CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Becky gushed about her ride with Adam the next morning when she found me at my locker. She gushed about the charity football game at lunch. The next day was a similar chain of events except Adam sat with us at our table. It didn't faze Becky from raving about Saturday's game. On Thursday a few of his friends joined him at our table and one seemed amused by Becky's passionate monologue about the Kade brothers, who was better, who was better looking, etc. He teased and prodded her along until Becky seemed like she was going to shout from the rooftop how hot Mason and Logan Kade were. At one point I thought she'd been about to proclaim they could beat our entire football team, only the two of them.
She caught herself, blushed, and her head went down.
The guys didn't hold back their laughter and she turned to me. I patted her arm when she sighed, "I sounded like an idiot, didn't I?"
Even Adam couldn't hold back his grin.
And then things turned awkward when Jeff stopped at the end of our table. He had a tray of food in one hand and his backpack over the other shoulder. He hitched it higher and gave me a small wave. "Heya, Sam."
I leaned back.
Adam leaned forward. "What are you doing, Sallaway?"
Jeff looked around the guys and ended on Becky. "Hey, cuz. How's your mom doing?"
She glared. "She's fine."
"That's cool." He bobbed his head up and down.
"Jeff!"
Jill strode towards us with stiff legs. Her chin was clenched and her eyes glittered in anger.
One of the guys whistled under his breath. "Catfight."
Jeff shot him a look, but turned towards his girlfriend with a wide smile.
I saw it slip a little.
"Hey, babe. What's up?"
She latched onto his arm and her smile froze in place. "Nothing. What are you doing over here?"
He jerked his arm towards me. "I wanted to say hi."
"Why?" Her eyes seared at me.
Becky's hand rested on my arm under the table. I suppose she wanted to support me, but I was entertained. I grinned back at Jill and her mouth twitched a bit.
He shrugged again and tried to remain cool. "Because I think it's stupid that we're not talking. Lydia and Jess too. They were best friends." He stole a look underneath lidded eyes at Adam and the guys.
My back straightened. He was lying.
Jill's fingers curled into his arm and Jeff froze under her grip. Then he frowned and flung her hand off. "Ouch! Crap, woman. That hurt."
"So, Adam," Jill turned towards him. Fake warmth oozed from her pores. "How do you think the game will go on Saturday?"
One of the guys scoffed, "We have a real game on Friday."
Another added, "No one cares about that one."
Adam shot both a look and straightened in his chair. "I think we'll be fine."
"Why is that?" She leaned forward to give him a view of the upper curves of her boobs. Cleavage heaven was on display.
Jeff was eagerly lapping up his view.
Becky yipped out, "You don't think the team will win?"
Jill settled back on her heels and turned ice eyes towards her. "They did get creamed last week by them."
"Yeah, but that was a real game. It counted."
Adam shot Becky a dark look.
She didn't see it and plodded on, "This game doesn't really count. I heard the Kade brothers might not even play. They didn't come for the charity event last year."
"They have to come." Jill's eyes were sharp. "That's why we chose the football team, so they'd come."
Jeff moved back. "You want them to come?"
"What? I mean, you're going to do fine, honey."
"I don't play in a real game."
"Yeah, but it's for charity." She pressed herself against him and cooed again. "I bet their third string plays too. Charity for everyone."
Becky's mouth closed with an audible snap. The guys were silent for a second and then burst out laughing. Even Adam wiped at something in his eyes. Jill's eyebrows shot up and her smile froze in place.
Jeff tore himself away. "So I'm the charity? Is that what you're saying?"
"No, honey. Jeff! That's not what I meant." She hollered and went after as he stalked out of the cafeteria.
One of the guys whistled. "Man, Sam. You didn't even say a word. How'd you get out of that?"
I offered up a shoulder. "Talent?"
Both of Adam's friends laughed while Becky's eyes went wide. "You didn't, did you? I thought Jill was going to leap at you with her nails."
Adam shook his head. "I think that's why Sam kept quiet."
"Yeah, that pissed off Decimator even more. Good thinking."
"It hadn't been my plan, but I'll take it. Decimator?"
The guy struck a cocky pose. "She decimates her way through guys. The Decimator."
"I agree with that. She is a decimator." Becky went back to eating as she nodded her agreement.
Adam gave me a half grin. "You okay?" He lowered his voice and inched closer across the table.
I shrugged, but I didn't say anything because I didn't have anything to say. I didn't care about Jeff and I hadn't for a long time.
Adam kept giving me concerned looks through the rest of the day and the day after, but it didn't matter. I didn't care anymore and Jeff picked up on that too after I walked past him and Jill in the hallway. I hadn't known they were there until I almost bowled them over. They were with Lydia and Jessica. After I muttered a quick apology, one that I'd give to anybody, I hurried on my way.
It wasn't until I was about to turn the corner that I looked back and realized who I had run into.
Jill seemed upset, but Jessica and Lydia stared at me. They watched me.
Jeff's shoulder slumped and he had a downcast expression on his face. When his eyes met mine for a brief second, I saw an apology flash through his.
It was over. Really over and he knew it as well.
My step had a lighter bounce to it for the rest of the day. That lasted until the end of the day when Lydia cornered me later. She'd been waiting at my car. I slowed when I saw her, but what could I do? I wasn't stupid enough or crazy enough to try running home again.
"Hey." She shot up from my car and twisted her hands together. "How are you?"
"What do you want?"
Hurt flashed in her eyes, but she looked down. "Nothing, I just—how are you?"
I let my bag drop to the ground before I unlocked my door. "I'm fine. You?"
She gave me a tentative smile. "I think Justin Beardsley might ask me out."
I nodded. "Cool."
"So you and Adam, huh?" A strand of her hair was wound in her hand and she began to twirl it around. "That's exciting, really exciting. I tried telling Jessica we should be happy for you, but—"
"Why would she?" My tone was flat. "She slept with my boyfriend for two years to get back at me."
Lydia fell silent.
"She doesn't care, now or then."
"Yes, she does. I know she does." But she sounded as if she wanted to convince herself.
"Jessica doesn't care. At least she has the decency not to fake it anymore."
Lydia's mouth opened, but nothing came out.
And Becky bounced up to us at that moment. "How's it going?" I knew she spoke to me, but her glare was directed at Lydia.
Lydia's hands started to twist together again. "Hi, Becky."
"Hi, Lydia. What are you doing?"
"I'm just…saying hi to Sam." She sighed. "Is that okay?"
Becky jerked her shoulder up and frowned, but she looked away. "I guess. It's Sam's decision. I mean…you guys were friends after all…before me."
I rolled my eyes. "Are you serious?"
Both girls jumped at my tone.
I tried to gentle it. "Are you two pissing on each other for my friendship? I don't deal with that. You both should know that."
Lydia seemed frozen in place as she watched me, but Becky hung her head. "I know. I'm sorry."
"I have to get home." I started to reach for my car door again.
"Are you coming to the game tonight?" Becky rushed forward.
"Probably not. Why would I?"
"Because they're playing Roussou. There might be a bunch of action tonight, with the guys being in town after what we heard the Kades had done to their coach's house and some of the other guys."
I frowned at that. "I haven't heard anything."
"Oh." She seemed confused. "I thought I told you about that."
"Well, you didn't."
"Anyway, are you coming tonight?"
"No." I didn't hesitate.
Lydia looked away. Her eyes had been glued to me, like I was a television show for her. Now her whole body seemed to retreat away.
I frowned at her, but was distracted when Becky asked in an excited breath,
"And tomorrow? You have to come. It's for charity." Her voice turned into a whine.
I sighed, but I already knew I'd go. Logan had been harassing me over the past week with the same question. Mason never asked, but Nate told me once that he wanted me to come. I hadn't a clue why.
"I don't know. Probably, okay?"
Again, Lydia seemed struck by something. She fell back a couple of steps before she caught herself.
I snapped at her, "What's your problem?"
She blinked rapidly a few times before she rasped out, "Uh, nothing. You're, just, you've changed."
"Yeah. Life does that to you." Then I swung my door open and got inside. I couldn't explain it, but both annoyed me. And when I was able to get home and go on my run, my mind finally started to clear after a couple of hours.
It took that long before I calmed myself down. When I returned home, the evening's darkness had started to creep in.
My mother waited for me at the dining room table. She had a large glass of wine before her and every room was lit up around us. Her fingers kept tapping the table in a nervous manner—or, as I got a better look at Analise—in an irritated manner.
I didn't even wait for her to say anything. I dropped to a chair at the table and waited.
My headache had come back.
"I am taking the boys out for dinner on Sunday after church. If you are able to refrain from physical violence, I'd like for you to join us."
Her tone felt like whiplash against me.
I jerked away, but readied myself again. She couldn't hurt me unless I allowed her. "Why do you want me there?"
She gave a dramatic long-drawn out sigh and whirled the wine around inside the glass. "Because you are my daughter. Mason and Logan are going to be my stepsons, your stepbrothers. You don't think I think about this? I'm concerned for you, Samantha. I really am."
"Really?" My tone was dry, I couldn't keep it out.
She winced against it, but swallowed it down. Then she forced out her bright sunshiney fake act. "How are things at school? Have you seen David at all?"
"Once."
"Oh." She seemed to pull away from me, though she didn't move in her chair.
Then she threw the rest of her wine down the back of her throat. "That's good that you still have him in your life. Have you ever considered going to public schooling? Mason and Logan seem to do very well there."
I rolled my eyes. They would've been fine anywhere they went.
"So you want me at this dinner thing?"
"You are my daughter."
"And you can refrain from slapping me?"
She winced, but I knew the movement cost her. A slight curse slipped from her lips and she tried to hide it.
"Mother?"
"What?" She lifted glazed eyes to me. "I think the dinner will be great. I could cook something, maybe? No, that didn't end well the last time. You're right.
Dinner out is the best idea. I'm so happy you think so."
Yeah. Me too.