Fallen Crest Forever (Fallen Crest High #7)

He bent down, fitting the hose to the water supply and turning it on. I followed the hose to its end. Water streamed out where it lay next to the house—about five feet from the couple.

“You’re going to hose ’em?” I asked.

He winked at me. “It’ll be my pleasure.”

As Logan walked over to pick up the end of the hose, Mason stepped in front of the two guys recording with their phones. Matteo and Nate joined him to block their view. They protested and started to move—until they looked up and saw who was standing in front of them. Both snapped to attention then, trying to turn off their phones.

Mason said something I couldn’t hear and snatched their phones. The guys started to protest again, but soon realized half the football team was there and moving in. They’d back up Mason if they needed to.

Realizing they had no way to fight back, the two guys waited as Mason deleted the video from one phone. He’d handed the other to Nate, who seemed to be doing the same thing.

Logan now had the end of the hose in his hands, and he positioned himself with his feet set apart, holding the hose like a fireman might’ve. He jerked the end of the hose, pressed his thumb over the end, and blasted the porno couple.

The girl shrieked, and the guy yelled, his face twisted in anger. He whirled to find Logan with the hose and everyone else watching. The girl cowered against the house, her hands covering her breasts, and her bottom lip starting to tremble.

“Shit,” Court mumbled as she moved toward her friend.

Grace remained behind, one eyebrow raised as she watched everything unfold. A serene calmness had settled over her features, and she seemed content to remain in place, watching the scene like it was a movie.

As Court put her arms around Nettie, hugging her and helping to shield her, the guy she’d been making out with started to walk away. Logan wasn’t having it. He continued to spray him, laughing until anger darkened the guy’s face. He shot a hand out, but Logan just aimed the hose there, and the water splashed up, soaking the guy’s face.

I looked over. Mason was heading my way, the two phones in his hands. The phones’ owners were escorted away by some of Mason’s teammates.

“Are those two guys going to be a problem?” I asked.

Mason slid the phones over to me, ignoring the way Grace’s mouth hung open again. “I told ’em to come back tomorrow to get their phones. I want to make sure they didn’t upload that video somewhere.”

I checked the screens. Only one was password protected, and I held it up. “Did you get the password?”

He nodded, glancing over at Logan, who was still hosing down the now-yelling guy. “You know that girl?”

I shook my head and gestured to Grace. “But she does.”

He turned to her, his face unreadable. “Is that your friend?”

She lifted a hand to her chin and closed her mouth, then smiled at him. “Yep.”

He studied her. “You’re drunk?”

“Yep.” She continued to beam at him. “You’re Mason Kade.”

He looked back toward the house. Court was bringing her half-naked friend over. “Do you have a staff shirt or anything behind that bar?” she called.

“Staff shirt?”

She frowned at me. “Yeah, you’re working this party, aren’t you?”

She thought I was the help.

Taylor joined us again, motioning toward Logan. “He’s done fooling with the guy. They got his name and number, so if something happens, at least we know who he is.”

Court looked at her gratefully. “Thank you for that. So much.”

“She asked for a shirt,” I told Taylor. “Want to—”

I was going to ask if she’d stand behind the bar so I could grab a shirt from my room, but Taylor held a hand up.

“I’m on it,” she said. “Half my wardrobe’s here anyway. Be right back.”

“Oh, good.” Court’s shoulders dropped, visibly relieved. She nodded to me. “Thank you for helping, you and your friend.” She grinned ruefully. “Who knew your friend would know Logan Kade personally.”

An awkward silence settled over us.

I waited for her to realize Mason was here. Then again, maybe she didn’t know who he was. After a few beats of silence, Court looked at Grace. Grace pointed at Mason, and only then did Court realize someone else stood with us at the bar. Her eyes widened as she looked up at him. The blood drained from her face, and her lips formed a small O.

This reaction wasn’t that uncommon, but the surprised looks on people’s faces when they realized who Mason was usually happened from a distance. He would be with his classmates, Logan, or me when people would notice his presence. The whispering came first, followed by a mix of reactions. Either people would respect his privacy and remain at a distance or they would come over to stare. Sometimes people would rush up for an autograph or to give him their number. It was usually girls who did the latter.

The funniest reactions were the people who looked at him like he was an alien. They’d just gawk. I once overheard a guy say to his friend, “That’s not Kade. He’s not big enough. Kade’s a fucking legend.”

His friend had shaken his head. “Huh-uh. I’m pretty sure that’s Mason Kade. And he’s not six four. Check out his stats. That’s him, dude.”

“Whatever. I could take him. He’s not that big of a deal.”

Mason might’ve overheard, but he didn’t react then, and he didn’t now. He generally ignored people.

He stared at Court. “That’s your friend?”

“Uh.” She tugged Nettie closer, almost using her for protection now. “Yeah . . . You’re Mason Kade, aren’t you?”

“Yeah,” he clipped out. “How drunk is she?” He jerked his gaze to Nettie, half scowling. “How drunk are you? Was it consensual with that guy?”

It hit me like a lightning strike.

Consensual. He was worried. Girl Sexually Assaulted at Mason Kade’s Party would be the headline, and soon people would think he’d sexually assaulted the girl.

Fuck.

I felt slapped in the face.

“What?” Nettie shivered in Court’s arms. They switched positions so it was Court’s back toward Mason now. I watched as Court closed her eyes and drew in a breath. She needed a moment. I could relate.

Mason was intense, especially when he was pissed. And he was livid right now.

He cast me a look, asking for help. I stepped forward just as Taylor came outside, but I motioned for her to head back in.

“Why don’t we all go inside? We can talk in private.”

Court and Nettie nodded, looking relieved. They started for the patio doors where Taylor waited.

I followed and turned around to see Mason coming behind me. I placed a hand on his chest. “Maybe you should stay?”

“Grace!” Court yelled. “Come on.”

The third friend slid off her stool, a contented, serene look still on her face, now topped with a goofy grin. As she walked past, I saw how glazed over her eyes were. I wondered if she’d even remember this the next day. Of the three, Court was the most sober, with drenched, shivering Nettie a close second now.

They headed inside, and I looked back up at Mason. He hadn’t moved.