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“What about Mark?” I gestured upstairs where we’d been standing. “I saw him sitting next to Malinda.”
“Oh yeah. I’ll grab him.” He started to leave, but paused. “You okay?”
I nodded. “Just waiting for Sam.”
The questions still lingered in his gaze, so I added, “She didn’t want to wait in line or deal with other people. We found a bathroom down here.”
“Okay.” He was still frowning, but pointed back where he’d come from. “Anyway, I’ll grab Mark, and we’re in the limo. Hurry up—no quickies.”
I shot him a grin. “You’re going to tell us no quickies? Mr. Sex Machine himself?”
Logan smirked, puffing his chest out. “Well, maybe hold off till we get to the reception. You and Sam can get a room at the hotel.”
“Uh-huh.” My tone mocked him. “Or we can use the king suite you have booked.”
“Fuck, no. Where do you think my quickies are going to be? I plan ahead, unlike some of us.” He looked at me pointedly.
“Get out of here.” I heard the door open behind me. “We’re coming right now.”
Sam stepped out next to me, her hand slipped into mine, and she leaned against me. She saw Logan walking away. “What’d he want?”
“They have a limo waiting for us.”
“Oh.”
I knew she was thinking we should go, but we stood together a moment longer. Her head rested against my arm, and I felt her entire body draw in some air.
“I know I should be worried, but what we did felt like the most natural thing in the world,” she murmured. She tipped her head back, her dark and solemn eyes finding mine. “Why aren’t I more worried?”
Because I loved her.
I kissed her lips. “Because we’ll be fine, and whatever happens, we’ll be fine then, too.” My hand wrapped around her, holding onto her hip and anchoring her to me. “You know it’ll all be okay.”
She closed her eyes again, burrowing into me.
I could’ve stood there the rest of the day. I didn’t care if they were waiting for us.
Finally, Sam pulled herself away from me, and she was the one who led me from the basement. Once in the limo, I kept us as far from the rest of the group as possible. There was space between us where seven people could’ve sat, and Logan stared at us, his head cocked to the side. He knew something had happened; he just couldn’t figure it out.
It was none of his business this time, at least until it was ours first.
I pulled Sam onto my lap and held her during the ride.
SAMANTHA
I suppose I should’ve been happy my mother was married.
She looked it. She glowed as she sat at the head table with James and their bridal party, excluding Mason and Logan. The boys sat with me at a table in the back, which also included Mark and Cass, and Taylor. Heather and Channing came for the dinner and were with us as well. James had his two ushers sit in Mason and Logan’s empty chairs.
Drinks and appetizers appeared, and then the dinner was served. The maid of honor offered a touching toast for my mom, and I couldn’t stop watching as she listened to those kind words being spoken about her.
Whoever she was, this woman didn’t know her. They might’ve been in a treatment facility together. And they all seemed demure and perfect, but it was bullshit. I knew that much.
They’d shed a few tears, probably heard each other’s sob stories, but did they hear from the ones they’d hurt? Did they know how my mom had lied to me all my life, let me fall in love with the man who raised me, and only after she left him did she tell me the truth? Or how she’d threatened him and my real father to keep them away? Or how she’d tried to ruin what I had with Mason? Or—I forced myself to calm down.
This woman. I wanted to destroy her. I wanted to hurt her the way she’d hurt me. I wanted misery to come to her, but I also missed her. I could remember the times we’d laughed, the few there were.
And I loved her.
I touched the dandelion pendant hanging from my neck, and feeling the whole storm inside of me, I could only sit and stare at my mother.
She turned, as if feeling my gaze, and she flinched. Her eyes widened and she turned away immediately to pretend she was laughing along with everyone else. The maid of honor had made a joke. Apparently.
I didn’t need to look around my table. No one was laughing. Wait, I heard Cass giggle.
She quickly muffled it and hissed under her breath, “What?” One second passed. “Oh.”
And my table went back to silence again. They all watched me, I couldn’t stomach any of this anymore.
I shoved back from the table, and as the second bridesmaid started to give her speech, I left.
“Sam.”
Mason came after me. I shook my head, not turning around. “Don’t, Mason. I just—” I had no idea. I swept out to the parking lot.
“Hey.” His hand caught mine. “Hey.”
“I can’t, Mason. I just can’t.” My chest heaved.
His hand tightened around mine, and instead of pulling me to a stop, he tugged me to an outside patio area tucked back between a bunch of trees—a little oasis. No one else was there. There were a few tables, and each one had a light sitting on it.
He sat down, but I couldn’t. I wrapped my arms around myself, but then I yanked at my dress. “I can’t stand wearing this now.” Disgust flooded me. I was choking on it. “Fuck this matching shit.” If I could’ve ripped it off then and there, I would’ve. I eyed the stream flowing nearby. The fucking thing would go in there. I didn’t care what happened to it.
“Sam.”
I wanted to punch him. Mason’s voice was so calm and steady. I wanted him to rage with me, and then I remembered the police station. He had raged. It hadn’t gone so well.
“What?”
He pulled me onto his lap.
I waited, but he didn’t say anything. “What? No words of wisdom from the fucked-up son of James Kade?” I grimaced, hearing the bite in my words. “I’m sorry.”
“Why?” He looked into my eyes. “I am James’ son, and I am fucked-up regarding him. There was no insult in what you said, and even if there was, you know I’m not going to get mad.” His eyes softened, and he pulled my head down so he could kiss my temple. “Not with you.”
I turned so my back rested against his chest, and I watched the stream. I almost couldn’t look away from that small trickle of water. “She killed my little brother or sister, then I called 911, and she pretended she’d tried to kill herself.” I’d never forgive her for that. “I thought I was over that.”
“Hey!” Heather came toward us. She dropped into another seat at the table and said, “Logan sent me out here.” She turned to Mason. “He said something about owing your dad and to get your ass in there.” She turned to me, a crooked grin on her face as she reached into her purse. “I came out to keep you company.”
Mason looked at me.
I nodded. “Go.” I gestured to Heather. “She’s right, or Logan is. You owe your dad. You need to hold up your end of the deal.”
He groaned, but I stood up, and so did he. He pressed a kiss to my forehead before heading back inside the hotel.
Once he was gone, Heather pulled out a cigarette. “Is this okay?”
“Yeah.”
Grabbing an ashtray from another table, she lit up. She took a quick drag before leaning back and exhaling. “I normally wouldn’t, but I’m a bit tense in there. This is a rich person’s wedding? Weddings I’ve gone to aren’t like that.”
“That was a wedding, but I don’t know.” Though I knew what she was referring to. There were an inordinate number of tanned and fit bodies, boobs that didn’t seem all-natural, and money. There was no other way to describe it. It was present in the clothes, the mannerisms, and even just the stuffiness in the air. James Kade was wealthy and important. It made sense he’d invite similar guests to his wedding.
“The women seem stuck-up.”
Heather was putting that mildly. I grinned at her. “You don’t have to be so nice.”
“Oh yeah. I’ll grab him.” He started to leave, but paused. “You okay?”
I nodded. “Just waiting for Sam.”
The questions still lingered in his gaze, so I added, “She didn’t want to wait in line or deal with other people. We found a bathroom down here.”
“Okay.” He was still frowning, but pointed back where he’d come from. “Anyway, I’ll grab Mark, and we’re in the limo. Hurry up—no quickies.”
I shot him a grin. “You’re going to tell us no quickies? Mr. Sex Machine himself?”
Logan smirked, puffing his chest out. “Well, maybe hold off till we get to the reception. You and Sam can get a room at the hotel.”
“Uh-huh.” My tone mocked him. “Or we can use the king suite you have booked.”
“Fuck, no. Where do you think my quickies are going to be? I plan ahead, unlike some of us.” He looked at me pointedly.
“Get out of here.” I heard the door open behind me. “We’re coming right now.”
Sam stepped out next to me, her hand slipped into mine, and she leaned against me. She saw Logan walking away. “What’d he want?”
“They have a limo waiting for us.”
“Oh.”
I knew she was thinking we should go, but we stood together a moment longer. Her head rested against my arm, and I felt her entire body draw in some air.
“I know I should be worried, but what we did felt like the most natural thing in the world,” she murmured. She tipped her head back, her dark and solemn eyes finding mine. “Why aren’t I more worried?”
Because I loved her.
I kissed her lips. “Because we’ll be fine, and whatever happens, we’ll be fine then, too.” My hand wrapped around her, holding onto her hip and anchoring her to me. “You know it’ll all be okay.”
She closed her eyes again, burrowing into me.
I could’ve stood there the rest of the day. I didn’t care if they were waiting for us.
Finally, Sam pulled herself away from me, and she was the one who led me from the basement. Once in the limo, I kept us as far from the rest of the group as possible. There was space between us where seven people could’ve sat, and Logan stared at us, his head cocked to the side. He knew something had happened; he just couldn’t figure it out.
It was none of his business this time, at least until it was ours first.
I pulled Sam onto my lap and held her during the ride.
SAMANTHA
I suppose I should’ve been happy my mother was married.
She looked it. She glowed as she sat at the head table with James and their bridal party, excluding Mason and Logan. The boys sat with me at a table in the back, which also included Mark and Cass, and Taylor. Heather and Channing came for the dinner and were with us as well. James had his two ushers sit in Mason and Logan’s empty chairs.
Drinks and appetizers appeared, and then the dinner was served. The maid of honor offered a touching toast for my mom, and I couldn’t stop watching as she listened to those kind words being spoken about her.
Whoever she was, this woman didn’t know her. They might’ve been in a treatment facility together. And they all seemed demure and perfect, but it was bullshit. I knew that much.
They’d shed a few tears, probably heard each other’s sob stories, but did they hear from the ones they’d hurt? Did they know how my mom had lied to me all my life, let me fall in love with the man who raised me, and only after she left him did she tell me the truth? Or how she’d threatened him and my real father to keep them away? Or how she’d tried to ruin what I had with Mason? Or—I forced myself to calm down.
This woman. I wanted to destroy her. I wanted to hurt her the way she’d hurt me. I wanted misery to come to her, but I also missed her. I could remember the times we’d laughed, the few there were.
And I loved her.
I touched the dandelion pendant hanging from my neck, and feeling the whole storm inside of me, I could only sit and stare at my mother.
She turned, as if feeling my gaze, and she flinched. Her eyes widened and she turned away immediately to pretend she was laughing along with everyone else. The maid of honor had made a joke. Apparently.
I didn’t need to look around my table. No one was laughing. Wait, I heard Cass giggle.
She quickly muffled it and hissed under her breath, “What?” One second passed. “Oh.”
And my table went back to silence again. They all watched me, I couldn’t stomach any of this anymore.
I shoved back from the table, and as the second bridesmaid started to give her speech, I left.
“Sam.”
Mason came after me. I shook my head, not turning around. “Don’t, Mason. I just—” I had no idea. I swept out to the parking lot.
“Hey.” His hand caught mine. “Hey.”
“I can’t, Mason. I just can’t.” My chest heaved.
His hand tightened around mine, and instead of pulling me to a stop, he tugged me to an outside patio area tucked back between a bunch of trees—a little oasis. No one else was there. There were a few tables, and each one had a light sitting on it.
He sat down, but I couldn’t. I wrapped my arms around myself, but then I yanked at my dress. “I can’t stand wearing this now.” Disgust flooded me. I was choking on it. “Fuck this matching shit.” If I could’ve ripped it off then and there, I would’ve. I eyed the stream flowing nearby. The fucking thing would go in there. I didn’t care what happened to it.
“Sam.”
I wanted to punch him. Mason’s voice was so calm and steady. I wanted him to rage with me, and then I remembered the police station. He had raged. It hadn’t gone so well.
“What?”
He pulled me onto his lap.
I waited, but he didn’t say anything. “What? No words of wisdom from the fucked-up son of James Kade?” I grimaced, hearing the bite in my words. “I’m sorry.”
“Why?” He looked into my eyes. “I am James’ son, and I am fucked-up regarding him. There was no insult in what you said, and even if there was, you know I’m not going to get mad.” His eyes softened, and he pulled my head down so he could kiss my temple. “Not with you.”
I turned so my back rested against his chest, and I watched the stream. I almost couldn’t look away from that small trickle of water. “She killed my little brother or sister, then I called 911, and she pretended she’d tried to kill herself.” I’d never forgive her for that. “I thought I was over that.”
“Hey!” Heather came toward us. She dropped into another seat at the table and said, “Logan sent me out here.” She turned to Mason. “He said something about owing your dad and to get your ass in there.” She turned to me, a crooked grin on her face as she reached into her purse. “I came out to keep you company.”
Mason looked at me.
I nodded. “Go.” I gestured to Heather. “She’s right, or Logan is. You owe your dad. You need to hold up your end of the deal.”
He groaned, but I stood up, and so did he. He pressed a kiss to my forehead before heading back inside the hotel.
Once he was gone, Heather pulled out a cigarette. “Is this okay?”
“Yeah.”
Grabbing an ashtray from another table, she lit up. She took a quick drag before leaning back and exhaling. “I normally wouldn’t, but I’m a bit tense in there. This is a rich person’s wedding? Weddings I’ve gone to aren’t like that.”
“That was a wedding, but I don’t know.” Though I knew what she was referring to. There were an inordinate number of tanned and fit bodies, boobs that didn’t seem all-natural, and money. There was no other way to describe it. It was present in the clothes, the mannerisms, and even just the stuffiness in the air. James Kade was wealthy and important. It made sense he’d invite similar guests to his wedding.
“The women seem stuck-up.”
Heather was putting that mildly. I grinned at her. “You don’t have to be so nice.”
