“Whoa.”

“Yeah. If you want tips and tricks on how to make a starving psychopath foam at the mouth, you’ve got an invaluable asset rooming with you. I’ve dealt with all of them.”

I could already hear Heather’s voice in my head. Do it. Get the info. One never knew when information like that would come in handy. I started to chuckle, but the laugh subsided.

I hadn’t brought up Logan to Heather before we left. We said our good-byes. It’d been awkward, but I knew most of that was because Heather was fighting back tears. I was already missing my afternoon shift at Manny’s. I knew Heather would want to know all about Summer. She would think it was hysterical that I was rooming with a model obsessed with football.

“Sam?”

“Huh?”

Summer was standing in front of the mirror, picking at a seam in her shirt. She pointed to the ringing phone next to me. “You want me to get that?”

Ring.

The phone was doing that.

I slumped back in my chair, but I jerked, almost spilling my coffee, as I reached for the phone. “He—” My coffee spilled over. I cursed, catching it and righting it before any more could get all over the desk. “Sorry. Damn coffee. Hello?”

“Samantha?”

I frowned. “Malinda?”

Summer stood and motioned for the door. “I’ll be in Ruby’s room.”

I nodded, and once she closed the door behind her, I said to Malinda, “Aren’t you and Dad on your honeymoon?”

“We are, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have time to stalk my new daughter-in-law.” She laughed. “Your father kept me from calling yesterday. I tried your cell phone, but Mason answered. He gave me your dorm number, and I’m supposed to tell you that he’ll track you down today to give you your phone.”

I groaned. “I forgot it in his room.”

“And I see you two are really sticking to the whole dorm-room-for-a-month thing.” Her tone sobered up. “I think that’s commendable of you.”

I sighed, standing and trying to reach for my clothes with the phone tucked between my ear and shoulder. “We’ll see how long it lasts. I haven’t lived with Mason in over a year. Everything in me wants to go and find him already and just be with him, not stay here with people I don’t know yet.”

“Yet. Yet is the operative word, and I’m so proud of you, Samantha. Your father is, too, and he’s harassing me, so he can get on the phone.”

I frowned, pausing, as I reached for a shirt in the closet. “No, he’s not. He was probably leaving the room as you said that, wasn’t he?”

She was silent for a moment before a rueful chuckle slipped out. “You and your father. You two can be in each other’s presence, and you think that’s bonding. You two should talk more.”

“We do talk.”

“Only when you have to.”

She was confused, and she had reason to be. I asked, “How’s Mark doing?”

A hiss came through the receiver before she grumbled, “That damn son of mine. I love him, but he can be an idiot sometimes. He decided to take a page from your book and prove he’s so independent. I wish he wouldn’t have. He locked himself out of his car and wouldn’t let me go to his campus with him. When he finally did get the keys, he didn’t have enough cash to pay the locksmith. He had to get a ride with the locksmith to a nearby ATM. He paid the guy and ended up paying an extra ten dollars just to get back to his car. He forgot to lock his car after all of that.”

A foreboding sense started building in me. “Oh, no…”

“‘Oh, no,’ is right. His car was stolen. Everything he had was gone. We ended up wiring more money to him once he did a report and got to his dorm room. I had the airplane tickets booked, and we were packing to fly to him when he called last night. The cops found his car, and some of his stuff was still there. As soon as we’re back from the Bahamas, we’re going right to his place and making sure he has everything he needs. That boy is going to be the death of me, I swear.” A wistful sigh left her. “But I’ll be damned if I couldn’t love him any more than I do. I feel like I’m bursting with pride with the two of you, even with Mark’s mishap.”

I grinned. Some of that happiness I heard from her was contagious. I made a mental note to let Logan know about Mark’s adventure. Mark would wish the next family holiday wouldn’t happen because of all the teasing he’d endure.

“Okay. Your father is motioning for me. If we don’t leave now, we’ll miss the horseback riding on the trail.” She whispered into the phone, “And your father wants to miss that, but no way, honey, I won’t let that happen. I need to get that stud on another stud just so I can take a picture and Instagram that back to Fallen Crest. You know how much ribbing he’s going to get about that one?” She ended with a hurried, “I’m so excited! Bye, Sammy. I love you!”

Sammy.

I was slightly stunned as she hung up, and the dial tone started in my ear. I didn’t remember if I’d said good-bye back or not, but she’d called me Sammy.

I was still sitting there, hearing that name on repeat, when Summer cleared her throat.

Her head poked around the door. “Uh, sorry.” She winced, and her eyes fell on the receiver now blaring in my hand. “Oh, good. You’re done. Uh…I have to warn you about something.”

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