She led me to a back patio where I recognized Laura and Becky's little brothers. Adam sat at a back table with the pepgirl from last weekend's party. His smile slipped a little when he saw me, but by the time we got to the table it looked natural.

"Hey, Sam." He sounded normal when he welcomed me.

"Hi, Sam!" His friend beamed at me.

"Tanya." He nodded at her.

"I remembered. Hi, Tanya. Your cousin's not coming, is she?" I sat across from them in a similar wicker chair when Becky sat beside me and gestured for a waiter.

She laughed and pulled up her skinny legs in the chair. As she hugged them to her chest, she rested her head on them and smiled at Adam.

He shared the intimate look before he replied for her. "No, she's not."

Then Tanya lifted her head and looked over her knees. "Tate went home this morning after last night."

"Last night?" I stiffened and glanced sideways.

Becky gave me an excited look. "I have to tell you all about that."

Oh no.

A waiter appeared and placed a champagne flute of orange juice in front of me. A plate full of breakfast food was next with bacon, waffles, French toast, and sausage. A bowl of fruit was put to the side.

I caught the waiter's sleeve before he left. "Can I have coffee?"

"Of course, ma'am."

Ma'am. What's with the ma'am stuff?

"Sam!" Becky snapped her fingers in front of my face.

"What?" I jerked around.

Adam laughed and the sound of it calmed me a little. Somehow, somewhere I had started to care for him as a friend. Who would've thought? The idea of it made me grin, but I tuned into my other friend. She wanted center stage.

"…and then her cousin showed up last night."

"Wait. What are you talking about?" I glanced at Adam.

Becky rushed out, breathless, "Why aren't you listening to me? I just told you that Adam was with the Academy Elite last night."

"What's the Academy Elite?" I looked around. Was I the only one clueless?

Adam reached for his water. "It's her term for the top circle. Miranda Stewart had some people over last night."

Becky sneered at him. "It's not just my term. Everyone uses it." She turned to me and her eyes were beaming. "Anyway, so Miranda had the Academy Elite over. You know, her, Emily, Amelia, and Cassandra. They're the top four girls in school, right?"

"Sure."

"Then Adam was invited—"

"I brought Tanya last night." He lifted their entwined hands.

They were an item now?

Becky poked me in the arm. "And Peter was there, so was Mark Decraw."

I nodded. They were the other two captains of the football team. This was the Academy Elite?

"And then—"

I interrupted her. "Were you there?"

She closed her mouth and flashed me a look. "No, but I heard all this from Adam."

He wiggled his eyebrows and kissed Tanya's hand.

I frowned at the display of affection.

Becky clapped her hands in front of me again. "Seriously, Sam! Pay attention."

"Okay, okay."

"So Jeff and Jill showed up. Miranda let them stay for an hour, since Jill's on the cheerleading squad and Jeff's third string. But then they kicked them out after an hour, only an hour. Can you believe that? And then Jessica and Lydia tried to get in too, but I guess they were turned away at the door. Peter Glasburg wouldn't even let them inside Miranda's house. Did you know those two were dating? I had no idea."

She didn't stop for a breath.

"And then, you won't believe it, but Logan Kade showed up!" She sat back in a dramatic break. Her chest heaved up and down and she held onto the table. "I couldn't believe it either, but he was drunk."

"I'm going to go to the bathroom." Tanya shot out of her chair and was gone in an instant.

I twisted around, but couldn't find her. I looked at Adam. "Is she okay?"

He indicated Becky and remained quiet.

She took another deep breath. "And then Logan started making fun of Tanya."

"Wait—what?"

"Yeah. I know." Her head bounced up and down. "He was really tearing into her, calling her loose and easy and all sorts of things. Tanya started to cry, but you know what happened?"

"Adam told him to shut up?"

Becky's lips clamped shut. After a beat, she looked at him.

I did too. "What?" Neither said a word. "You didn't?"

He looked away.

Becky opened her mouth. "So no one stopped him, no one. Not even Peter and we all know Peter rules the roost at these things."

"Do we?" I had no idea.

"He does, but then she shows up."

"Who?"

"Her cousin." Her eyes flashed in giddiness. "And she starts yelling at Logan instead. I think Tanya texted her, but you'll never guess what else happened?"

"Probably not," I deadpanned.

"So Logan was yelling at Tanya and then that girl started yelling at Logan, who took it. He completely shut up and just let her yell at him, but then his brother shows up a half hour later."

I sat up straight and narrowed my eyes. "Mason was there?"

Her head jumped up and down again and she was panting like a thirsty dog.

I felt Adam's quietness next to me and knew he was studying me.

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