I couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe her. "What about Garrett? What did you threaten him with?"

"Oh." A smile this time. For some reason, he got a smile while I seemed an after-thought to her. "I didn't say much, but I told him I would make you hate him. He didn't believe me, so I went and visited his ex-wife. I told her Garrett still loved her and he loved her when he was with me. I told her all about Helen and made her sound so evil that she'd never allow him to go back to her; therefore he wouldn't be allowed to see you. It worked." She grinned to herself and chuckled even. "I didn't think it would work, but I guess it did. He hasn't even called for you, Samantha."

A shiver ran down my spine as she said my name.

Before I could launch myself at her and do to her what she had done to me, I shoved back the chair. I couldn't feel my legs. I couldn't feel anything. I blinked and then turned away. I didn't remember leaving the house, but I stopped in the driveway. I had driven my car. James was standing beside it in his pajamas and a robe. He was frowning at my car with the morning paper in his hand. When he looked up, his frown deepened. The sun had started to rise, I wasn't sure the time, but I knew it was early.

"Mason and Logan will never move back without me." My own voice jarred me. It sounded haunted. "And Helen would make Logan leave, you know that."

His frown only deepened further.

"I fixed it. I'll move back in here with them."

His eyes grew bleak.

I kept going as my chest tightened, "I won't let them hurt her either."

He rasped out, "They won't do it."

"I'll make them do it."

Then he nodded and looked away. "I'm sorry, Samantha, I'm sorry for everything you've gone through."

I frowned. Why was he saying this to me?

"I love your mother very much and I want to help her. I can't help my family anymore, and I can't help my marriage anymore. It was my fault that Helen left me. It was my fault my family was torn apart. I won't let that happen again. I can help your mother. I really can, and I'm going to. I love her and I'm going to stay with her, no matter what."

He had no idea what he was getting himself into, but I kept my mouth shut. It was his life. It was his decision.

She'd make him miserable.

I didn't get in my car. I ran home instead.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

"Your shift's over." Heather smacked a towel on my butt. When I turned around to glare, she gave me a crooked grin and wiggled her eyebrows. "Your dreamboat's here anyway."

Oh.

The fight in me subsided. I was ready to argue with her since it wasn't closing and I hadn't worked Friday, but when I looked over, all of that turned into a gushy mess. Mason had stepped through the door with a look of intent on his face. That made me pause. As he made his way through the tables to our back corner, I couldn't tear my eyes away. Confidence and power rippled from him. I couldn't fault the other girls who stopped and watched him as well. He was beautiful.

"Disgusting." Heather shook her head. "You're both disgusting."

"He's early. Did you call him?"

"I might've." She winked at me before she grabbed the next plate of food and put on the window, ready to be served. "But can you really blame me? It's your first day at FCP tomorrow. You're going to need all the rest you can muster when you're with that hunk-o-rama over there."

"Thanks, Heather."

She flashed me a blinding smile. "Just give me a heads up when you decide to tell them about our visitors the other night." She gave me a pointed look and I knew she was referencing the Broudou siblings.

She wanted me tell Mason now, better to get it over than deal with his anger about why he hadn't been told sooner. I had a different idea and I wanted to embark on one battle at a time. Convincing Mason and Logan to move back in with their father had been a big enough battle. It took me all weekend, and I still didn't have an answer. But as he stepped closer and caught my hand, he gave me a look as if to say, 'I hope you know what you're doing.' He shook his head. "Fine. We'll move back in."

"Really?" I started to launch myself at him.

He caught my arms and held me back. "But it's only because you're right about Logan."

I chuckled. I had called it. Helen called both of them the next day. She said they had two choices, live in Los Angeles with her or she would move back to Fallen Crest. Those were her two options and when I argued with Mason that Logan living with her our senior year would leave me without a home, he started to soften. I knew he was doing it for me.

"Thank you," I murmured as I tipped my head back for his lips.

He groaned, "You're going to be the death of me. I'm doing all this nice shit for you."

I pointed to my lips, still puckered and waiting.

With a soft chuckle, he touched his to mine and I was swept up. Squealing from surprise, he wrapped his arms around my waist and lifted me high. My legs swung up and I was thrown over his shoulder.

"Mason!"

He slapped my butt. "Logan's ordered the pizza. If we're not back in twenty minutes, he won't hear the end of it. He's got it timed within the minute."

Only Logan would time something like that. I wiggled to get free. "Come on. Let me go."

"Nope." He turned around. "Can you clock her out, Jax?"

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