CHAPTER THIRTY TWO
Mason and I were in an empty classroom. His head was bent down, cushioned by his arms and I was starting to wonder if he'd fallen asleep. He couldn't have. And then someone sped past the door, screeched to a halt, and backtracked to stand in the doorway. Logan greeted us with his arms spread wide and a bright smile on his face.
"One punch, Mase?" Logan laughed and launched himself on our table. "Next time I think you should get him to knock himself out."
"Logan, dude." Another guy followed him in, looking irritable. I recognized him from one of their parties. "You just took off. This place is bitch heaven, at least grace me with some bread crumbs."
"Ethan, chill. They're easy."
He grimaced. "I'm not talking about those; I'm talking about the dudes.
They're all over. Their pants are pressed so tight I keep expecting to smell aromatherapy or whatever my mom sells with her scentsy stuff. They fart daisies. I know it."
Logan laughed and hit him in the backside of his head. Ethan shot away and glared again. His eyebrows rose at an alarming height.
Mason sighed and leaned back in his chair. "We've been cooped up here for four hours. Dad showed up after an hour and we were hauled back here."
Logan smirked. "Was he dressed to impress?"
"You know it. Remind 'em who brings the money in." He glanced at me. "Her mom had some lacey bridal dress on."
I glanced down and folded my arms. A stab of pain went through my gut when I remembered how Analise had pranced through my school's doorway. It'd been her second time to visit. The first time had been an event for David.
Both brothers shared a grin. "You're totally going to get off for this."
Ethan shared in their dark humor and grinned. "Isn't one punch considered assault or something? My cousin knocked a guy out cold. That dude had been harassing him and his girlfriend and my cousin got the rap for it."
Mason shrugged and stood. He started to pace. Even with his muscular physique, the gracefulness of his walk reminded me a lean panther trapped in a cage. He kept glancing at the open door. The bell had rung again and students passed by. I had stopped watching after awhile. Not one person went by that didn't look in. They all wanted to get a glimpse. We were on display at a human zoo.
I asked Logan, "Aren't you guys supposed to be in school? It's one in the afternoon."
"Yeah, right. I'm not going to be there when my brother's over here. Besides, coach sent me over." He nodded at Mason. "We have twofers for the rest of the week. He said you have to make them all, tonight too, if you're going to play."
Irritation flared over his face and he scowled. "Against Roussou? Of course I'm going to play. It's our second chance to beat them. I hate their quarterback."
"More than the Academy's?" Ethan joked.
Logan tipped his head back to cackle while Mason flexed his knuckles.
"Whatever. I'm sick of this. I'm starting to wish I hadn't finished him."
Logan looked taken aback and thrust his hand out towards me. "Whatever. The guy's going to back down. He knows you can beat his—"
Ethan interjected, "One punch, mofo."
"—and now he might calm down. His panties are all twisted because of Sam anyway—"
"Hey!"
Ethan frowned at me.
"—but now he'll go away and lick his balls a bit. I think we should do it again to make sure he's down for the count and knows who is boss. What do you say? Hunt him down after we kill Roussou Friday night?"
Mason stopped and glared at him. He looked ready to bark something, but changed his mind and pointed to the door. "Ethan, leave."
He jerked his head up. "What?"
"Leave. Five minutes." Mason gestured to the door again.
Logan tossed his car keys at him. "Go get some sandwiches, I'm hungry."
"Are you kidding me?"
I lifted a hand. "Can you get me a latte?"
His mouth fell.
"See ya. Thanks." Logan chuckled and waved his fingers at him. "Family meeting, mofo."
He growled and then stomped out the door. As soon as he was gone, Logan folded his arms and stuck his chin out. "You've got the floor, Mason. Go ahead."
Mason threw him a dark look before he swiftly pivoted on his heel and pulled the door shut. As soon as it clicked in place, he was in Logan's face. "Are you kidding me? You want another go at this kid?"
"Yeah. I want to be there this time."
"Logan, this kid isn't some public student. He's Academy. His dad does business with ours. We can't keep fighting these pricks."
"Why not? He's a loser?"
"Because dad could suffer for what we're doing."
Logan rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on. Dad owns this town. He's running half the state. He's got businesses all over the world. I don't think we need to worry about this kid." He gestured to me again. "Besides, you really like how he keeps sniffing around Sam? You know he's rallying to come back around with her again. I bet you anything he was going to try last night, but she shot him down."
"This isn't about Sam."
"Yeah, it is."
Mason stood in front of him and faced him squarely. "You're going to be selling that crap?"
Logan lifted his chest up. "Why wouldn't I? It's the truth."
"Then you're on his level. You want to see who has the biggest balls.
Congratulations, Logan. I do. I punched him out."
Logan narrowed his eyes. "You're putting me on his level?"
Mason shoved his face against his. "I'll punch you out too."
Logan shoved him back and jumped off the desk. I braced myself, ready for round two, but Mason shook his head and backed away. "Grow up, Logan. It's fun and all, but dad's involved. You think this is good for him where he has to throw his weight around so I don't go to jail and you want to do it again?
Pricks like this guy don't get bullied down."
The corner of Logan's mouth twitched. And then he exuded a deep breath and jumped to the floor. He shook his hands in front of him and seemed to be shaking something off. "Whatever. Fine. You're right."
Mason growled and crossed his arms over his chest. "Damn right I am. If I get out of this, we stay away from these guys for awhile, alright?" He tapped Logan's chest with a finger. "Okay?"
Logan shoved his finger away, but the corner of his mouth curved up. "Fine.
You're usually right about these things, but man—I wanted to punch that kid.
You don't know how hard it was to get that text that you knocked him out and I wasn't there."
"Take it out on Roussou Friday. Those guys are a better fight."
"Yeah, maybe."
They both fell into a shared silence and I held my breath. I was unsure what to say or if I wanted to break whatever camaraderie they'd fallen into. My hands were shaking and I tucked them under my legs, but I tried to quell my voice.
"I don't really understand what just happened with you guys, but am I the only one worried about Mason here?"
Logan cracked a grin and he was back to his usual cocksure way. "He'll be fine.
Dad will get him off. We need to more worry about your situation."
I shivered as I remembered the few times I had glimpsed when Miranda or any member of the Elite had walked past our doorway. If looks could kill…
"We can't do much about that." Mason shot me a brief look and I saw the apology in his eyes. "Mom's coming."
Logan shot up straight. "How do you know?"
"I texted her."
"Why? Dad can handle this."
"Yeah, but what if he can't. She's got better connections."
Logan expelled another breath and shook his head. "Oh man, you're playing with fire. Dad, Analise, and mom in the same room."
I lifted a hand. "And David…with my real dad maybe coming someday?"
"What are you talking about?" Logan shot Mason a look. "What is she talking about?"
He lifted a shoulder. "Her mom called her real dad. He might be coming."
"What? No. She's with us." Logan looked at me. "You're with us. You can't leave."
One of my eyebrows went up. "Uh…I wasn't planning on leaving. I don't even know who he is."
His shoulders relaxed. "Oh, good. I like having a sister that's banging my brother."
"And shut it with those references." Mason reached out and pushed him back a step. "I'm getting sick of it."
Logan's smile slipped and he shoved his hands in his pockets. "Yeah, sure. No problem."
No sooner had he uttered those words when the door opened again. We expected Ethan, but I sat up straight when David walked in. James and Analise came in behind him, but they rounded to the other side of the room while my dad stopped inside of the door.
James shared a look with Mason, but Analise kept fidgeting with her hands in front of her. She'd glance up every now and then and I followed her gaze the last time and my own widened as I sat up. Malinda Decraw had come inside and stood beside David. She touched his hand for a brief moment before he took a breath and stepped towards us. She remained behind him, but I couldn't get that touch out of my head. It was a sensual caress, one for comfort? Why was it so sensual? Why was she here?
David cleared his throat and tugged his shirt out an inch. "I—uh—a decision's been made." His eyes found Mason's and they hardened.
Mason lifted his chin, but that was his only reaction.
David narrowed his. "When Adam woke up, he wouldn't tell us what the fight was about." His eyes skirted to me with a dark question in them. "But he admitted that he was the initial aggressor. He said you were trying to leave, but he wouldn't let you. Then when you got out of your vehicle, he harassed you and threatened you. Fallen Crest Academy does not take Adam's actions lightly, but since you charged him and knocked him out, we've decided on a punishment. Adam's parents do not wish to pursue criminal charges against you. Instead, they have agreed with the following discipline in three parts."
Mason's mouth hardened, but he was stone face otherwise.
David glanced at me again. An unreadable emotion flashed in them, but he slipped back into his professional mode. "Since you are not a student at Fallen Crest Academy, they are unable to seek expulsion or suspension in any form.
However, we've already sent word to your school's officials and we highly recommend that you be suspended from them—"
Logan surged forward. "No way, he'd be out of the game on Friday. We need him against Roussou."
"Son." James clasped a hand on his shoulder. "Let Coach Strattan finish."
Logan quieted, but glared at my dad.
David continued, "As I was saying, we are seeking a suspension for you, but it will be up to your school if they follow through with that recommendation.
Now, after four hours of deliberations we've decided that you will volunteer at our school's alumni festival this Saturday."
"What does that mean?" Mason had leaned back against the table where I sat, but he stood now. His arm brushed against my leg.
I glanced down at the contact. A shiver went through me, but my heart pounded. He had said three parts, those were only two…
"You will help with the set up, you will do whatever I tell you to do throughout the day to help out, and you will help with the clean up. There is a dinner that night for the volunteer and staff. I will determine if you will be invited to that or not."
"Oh." Mason leaned back beside me again. His arm was loose again. "That's fair."
David frowned at him.
"You said three parts," I spoke up. David turned towards me and pinned me with his gaze. He was trying to search inside of me. His eyes narrowed and they glanced back and forth from Mason and me.
"Sam," my mom hissed.
David held a hand up. "No, that's fine, Analise. I did say three parts and the third part's already been taken care of. Your father has made a generous donation to the school."
Logan snorted. "Dad, you bought his way out—"
James turned on him. "You will keep your mouth shut, Logan."
His eyes widened and his mouth jerked in reaction, but Logan shrunk against the counter he sat on. His eyes took on an angry leer.
James' eyes were lidded, but he turned towards my father and jerked his head down in a nod. "As you were saying, David…"
My dad cleared his throat once more.
Malinda moved forward a step and touched the small of his back.
My heart snapped and I jumped to my feet. "What are you doing in here?"
"Samantha!"
I ignored my dad and walked to her. "You're Mark's mother. You have no connection to anyone in here. Why are you here?"
Her mouth formed a small oval, but she looked to David.
He stepped between us and spoke in a quiet voice, "She is here for me. She's become a good friend to me, Samantha."
I fell back, reeling, and looked at my mother. She had grown pale with a hand pressed against her chest. Her other hand clung to one of James'. It was hidden from eyesight, but I still saw it. When she realized that I saw it, she gasped and retracted her hand to her side.
Why was she pale? And why did she need comfort from James…then I understood. My heart sank and my stomach had dropped to the floor. It was really over with them. My mom had moved on with James, David was starting to move on as well… My head fell forward and I hugged myself.
A hand touched my side gently. Mason tugged me back by the belt loop on my jeans. He tucked me behind him and moved forward a step. "I heard that festival is for two days?"
David was still looking between us. "Uh—yes—yes, it is." He frowned. "Why?"
"I could volunteer both days."
"You could?"
"Man," Logan hissed softly.
Mason nodded. He held his gaze steadily. "It's the least I could do."
David gave him a sad smile. "Your school won't suspend you. We both know that, they need you for their football game."
The corner of Mason's mouth twitched. "What time should I be here on Saturday?"
"Seven sharp. Come to my office."
Mason's head jerked in a nod. "Will do."
David looked at me. "Would you come to my office later today?"
I stared at Malinda behind him. "No."
"Sam."
He waved a hand in the air. "It's fine, Analise. I can talk to her next week."
My mom trembled, but she nodded at him and tried to muster a smile.
For a moment, David looked around the room and then he gave out a soft sigh. "I guess I'll be in touch then…"
James strode forward and held out a hand. "Thank you, David."
They clasped their hands in a firm handshake and studied each other for a beat. Then David nodded again and turned for the door. He held it open as Malinda swept out before him. Pain sliced through me when I saw his hand touch the small of her back and remain there, even after they went in the hallway.
When the door closed, I was barely aware of Mason. He stood and I heard his voice at a distance, "Mom's coming to town. We'd like to stay with her at the hotel."
"I think that'd be for the best this week…"
"Fine."
"Fine."
And then there was silence. David and Analise were actually done… The realization settled on my chest and a wave of tears threatened me. I rushed from the room and shoved through the hallway. When I found an empty backroom, I locked the door, kept the lights off, and slid to the ground. My forehead touched my knees and I sobbed.