There was laughing, squealing, and hugging. Way too much hugging.
Once I helped Malinda unload everything to the pool’s veranda, I had to make an escape. I went to hide in a far corner of the country club’s lobby, waiting for Mason, Nate, and Matteo to show. Mason’s text said they had one hole to finish, but shouldn’t be too long. As far as I was concerned, any more time was too long.
Where I was sitting, people had to walk past me to the pool area, but there were a bunch of bushes and potted trees hiding me. So I could see them; they couldn’t see me.
It seemed to be a Fallen Crest Academy reunion, but only for those who hated me. Miranda arrived, actually hanging on to Peter’s arm. Then Amelia arrived, along with more members of the Elite squad, the nickname their group acquired at school. They’d been the top of the social system. After that came a lot who I couldn’t remember, and then I thought I’d die because Jessica and Lydia came in, too.
I shrank in my seat as I watched my two ex-best friends waltz past like they came here every weekend. Though maybe they did. I had no idea.
“What are you doing?”
I turned and looked, but I couldn’t believe it. “Jeff?”
My first boyfriend—the guy who’d cheated on me with one of the ex-best friends who’d just walked past—now stood at my side, his face twisted in confusion. His hair was spiked up, and he wore shades with a trendy T-shirt and ripped skinny jeans. I got over my initial shock and just took the sight of him in.
“You still look like a preppy rocker wannabe,” I said. “What are you doing here? You weren’t friends with this group in school.”
“And you were?” He paused. “Wait. You kinda were, then you weren’t. I’ve not been enemies with them. You were. I should be asking you that question.” He winked, smirking. “But are you kidding me? The invite got posted on social media. Hell yes, I’m coming.” He plopped down next to me and hunched his shoulders, slumping down in his seat, too. “Who you hiding from?”
I hit him. “Not funny. You’re going to give me away.”
He took his sunglasses off to look at me. “Sam, you’re clear as day when you first walk into the lobby. Every person who’s come this way has seen you.”
I felt the blood drain from my face. “Are you serious?”
He nodded, looking like he was trying not to laugh. “Really, though…” He leaned close, lowering his voice. “Who are you hiding from?”
“You!” I thrust a hand out, then pointed to the pool area. “All of them. They’re all FCA people.”
“So?” He shrugged, getting comfortable and throwing a leg up over his arm rest. “The invite said it’s Becky and Adam’s first wedding shower. Which, by the way, their parents are pissed that your stepmom is throwing the party.”
I scrunched up my nose. “It’s also for Mark’s birthday.”
“When’s his birthday?”
“Uh…” I had no clue. I lied, “This weekend.” I should’ve known.
He rolled his eyes, putting his sunglasses back on. “You’re lying. I can still tell.”
I hit him again. “I’m not.”
“Ouch!” He rubbed his arm. “You hit Mason like that?”
“He doesn’t deserve it.”
“Hey. Is it true? You guys are warring with Roussou again?” He whistled under his breath. “Blast from the past. I feel like we’re back in high school again. What are they planning? Car bombs? They going to burn down a bar or something this time?”
Why all the references to burning? I winced. “No. Nothing like that.”
“What?” Jeff narrowed his eyes. I could just see through the darkened lenses. “Oh, shit. Mason’s going the grown-up route now? What? He’s going to pay for them to go away or something?” He groaned. “That’s so lame.”
I narrowed my eyes right back. “You’re lame. You never answered me before. What are you doing here?”
“I’m friends with Becky.”
I gave him a look.
“I was kind of friends with her,” he amended. He dropped his leg and leaned across the break between the chairs. “Look, the invite went out on Adam’s Instagram. He said anyone could come, so if you’re thinking only their actual friends are going to be here, you need to get a clue. Anyone still in Fallen Crest this summer is heading here. It’s the perfect excuse to scope out the country club. Plus, it might be everyone’s last attempt to get in good with Adam Quinn.” He glanced back to where everyone was congregating.
Get in good with—I hadn’t heard that right, had I?
“What are you talking about?”
His eyes slid back to mine. “You haven’t heard?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Quinn’s going into politics. He made the announcement at graduation. Weren’t you there? Everyone’s been watching him. He went pre-law, now he’s gotten into Harvard Law, and after that he’s going political. I thought you knew.”
I had no clue. But I wasn’t completely shocked. “Becky’s going to be a political wife?”
Jeff laughed. “Yep. I’ve no doubt she’s got dreams of being a first lady one day.”
Jeff’s revelations punched me in the chest, but even so, I had to admit it felt right. Of course Adam would go into politics.
I shook my head. “All that power. All that control.”
“All that pussy,” Jeff added. “Becky’s in for a rude awakening, but that’s on her. Like she doesn’t know what Quinn is really like.”
“Things are different,” I told him. “Adam’s happy with Becky.”
Jeff started laughing.
I shot him a warning look. “I mean it.”
“Okay.” He patted my knee before he stood up. “You keep thinking that. I’m going to head in there to get the free food before it’s all gone.”
He’d been gone less than thirty seconds before I heard Mason ask from behind me, “Was that your ex-shit bag I just saw talking to you?”
I ignored Mason’s question. He knew Jeff and I were fine. He wasn’t pissed about him anyway. Instead, I stood and said, “Adam’s going into politics. Did you know that?”
Nate and Matteo had come with Mason, and both had different reactions. A proud smile bloomed on Matteo’s face while Nate just started laughing.
And laughing.
And laughing some more.
Mason nudged him. “Shut up.”
“It’s just…” He shook his head, trying to stop. “Of course he’s going into politics. Fuck. That makes so much sense.”
“That’s what I thought, too.” I nodded.
“Why is that a bad thing?” Matteo asked.
“You’re seeing him be a good guy right now,” Mason explained.
“He’s not always been a good guy,” Nate added.
“Nor will he be in the future,” Mason concluded.
He watched me as he spoke, and I saw a flicker of emotion there. I wanted to ask if they’d found out anything on their golfing adventure, but Matteo was here. Mason didn’t want him affected by our battles, so I held my tongue. I’d ask later.
We all stood and looked across the club’s lobby. Just on the other side of some glass doors was the pool veranda, already filled with people from my old school. No one spoke, but Mason started forward. I followed, as did Nate and Matteo. We followed our leader into what I was beginning to think of as enemy territory once again.
As we reached the last door that separated us from them, their conversations began to stop. It felt like one by one, everyone was turning to watch us enter.
I couldn’t blame them.
Mason reached behind him, and I slipped my hand into his.
Mason and Logan were gods to them. There were legendary rumors and stories about the Kade brothers, and even though Mason and Logan had gone to public school, I knew first-hand how much everyone had wanted to be like them or be with them. Even now, eyes widened, mouths opened, and people were almost gawking at Mason.
This was his football celebrity. They would’ve had something akin to this reaction before, but it was more now.
Nate leaned close, whispering, “I forget about his football status, you know?”
I nodded. “I know what you mean.”
A part of the crowd shifted, and Adam appeared first, with Becky in hand, followed by Mark. My stepbrother stayed back as Adam approached with his hand held out.
“Mason, glad you stopped by.”
Mason frowned, looking at him with narrowed eyes. He didn’t move to shake his hand. Unease slithered down my spine. This felt staged. Something about Adam’s approach seemed off. He had an odd look in his gaze.
I looked at Becky, saw the fear there, and knew whatever Adam was hoping to accomplish, it wasn’t good. I stepped forward, intentionally bumping Adam’s hand aside.
“What are you talking about? My stepmother is throwing this party, remember? You’re acting like we weren’t invited.” I leaned closer, but made sure everyone could hear my words. “It’s more the other way around, Adam. Something like your engagement.”
I felt bad seeing the hurt flood Becky’s face, but knew the others would speculate about what I meant. That was what I wanted. We weren’t beneath Adam. He wasn’t going to push us that way.
An unreadable mask came over his face, but I didn’t care about him. I stepped toward Becky. “Can I talk to you?”
Her eyebrows pulled in before she nodded. “Okay.”
I led the way back to the front lobby, but I didn’t stop. I kept going, veering into an empty conference room.
“Sam? What’s going on?”
I moved around her, shutting the door. “Is it true that Adam’s going into politics?”
“What?” She hugged herself before her mouth set in a determined line. “How is that any of your business?”
But she knew what I was going to say. Just like she’d known the whole time.
I nodded. “So he is.”
“Why are you asking?”
“Tell me one thing. Was it your idea for me to be at your engagement party?” I waited a beat, watching the questions flit across her features. “Or Adam’s?”
“It was mine.” She looked away. “I might’ve mentioned it a few times.”
That told me everything I needed to know. “Becky, don’t marry him.”
I reached for her hands, but she pulled them away.
“How dare you?” She took a step back.
“I dare because you knew this is what I would say. That’s why you wanted to reconcile. He wanted me, Becs. Not you. He plotted to get me, over and over again. That’s why Mason hates him. And now this, your engagement, him going into politics—you wanted me back in your life because I’m the only one who’ll tell you the truth.”
She turned away, still hugging herself, but she made no move to leave. She was listening to me, and I had to think it was because I was saying what she wanted to hear.
I softened my voice. “He’s going to cheat on you.”
She sniffled. “How do you know?”
“Because you know.” There were windows in the room that looked out over the pool. Adam wasn’t watching us, but he kept glancing at the doors that led to the lobby. I noticed Jessica and Lydia next to him. Jessica reached for his hand, and he turned toward her.
It was a flashback for me; only instead of Adam, it had been Jeff.
I couldn’t help myself. “Is he already cheating on you?”
“What?!” She whirled around, saw what I was watching, and shook her head. “No.” She sounded a little stronger now. Her small shoulders rolled back, and she lifted her head higher. “But she’s been trying. I’ll admit that much.”
“He’s not sleeping with her?”
She shook her head, standing next to me. “I installed a program on the computer so I can monitor all his emails and social media pages.”
Um. Holy shit? I felt my jaw falling.
“She’s been private messaging him, but so far he’s not responded. He’s just been polite, as he’s been with all of them.” Her gaze lingered on Lydia before moving on to Miranda and Amelia. It stayed the longest on Amelia.
“She’s the one you’re worried about?” I felt so proud of her. I couldn’t explain why, but it was like my little sister had grown up before my eyes.
“Yeah. She’s the one he shares the most with.”
“They were friends in school.”
“Not that great of friends. It changed a year ago. They worked on a project together at college. It’s been…different since then.”
“What about Miranda? She dated him.”
“She’s in love with Peter.” Becky shook her head. “I used to worry about her, but she only talks about how great Peter’s been in their messages. She asks about me, too. Amelia’s never brought me up.”
“That says a lot.”
“I know.”
“You just needed me to say it, didn’t you?”
She let out a deep breath, her eyes downcast. “I needed someone to say it. I’ve felt horrible thinking it, but yeah. I needed someone else to voice the same concern. I’ll be fine now. It’s like you gave me permission to doubt the man I love.”
“You’re going to still marry him, aren’t you?”
She turned away from the window, looking me square in the eyes. Her gaze held mine steadily. “Yes. I’m not going in blind, and I do love him. I always did. I chose him over you. I turned my back on a good friend, and I’ve felt regret ever since. Marrying him is a small way of making it right. I know that probably doesn’t make sense, but he can provide me with a good life until we divorce, if that’s what happens.”
“You’re going to keep monitoring him?”
“Oh yeah. If he leaves me, he won’t know what hit him. I’ll have years of evidence.”
I reached out and took her hand. This time, I meant it when I said, “I’m glad I have your friendship again.”
She squeezed my hand so tightly. “Me, too.”