Fallen Crest Home (Fallen Crest High #6)(92)

“Down for what?” Logan and Taylor joined us, leaving their bags in the living room.

“Sam just said your parents are moving. We get the house,” Nate announced. “One last big rager. How about it?”

Taylor’s eyes widened, and she seemed to pull into herself.

“Oh. Can you stay till then?” Nate asked.

“Well…” She looked at Logan. “I have to go back now. Do you—”

He shook his head. “No. I’m going where you go. If you can stay, I’ll stay. If you want to go back, I’ll go there, too. It’s your call.”

She bit her lip, obviously torn as she looked around the kitchen. “I’m sorry, guys. I really need to go back. Jason was hurt bad. I don’t want him to—”

Mason stood up, cutting her off with a wave. “Then you go. It’s decided.”

“I’m really sorry.”

Logan reached for her hand and pulled her against his side. “You have nothing to be sorry about.”

“I know, but I’m pulling you away from your family.”

Nate laughed, pointing to Mason and me. “Uh, do you not know us? We’re all family. If something affects you, it affects all of us.”

Taylor still looked torn, but Logan lifted his arm to her shoulder. “She knows, and she’ll get over her guilt. So…” He nodded to the rest of us. “Party at the house this weekend? The one in Cain?”

Mason nodded, then gestured to Nate. “Do me a favor, Logan?”

“Anything.”

“Take him with you.”

Nate twisted back around. “What? Mason—”

“I don’t want to hear it. You’re going. Sam and I will be behind you.” His gaze came to me. “I’d like to spend some alone time with my girlfriend.”

“Then it’s all planned. Nate and I will go back with Taylor. We’ll take care of the fuckers who fucked with Taylor’s friend, and then we’ll all celebrate this weekend. Your training starts next Monday. I’m sure all the guys will want to let loose this weekend anyway.”

And with that, the plan was set in motion.

Logan, Nate, and Taylor left that day.

Mason and I spent the rest of the evening in bed, holding each other and enjoying our first alone time all summer.





We stayed a few more days and the rest of the week passed quickly. I went to the carnival to thank Petey and Keifer for sharing the surveillance video. Both told me not to hesitate to reach out again, and Petey reminded me with a wink not to sell carnies short. I tucked that information away and gave each of them a hug. I didn’t know when I’d be seeing them again.

After that I spent my days with Malinda, Mark, or Heather. I tried to get as much time in as I could with each of them. David, too. He’d been around all summer, but we hadn’t spent a lot of one-on-one time.

I knew he was busy planning for football, and on our last night in Fallen Crest, I realized I’d taken him for granted. I expressed that to him on the porch, after we’d just finished a family dinner.

“No, Sam.” He shook his head, relaxing beside me on the bench. “I’m always here. You know that. You never have to worry about putting in your time with me. If you want to see me, I’m here. If you’ve got other people to see, I’m still here.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

“No problem. Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

Malinda came out to the porch then, her face flooded with tears, and I rose. Her goodbye seemed to last longer than normal, and we were only going back to college. We weren’t moving across the country. I knew Malinda would be up for parents’ weekend, too. She came every year.

“I’m just going to miss you two so much.” She hugged me, then Mason. “And you. It’s your last year. I can’t believe it. You guys are growing up too fast.” Mark stepped through the door behind them, and she added, “You, too. Stop growing up. I don’t like it.”

“I’ll get right on that, Mom. No problem.”

“Oh, and Sam, too.” She turned to me, the dam breaking and tears wetting her entire face again.

More hugs. More goodbyes. More laughter until finally, Mason took my hand and began walking across the yard.

Mark waved, then we heard, “Mom, you know you can’t stop them from going, right?” They headed back inside.

The screen door closed, but we could hear Malinda say, “I can try. I’m going to do the same with you, so don’t get any ideas. You know long, drawn-out goodbyes are essential with me.”

Mark groaned, but David waved, a kind and loving smile on his face as he saw me looking back, and then he closed the inside door.

Mason tightened his hold on my hand. “Come on. I want to take you somewhere.”

“What?”

We crossed the street to Helen’s house and went inside. “Dress in something warm,” he told me. “It could get cold tonight.”

Tonight?

It was nearing dark. But we were going to be outside somewhere. “What do you have planned?”

He grinned, and my heart skipped a beat. “Just get dressed, okay?”

I melted, like I always did with him.

“Okay.”