I shot to my feet, though I hugged myself. "According to Analise, it was both of your faults."

"I loved her." He laughed to himself. The sound sent chills down my back. "Because I don't make millions or because I'm not handsome like him doesn't mean that I didn't love your mother. I loved her very much."

I blinked. And everything was gone in the next moment. My anger vanished. My sarcasm, my self-loathing, my hatred for him—all was gone. And I collapsed down on the couch again. My face was buried in my hands.

He continued in a distant voice, "I loved my marriage how it was…" His chair squeaked and his voice was clearer now. "Stop hanging out with the Kade boys."

I looked up.

He watched me intently, his eyes never wavered away. "They are not good for you. They are dangerous to you."

It all shut down again and I stood. "I thought you said to make friends?"

"I was hoping for the best then. Now I'm preparing for the worst." His face was clouded. "Stay away from them, as much as possible. Please, Samantha."

I gave him a wry look. "If only it were that simple." And then I opened the door and went through the boys' locker room. The bell rang as I got to the hallway and I took refuge in my last three periods.

No Becky. No Adam. No one who cared was in those classes.

I was able to breathe easier knowing that.

After my last period, I escaped easily.

When I got to the mansion, I was surprised to find Logan in the dining room. He had books and papers spread out over the table and he glanced up idly. When he saw it was me, his focused snapped to attention. He gave me a lopsided grin, but my back straightened.

I wasn't fooled.

"We're doing a charity thing with your school this weekend."

I shrugged and went to the kitchen.

"It's another football game."

My hand paused when I reached for a water bottle.

"Your dad's going to be there." He'd gotten up and leaned against a counter close to me. "What are you going to do?"

I shut the door and watched him. "What do you mean?"

"Who are you going to cheer for? Your loser school or your new soon-to-be stepbrothers?"

"And why would you assume I'd be there?"

He shrugged, but I caught his cocky grin. "It's for charity. Your whole school will be there."

"When is it?"

"Saturday night."

"Why not Friday night?"

He rolled his eyes and pushed off from the counter. I tensed when he reached around me and opened the fridge. His arm brushed against my shoulder and he pulled out a container of juice. "Because we have our normal game that night. We play Collins. You should come, cheer us on."

"I think not." I pulled away and remained at a safe distance.

His eyes seemed to laugh at me. "Whatever. You've gotta come to the charity thing."

"And why's that?"

"Because we're going to win." He made it sound like it was the most obvious thing to do.

"Why do you think I care?"

"Because…" He chewed on his words. "Because Mason and I are the best. Why wouldn't you come?"

"Because I don't care about that?"

"Well, you should." He sounded miffed, like I had hurt his feelings.

I lifted a careless shoulder in the air.

He narrowed his eyes. "You're bit odd in the head, aren't you?"

I couldn't hold back my grin. "What do you mean?"

"Most girls would open a facebook page that we're your new stepbrothers. You act like we're your dirty secret."

"I like my privacy."

He shook his head. "We've got a couple parties this weekend too, if you want to go?"

"I'm good with my friends."

His eyes narrowed and he opened his mouth, but Mason came around the corner that instant. Logan clamped his mouth shut, but he continued to give me a puzzling stare.

"Let's go." Mason punched Logan in the shoulder as he bypassed us.

I looked over and held Mason's gaze before he went through the front door.

A different shiver went over my body at the sight of him and something left me when the door closed behind him. I refused to think it was anything more than hate…right?

CHAPTER TWELVE

That night I met Adam for burgers and he surprised me by bringing Becky. Everyone was happy until Jeff and Jill Flatten came in for their date night. They chose a booth across the restaurant so it was semi-easy to ignore them. When they left, Jeff gave me a once over and Jill gave me a glare.

Sigh.

I could've been a part of that.

Or not.

I shuddered at the thought of being with Jeff again, not to mention the deceit from Lydia and Jessica.

And since Becky must've been psychic, she shot forward and slammed a hand down on the table. "I heard Lydia telling Melissa Baker that Jeff asked about you."

Adam sat back.

"What are you talking about?"

She jerked her head up and down. "Uh huh. And Nancy Morrow overheard it too. He asked Lydia and Jessica about you, at Jessica's locker." She spoke like it was a hush-hush controversy.

"Come on, Becky. Jeff's not stupid."

"Yeah, he is."

"He knows that he's made his bed."

"My cousin is a jerk-one douchebag. I bet you fifty bucks that he's going to start talking to you again by the end of the month. And Jill knows it too." She pointed at the door with a French fry. "That's why she's upped her game against you."

"Since they got together, she's been like that."

"Yeah, but it's worse. I think she hates you." She glanced at Adam from underneath her eyelids. "And I think Ashley DeCortts is scared of you."

"Does she hate me too?" I hadn't done anything to anyone. Why did anyone care about me?

"No." Becky gave me a small smile. "It's not in Ashley to hate someone." She looked at Adam. "Right?"

He placed two hands against the table and pushed his chair back. When he stood, he plucked the bill from the table and went to the register.

"I think that's his answer for 'I don't care and let's get out of here.'"

Becky groaned. "I think he's mad at me."