I kept backing up until I felt my bed behind my legs and sat abruptly. My arms were still wrapped around me. I sat there and waited for my heartbeat to settle, until I could hear things again. Everything was so deafening.

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

The football dinner was uneventful, at least for my latest standards of drama. Jill was there with Jeff and she sneered at me most of the time. Not surprising. Jessica had landed herself a date too, but I had no idea who he was. He was on the team, obviously. And while her newfound friend sneered at me, Jessica was void of emotion. She didn't ignore me like she had been till the Kade Coming Out news, but she didn't kiss my ass either. I caught her gaze a couple times and once thought she looked sad, but shrugged it off. She should be sad.

The only thing that bothered me at the dinner was the interest Malinda Decraw showed in David when she sat beside him after the second round of cocktails. She was the single mother of Mark Decraw, one of Becky's termed Academy Elite. He was co-captain and Amelia White's date that night. I knew Becky would be salivating at the gossip, but all I cared about was how many times Malinda did the hair flip.

She'd smile at David, lean close, and flip her hair. Then she would laugh, touch his arm or his shoulder (once), and flip the hair again.

When I left the dinner and spotted Mark and Amelia kissing by his car, I was tempted to corner them about Malinda's intentions. But I refrained. With my luck, that would bring more drama and as I let myself into the Kade mansion, I had enough on my hands.

Analise stood in the kitchen with a large glass of wine and two bottles beside her. Her eyes were glazed over and she swayed from side to side. Her hair was messed and looked haphazard while her white dress slipped off one shoulder. The top of her red bra was visible.

My mom was drunk.

Logan and Nate both sat on a counter with their legs dangling while Mason was propped against the doorway with his arms closed over his chest. As usual, he was unreadable while Logan had a look of delight on his face. Nate was fighting back his own laughter.

"Sam, you've been missing out!" Logan threw his arms wide. "Your mom's drunk like a sorority rush. Dad dropped her off an hour ago and she's getting drunker by the minute."

Analise rounded to me. Her body kept going, but Mason stopped her when his hand shot out and pushed her shoulder back upright.

"Thanks. You're bacb," she slurred, then took a big gulp of wine. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "Housse your daddy?"

My eyes narrowed. "It was fine. Thanks."

She sniffled. "You always loved him more. Me, I'm the acdual parend. He neber wass."

"Thanks, mom. We all know that."

Her eyes got wide and her lips pursed into a sneer. "I swear, if you werend my daughter, I'd disown you."

"Really?" I arched an eyebrow.

"If you wanna him, you can hab him. Move in with him. I'm outta here." She swung her arm wide again. Her body kept going, but Nate was the one who caught her from the other side this time.

She tucked her head down. "Thanks."

He nodded.

Then she heaved a dramatic sigh and her arm dropped from her one hip. "You've god your wish, Samantha."

"What wish?"

"Me. And you. We're outta here. He kicked me out. I had a few doo many ad dinner and he kicked me out. Have to pack my stuff now. We're moving on, bucko!" Then she hung her head and a sniffle was heard. "David wond take me back now."

"Mom."

"Don't!" Her head snapped back up and her eyes were wild. "You always said it, we'd be gone. He wouldna marry me and you're righd. He won't. It's over. Finite. Finido. Finished…"

I stepped around Mason, but he moved with me. When I started to get closer to her, he moved another inch. He was blocking me. He didn't want me close to her so I stayed put. I folded my arms. "Mom, you're drunk. Everything will be better in the morning. I promise."

"You don promise. You can't promise me anything. I'm the mother. I should be promiser one, but I'm not. I cand even do that for you. I've ruined it all, Sammy."

Her head was down again and another sniffle sounded.

"Mom, it'll be okay. We can get our own place."

Analise's shoulder jerked and her hand clenched around the wine glass. When she looked back, vehemence was in her eyes. The self-pity was gone and in its place was anger. I gulped; my mother was looking at me with fury now.

"It's your fault. All of this is your fault."

"How?" I challenged.

"David never loved you. Hell, I never loved you. I should've been with your father. I loved him, but he couldn't stay. He had to go. He always had to go. I had no one. Me and a baby." She threw her head back and an ugly sounding laugh came out. "Who's going want the package deal? Well, I found David. He loved me. Not you. He tolerated you, but me he loved. I should've been with your father, your real father. But he didn't have the time for me so fine. Screw him."

"Wait, what?" I surged forward, but Mason blocked me again. He didn't put a hand up, but he stepped in front an inch. It was enough of a barrier that held me back.

"David hates your father. He loathes him. He thinks he walked out on his daughter." A hysterical laugh came out, followed by a hysterical sob. She choked up for a moment and then shook her head clear of the emotions. "Jokes on him, isn't it. Your real daddy never knew about you. Like I'd stomach that. That he'd come back for his daughter, but not me. Oh no. If he wouldn't take both of us, he didn't get either of us. Your father has no idea about you." Her eyes found me, crystal clear.

A chill went down my back and I wondered if that was evil lurking in her depths. No. It couldn't be. She was drunk, just drunk…and sad.

She sneered at me. "And you'll never know. He'll never know about you, you'll never know about him. You can't leave me, Sam. I've all you got. David won't take you back. Are you kidding me? He's probably already got another woman, maybe even a kid too. He always liked to play the doting father type. Maybe he'll pick a son this time. The daughter he had ended up being a screw-up. You always picked the worst types, Sam. Jeff. Lydia. Jessica. They're your closest and they all screwed you. Even I knew it. You're the screw up."

When she was done, no one said a word. A fly would've sent echoes through the room, but then Analise choked out a simper. "Pack your stuff, Sam. We're leaving."