Fallen Crest Home (Fallen Crest High #6)(91)

Mason pulled out of the parking lot. “You can tone down the sarcasm. I’m not saying don’t help. I’m saying don’t physically fight. Get it done a different way.”

“I know. I know, but it’s so damn satisfying when the other guy is on the ground because of you, you know?”

“I know.”

I looked over. Mason’s voice had quieted.

“We got off track this summer,” he continued in a more normal voice. “We tried going right before. We need to get back to it. You have a future, too, you know.”

Logan smirked. “Damn right. I’m going to be a lawyer. It’ll really piss Quinn off if I get there ahead of him, too.”

I turned around in my seat. “You’re really going to follow through with that?”

“Fuck yeah.”

“That’s a lifetime commitment to fucking with Adam Quinn.”

Logan looked at his brother, their eyes meeting in the rearview mirror. “I know, but it’s not about just fucking with him. Maybe it was getting hauled in that night, or you being arrested a second time, or even just Quinn saying he’s going to be a lawyer. I don’t know what it was, but that’s what I want to do. I want to be able to stick it to anyone I fucking please, because I know my way around the law and they don’t.”

That made sense, and the subject was closed.

When we got home, Logan didn’t sequester Taylor in their bedroom for the next hour like he planned. Instead, they made plans to take off.

Mason and I were in the kitchen when Nate appeared. He pointed over his shoulder with his thumb. “Uh, Logan and Taylor are packing. What’s going on?” He pulled out a chair and sat across from me at the table.

Mason straightened from the fridge where he’d been grabbing a diet soda for me. Letting the door close on its own, he handed me the can and leaned against the counter. “They’re heading back. Something’s up with one of Taylor’s friends.”

“Oh.” Nate’s eyebrows furrowed together. His eyes skated between Mason and me. “What are you guys doing?”

Mason glanced at me. “We don’t know. We haven’t talked about it. You?”

“Technically, you could go,” Nate said.

One of Mason’s eyebrows rose. “Meaning you want to go back?”

“Well…”

So he did.

Nate spread his hands over the table, his palms up. “There’s no real reason to be here anymore. We came for your internship, but that’s over now. And the wedding’s done, too. So…” He smiled, coaxing us. “Matteo’s back there already for football training. There’s no reason to stay.”

“Except my stepbrother is here.” I leaned forward, propping my elbows on the table. “Oh.” I snapped my fingers at him. “So is my best friend, and my stepmother and David.”

“You’ve had all summer to hang out with them, and you have. You’ve seen Heather a ton. Plus, Malinda and David were at the wedding last night, too. I mean, come on, guys. Let’s go back. There are parties back there. We can chill for an entire month before classes start. Your internship ended early. You could start football on time. I don’t understand why we’re not going back.”

“So go.”

Nate looked at Mason. “What?”

“Go.” He gestured to me. “Maybe we’ll stay an extra day.”

Nate slowly sat back in his chair and tipped it on its rear legs. “You’re okay with that?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“I don’t know. Caldron, for one. You won’t want backup?”

“Caldron’s the least of our problems now. He’s going to be charged in the assault against us, and also for attempted battery against Sam.”

“Quinn then.”

“I can’t know for sure…” Mason’s eyes flickered to mine briefly. “But I have a feeling Quinn’s got his own troubles going right now.” Nate didn’t know Becky had broken it off with Adam.

“All the more reason for you to come with us.” Nate stood up. “Come on, Mason. Let’s all go back to Cain. We had problems one year, but we don’t get into trouble there anymore. Our biggest problem is Taylor’s friends now, and those guys are tame compared to what we usually deal with.”

“A crime boss was tame?”

“That was a one-time thing. You know it.” Nate switched to me. “Sam, what are you thinking? You have to want to head back to Cain, too. Analise is just down the road, and she won’t have a wedding to plan any more. She’s going to have a lot of free time now.”

“Actually,” I cleared my throat, looking at Mason, “she’s doing what you suggested.”

“Really?”

“What?” Nate looked between the two of us. “What’s going on?”

“Analise is letting me go.”

“So you did talk to her.”

“I never said I didn’t,” I noted, quietly.

He didn’t call me out. “What else did she say?”

“She and your dad are going to move. We can have the house.”

Nate’s eyes widened. “What? For real?” A grin spread over his face. “Man, all those memories from that house.” He turned to Mason. “Let’s stay for a week and throw a massive party next weekend. One more big bash before we all head back. Logan would be down for that.”