Mason spoke up and his voice was low, but it pulled everyone’s attention. His eyes were locked on their father as well. He wore a mask, not showing his emotion, but a shiver went down my spine nonetheless, even though I had no reason to be scared. I loved Mason. He was my soulmate and Logan was family. The three of us, brought together because of my mother and their father, had become our own unit. We depended on each other when we couldn’t rely on anyone else. Since then, David had come back into my life, my father, and with him came Malinda. They were now married and defined what the word ‘parent’ was to me. When I came home from college, I stayed with them. Mark was Malinda’s son and he was family as well, but nothing and no one came as close to Mason and Logan did to me.
“And when would that be?” James glar
ed at his eldest son. “The two of you won’t step foot in the house. You’re home on holiday this year and you still won’t accept any of my calls. Thank God for Malinda, for throwing this dinner or we wouldn’t have seen either of our children this holiday. You’ve all been avoiding us the entire year since Analise returned to Fallen Crest.”
Logan snorted. “Don’t blame us for wanting to avoid the loony bin reject.”
Analise sucked in her breath.
“Logan!” Malinda flashed him a dark look.
He shrugged. “I call it how I see it. Forget this shit.” He stood up, nodded to Malinda. “Thanks for the dinner, but I’m out. I got a girlfriend I’d rather spend time with than hear this bullshit.”
He left, letting the door shut loudly behind him. He didn’t slam it, and that was a testament to Taylor and the effect his girlfriend had on him. PreTaylor Logan would’ve stuck around, throw a few more barbed taunts at Analise, and then stalked out, slamming the door behind him. Or he would’ve just started drinking at the dinner table. This Logan left, only a few insults thrown out, and the door didn’t slam behind him.
He was maturing.
Mason glanced to me. “What do you want to do?”
And that was the crux of everything. What did I want? I wanted Analise to go away. She’d hurt me enough, but she had played nice for an entire year. She only forced her presence on me a couple times, but I was a sophomore in college. Mason was a junior. Logan was a sophomore with me. We weren’t in high school, and holy shit—did that suck. I felt like I had to be mature as well.
I closed my eyes for a moment, just one moment that I wished could’ve lasted into a thousand moments. When I opened them, Analise was waiting. I let myself study her. She was so beautiful. Her black hair was swept up into a braid that led to a bun. There were no glamorous necklaces, earrings, bracelets, or rings. She would’ve been dripping in them before she left for the hospital. Instead, everything was bare. She only had a minimal of make-up on her face and she was dressed in a simple red dress. She looked absolutely breathtaking and in that brief moment, she reminded me of the mom I once had. The one when there were good times, not the bad times, not when she was hurting me or scheming to hurt someone else.
Pain flashed in her eyes as she held my gaze. I didn’t know if that was genuine, or an act, but it worked. I felt my wall melting, just a tiny bit, and I sighed. “I think we’ve had dessert. I don’t think it’d be rude to leave.”
Her eyes shimmered with tears, but she looked down at her lap.
I said, my throat so damn hoarse, “But congratulations Analise.” I nodded at James. “You too. You both love each other and have gone through a lot for each other. I’ve no doubt the wedding will be amazing.”
Her head lifted. Her eyes were brimming with unshed tears, and one fell down. She wiped it away, her hand moving gracefully, but she was beaming at me. A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. She said, so softly, “Thank you, Samantha.”
I nodded, glancing to Malinda. “Do you mind if we leave?”
My stepmother waved at my plate. “Have at it. You came. You ate. You were gracious. Can’t be more proud of you, honey.”
“Mom, Cass called me before. Can she—”
Mark spoke up as Malinda was talking to me and without missing a beat, her hand went from gesturing to my empty plate to pointing a finger in her son’s face. “You might think it’s a good time to ask if your girlfriend can spend the night, but believe me, son that I worship, that girl is definitely not welcomed to spend the night.”
“Mom.” His tone was curt. “Mason sleeps over all the time.”
“And that was the deal worked out ahead of time between Mason, Sam, and your stepfather. There’s no such deal with your girlfriend.” Her hand fell on top of his hand and she squeezed it gently. Her tone softened. “I’m sorry, Marcus. I know it seems hypocritical of me, but you’re still my boy. And I’m still not a fan of hers. This is protective-mother coming out. I want to keep my boy as much to myself as possible.”
“I’m a sophomore in college, Mom.”
“I know.” Her voice grew husky. “Trust me, I’m aware.”
David leaned forward. As Malinda withdrew her hand and sat back in her chair, automatically leaning closer to her husband, his hand came overs hers. “Maybe Cass can come over tomorrow for dinner?”
Mark sighed, but said, “Yeah. That sounds good.” He glanced to me. “Are you coming?”
“I….” ….had no idea. Feeling like a deer caught in headlights, I turned to Mason, who narrowed his eyes.
He said, “Uh…I think we’re having dinner with Logan and Taylor tomorrow night.”
From the press of Mark’s lips, he knew that was a lie, but I had no doubt that we’d be having dinner with them now. Either that or Logan would want to come and harass Cass. She’d been a bitch to me, on more than a handful of times, and he hadn’t gotten over his dislike for her. “And speaking of Logan,” Mason stood up. “We should go and make sure he’s not doing anything that will land him in jail right now.”
I stood as well. Looking at Analise, I nodded to her. “Congratulations again.”
“Thank you, Samantha.”
James nodded to us. I started to pick up my plate, but Malinda said, “Oh phewy on that. Leave it, Sam. I’m going to make Mark help with dishes. He doesn’t know it, but we’re going to have an