mom.”

She melted again and beamed. “Oh, honey. I do love you so much.”

And then there was a knock at the door. Malinda went to answer, but I heard a deep masculine voice as soon as she opened the door. My stomach twisted into knots and my heart picked up its pace.

“You okay?”

I stood from the table and walked to the foyer. There he was. Garrett stood above Malinda and he flashed a charming smile to her. His teeth were white and perfect. He had angular cheekbones with a dash of grey in his dark hair. He had broad shoulders, a slender waist, and I knew his type.