Fallen Crest Public (Fallen Crest High #3)(67)

You’re not broken at all. I couldn’t get those words out of my head. “Did you mean that?”

“Mean what?”

“That I’m not broken?”

“Oh, honey. You have so much strength in you. You have no idea how much.” She gave me another smile, though it wavered as more tears slipped down her cheeks. “I meant what I said before. I will never leave you. Whether I’m with your father or not, you’re friends with Mark or not, know this will always be a home for you. Okay?”

I could feel her love. It was that same alien feeling I felt when I was bleeding on the bathroom floor. I had clung to it then. I was scared of it now, but I nodded. “Okay.”

She began laughing. “You’re so scared of me right now.”

“I’m not.”

“You are, but that’s okay. Every time you come and I open my door, some of that fear will go away. Being loved and accepting love are two completely different things. It’s my job to continue to show it to you. All you have to do is accept it, little by little. That’s how I finally convinced your father that I loved him. Between you and me, I still have to convince him sometimes. Being with your mother hurt him, too. That’s something both of you have in common.” A few more tears had fallen, and she brushed them away. “Look at me. I’m hideous. Alright, I’m off to shower and get ready. You want to go out for breakfast?”

I nodded.

“Good.” She gave me a bright smile. “Pound on the wall if you need help getting dressed. I’ll hear it all the way upstairs. Oh, and don’t tell Mark that. I caught him with a couple girls with that secret. He still has no idea.”

When she left, I could her laughter all the way to the second floor. I couldn’t move, but I started to hear a scraping sound. That’s when I looked down. My hand was shaking. It was hitting the cord for the blinds that was scraping against the window frame.

She said I wasn’t broken at all.

Sam called me before my game. She had an unusual conversation with Malinda that day, but we would talk tomorrow. It was her first night back at her home, her old home. She wanted to spend time with David, which worked for my plan.

“You ready for this?” Logan got into the seat beside me. We were on the team bus, returning from our away game.

I nodded. My phone was out. The last text from Sam said: I love you. Wake me up when you get here. Key’s under the broken step in porch. I want to talk.

Logan saw the text. He didn’t say anything at first, but after a moment asked, “She doesn’t know? You didn’t tell her last night?”

“Nope.”

“And she doesn’t know we’ll be gone all night?”

“Nope.”

“This could backfire, you know.”

“I know.” I clutched the phone in my hand.

“She might leave you.”

“I know.”

“You’re still sure?”

We were in the back seat, separated from the rest of the team. The guys knew a plan was in motion and I was grateful for the space. I needed to go over all the risks and calculations.

I nodded now. “I am. You?”

Logan flashed me a grin. “I’m down for anything.”

“If she leaves, she’s leaving you, too.”

“I know.” His grin vanished. “It’ll be worth it.”

“Okay.” I nodded again as the bus pulled into the parking lot and rolled to a stop. “Let’s go to that party then.”

Logan got up first, and I followed him. We knew what to do next.

Kate was lying to herself. When I called her Sunday night, I heard the hope in her voice. I said all the right things: I apologized; I wanted a clean slate; I missed our friendship.

She lapped it up. Then I said what I needed to cinch it for her: I’d forgotten that she was my equal in every way. As soon as I said that, she was sobbing on other end. It’d been what she wanted to hear all along. She assured me we could move forward. She would reign in the other girls. They could all be friends again, and it’d be like nothing ever happened.

Stupid girl.

I warned her. She chose to believe my lies. That was her mistake. I didn’t change my mind. I never changed my mind.

The plan had been in motion for a while, but tonight was the beginning of the end.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Logan and I drove to the party. It was spread over a large grassy field surrounded by trees. Trucks were parked so their tailgates could be lowered. People were either leaning, sitting, or standing around them. A few had their own supply of liquor. Pony kegs and coolers were spread out and barrels were in the middle section. Each barrel had been lit so the fire heated the area. This party wasn’t like normal Public parties. No Academites were allowed. No one cared about coke and champagne at this party. This was a District party, held on Frisco land. As soon as I got out, people headed over and the divide was immediate. Fallen Crest people stepped toward us, and the rest of Roussou remained on the other side of the barrels with Budd Broudou.

“Mason, my man.”

A tall guy came towards us. He was lean and lanky, with a build that resembled a professional basketball player.

“Pailor, how’s it going?”

“It’s going, man.” His mouth curved in an easygoing manner, but his eyes didn’t miss a thing. They were clear and alert. As Logan came around his Escalade, he held his hand out. “Logan, my dude.”