Fallen Crest Public(54)

“Thanks for that,” I said. “Note the sarcasm.”
She rolled her eyes. “You wouldn’t have told them, and you know it. I don’t understand why you didn’t say something after it happened. It’s probably too late now.”
“Because I’m scared for them. I don’t know what Mason and Logan are going to do.”
“Oh please.” Another eye-roll. Another swear word. “They’re not idiots, and this isn’t their first rodeo. This is Mason and Logan Kade. This is what they’re known for, this is who they are. I don’t know what you’re scared about. Stop kidding yourself, Sam.”
My head jerked back. “You just bitch-slapped me.”
The corner of her mouth lifted in a crooked grin and she shrugged. “Well, that’s what real friends do.”
“You really think they’ll be fine?” No matter what she said, the fear of Mason’s future was still in me. My mom had been so close to ruining it.
““Yeah.” She softened and reached over to hug me. She whispered in my ear. “I think they’ll be fine. I’ve never seen those two more protective over someone. It’s why everyone hates you at school.”
I stiffened in her arms. “Quite aware of my popularity.”
“Things will be fine.” She patted my arm again. “They’ll put her back in her place and everyone will relax at school. People will start getting to know you for you. I’m sure of it.”
I hoped so. I really did, but Heather was forgetting one thing. Things wouldn’t go back to normal. Mason and Logan had been quiet, but I knew they were planning their revenge against the Broudou brothers. Thinking of them … I still needed to tell Mason about Brett. He needed to know sooner than later.
It was then when Brandon stuck his head out the side door. When he spotted us, his face scrunched together. I could imagine a few curse words coming from him until he hollered, “Get your ass in here, Heather! We’re swamped.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“I mean it!”
Her voice rose another octave. “I said ‘yeah, yeah’! I’ll be there in a sec!”
His middle finger rose in response before he disappeared back inside.
“Stupid brothers.” She glanced at me. “Not step-brothers, but you know what I mean.”
“I do.”
She jerked her thumb towards Manny’s. Another crooked-grin appeared. “Don’t suppose you want to work the rest of the night? Lily and Anne both quit last weekend. Lily’s dad got a new job so they moved and Anne won’t work here if Lily doesn’t. That’s the excuse she gave me, but Cory saw her working at the Fallen Crest Country Club. The tips are better over there.”
“You’d be surprised at how cheap rich people can be.”
“You’ve been there?”
“Unfortunately.”
She shrugged, musing at the same time, “That place is too fancy for me. I don’t speak hoity-toity.”
“That’s funny. You named it perfectly right there.”
“HEATHER!” Brandon was glaring at us from the door again. “Come on! We’re getting killed.”
“I’m COMING!” We started down the alley, and she muttered under her breath, “Someone’s getting killed tonight. That’s for sure.”



The damn mannequin was where I thought it would be—Kate’s garage. She was smart, but not that smart. Since it only had a dark wig on it, and Sam’s clothing were next to it, I figured they hadn’t done anything to it yet.
“Fuck,” Logan muttered. “Is that a dildo over there?”
Her dad had an old truck parked on one side. The other side had a yellow-stained refrigerator where Harold stored his beer. He liked to drink while he played around with his truck. He kept the ‘good stuff’ inside the house. Two worn plaid couches that were torn up, from the cat sharpening its claws, sat next to the refrigerator. A small table with a coffee can full of cigarette butts on top was placed between the couches. There were empty bottles lined up next to the couches Kate’s uncles used to spit their chew in.