Fallen Crest Alternative Version (17 page)

I readied myself. “What are you asking?”

“Nothing, just wondering if Mason knows about this new job venture?” He stopped me with a light touch to my arm. “And if he knew you were going to approach me about it?”

I gritted my teeth. “This is my problem.”

He nodded and shook his head. “So it’s not theirs then? You don’t want to bother him with your troubles, but he bothers you with his?” Then his smile flashed into something darker. “Bit of a double standard, don’t you think?”

I never looked away from him and raised my chin. “I came to you because I thought you’d be quitting. I wanted to take your job.”

His smirk slipped a notch.

“I see that I trusted the wrong person.”

I started to walk away, but he caught my arm and pulled me back. “Hold on.”

“Just ask your boss about me, okay? That’s all I’m asking for.”

Adam held my gaze with an intensity that made me want to look away. I didn’t. My hands tightened on my books and I held firm. It shook me, though.

Then he sighed and the intensity broke.

I breathed easier from the relief of it.

“Yeah. I’ll do that. We’re doing lunch there anyway. I’ll introduce you to her.”

We had started to walk again, but my feet stuttered to a halt. “Her?”

He flashed me a smile. “You’ll like her. She’s awesome. Hey, I know she’ll be there because we’re supposed to be getting a new caterer for the club.”

The bell rang and I hurried to my class, but I couldn’t shake a bad feeling. I didn’t know if it was because I went to Adam or if I wasn’t sure if I really wanted to work at the country club. I was sure I’d get hired. I was James Kade’s future stepdaughter and David Strattan’s daughter. Everyone loved their Academy football coach, but when we got to the club for lunch, everything went downhill for me.

I took two steps inside and ground to another halt.

Garrett’s back was to me as he laughed with a group. There were two women with him. One was dressed in a business suit and skirt. Her brown hair was pulled up in a fancy bun with strands that fell down in a fashionable look. She had plump red lips, a big bosom, and eyes that seemed to be drowning under my biological dad’s charm.

The other woman was an inch shorter than the first, but she wore a floral top. There were ruffles that outlined and showcased her cleavage, and one of her hands held onto Garrett’s. Her reddish-blonde hair hung loose and shiny, even next to the other woman who could’ve outshone anyone. When the first woman touched Garrett’s arm, the one who held his hand looked up. A flicker of fear flashed in her eyes, but as he graced her with a smile it vanished.

Another man stood in the background with a briefcase and a file under his arm. He wore a business suit and his hair was combed to the side, unlike Garrett’s who had his hair messily rumpled. For a man in his forties, it made him look ten years younger and it worked for him. It would’ve looked ridiculous on anyone else, but my biological dad flashed his white teeth and charm rolled off his shoulders.

Mark came up from behind me and threw an arm over my shoulder. He perked up. “Hey! It’s your dad.”

Amelia froze in place. Then she cast me a dark look and muttered, “He’s hot.”

As she moved on, I was aware of Miranda’s presence and readied myself. One never knew what she was going to say, but she surprised me when she murmured, “He looks nice, Sam.”

Then Adam touched my hand and drew me forward.

“No!” I grabbed his arm.

“Come on. I want to introduce you to my new boss. I think that’s the new caterer too.”

When I tried to slip to the side, he caught the back of my pants and plastered a bright smile on his face. He dragged me behind him. “Hi, Mrs. Carmella.”

The business skirt turned and melted. The soft spot she had for him was obvious. Her hand rested on her throat in a delicate way. “Adam! How nice to have you here. You’ve brought your friends for the lunch we discussed?”

I dug my feet in. It didn’t matter. Adam lifted me over the last few feet and hugged me to his side. “Sure did and thank you for letting us eat here.”

“Oh, Adam! Your friends are my friends. It’s on the house. Your friends must order anything they want. I’ll make sure you have your own chef and two servers as well.” She turned to the sidekick with the briefcase. “Anderson, you’ll see to that?”

He clipped his head forward in a nod and pivoted as he left.

I expected a small salute but was disappointed when he didn’t.

Then her eyes swept over me. “And who is this? Is this a special friend?”

“Indeed it is!” Adam’s seemed to be laughing as he pried my hands from his arm. I had a death grip on him. “This is Samantha Strattan.”

“Oh, of course!” Her hand jutted towards me. “You’re David’s daughter? I’ve heard so many wonderful things about you. We are proud to have David as a member here. You must come and enjoy the facilities. Adam, you will bring your friend here more often?”

“Samantha!”

A female voice called out over the room, and I cursed under my breath. Then I snuck a glance up and saw Garrett frozen in place. A dark look was in his depths, but he couldn’t blink to cover it. The female beside him cast a concerned look up before she frowned at me. Then Malinda arrived in a frenzy of energy.

She threw her wrap over her shoulder and dazzled. “Carmine, I must speak with you before I leave today. You are a difficult woman to get a hold of.”

“I’ve been in New Zealand for the fall.” Mrs. Carmella’s smile was strained. Her eyes jetted from me to Malinda and back again. A question loomed over her.

I sucked in my breath.

Her mouth opened.

The question was coming.

And then Mark groaned behind us, “Mom, what are you doing here?”

Malinda turned with a warm tone in her laugh. She threw her arms out and engulfed him. She pulled his head down to her shoulder and patted the back of it twice before she released him. Then she reached up and straightened some of his hair. As she moved to his shirt, she laughed in another carefree note. “You know me, Mark. I have to treasure these moments with you.”

His eyes became alarmed.  “Mom?”

She linked her elbows with his and beamed at the group. “I’m having lunch with my son and his friends. Isn’t that darling? Sam, you’re attending as well?”

“Uh…” My limbs were still frozen.

Then Malinda snapped to attention. Her eyes shifted over my shoulders. “And Garrett, you as well? That would be glorious. I could call David and we could have a mini-family luncheon? That sounds delicious, doesn’t it?” She patted Mark on the cheek. “What do you think, honey?”

He reddened in the face. “Mom. You’re embarrassing me.”

Then she withdrew her arm and her laughter raised a notch. “I’m just kidding. You know I’d never embarrass you like that.” Her sharp eyes swept to Adam. “I’m here to meet your mother, Adam. I told you that this morning, didn’t I?”

He had frozen as well and choked out, “Uh…no…”

Malinda winked at him and leaned forward to whisper behind her hand, “She wants to talk about you returning home. Don’t worry, honey. I have your back. Always.” Then she leaned forward and smacked a kiss to his cheek before she did the same to Mark. Both had their mouths open, but Mark groaned and hurried away.

Malinda laughed as she watched his retreating back. “He acts all aghast of me, but that boy is his mother’s pride and joy. We’re a good unit, the two of us.” Her eyes lingered on Carmine for a moment. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

And Mrs. Carmella shook her head. She jerked herself out of her surprise. “Uh, yes, of course, Malinda. We should have lunch sometime.”

“Tomorrow. At eleven.”

“Oh.” She blinked a few times.

Malinda’s voice could’ve melted sugar. “Unless you’re busy….again.”

“No, no.” Mrs. Carmella forced out a smile. “I’m not, never for you. Tomorrow at eleven it is.”

“I’ll see you here then!” Malinda whisked from the group but not before kissing my cheek and patting my hand. “It’s a pleasure to see you again, Samantha. I’ve missed you this week.”

When she had left, the group was silent for a moment. Then Mrs. Carmella forced out an awkward laugh. Her smile was tense as she scanned the group. “That was Malinda Decraw, Bella. She’s one of the founding families for this club.”

The woman pulled her hand from Garrett, who had yet to meet my gaze, and nodded. She folded her hands together in front of her and spoke in a timid voice, “So I should be very nice to her?”

Carmine’s laugh had a harsh, high-pitch to it. “You could say that. Now, if you all will excuse me. Adam, I’ll be in to welcome your friends to the club, though I think all of their families are members.”

He nodded. “Always good to be gracious.”

“Yes, of course, dear.” She looked away, distracted. “Excuse me again.”

When she left, Adam wasn’t far behind. He gave me a curious look before he disappeared in a back room and I was left alone with Garrett and Bella. I took a deep breath.

Then Garrett gutted out, “All we need is James and Analise to make an appearance. I should assume they’re guests as well?”

I looked down. I hadn’t expected the hostility that spewed from him. “Uh, yeah. I don’t think they come, though.”

“Of course.” A bitter laugh ripped from him. “This place is probably beneath them.”

“I…”

But it didn’t matter. He strode away and out the door. His shoulders were stiff and his jaw was clenched. Then Bella held a hand to me. She gave me a soft smile. “You’re his daughter, aren’t you?”

I looked at it. For some reason, the moment was surreal to me.

She drew it back to her side. “I’m his wife.”

My eyes lifted and caught hers. “I know.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Lunch was awkward. That was the best word to describe it. The food was good. The service was attentive, but when Adam’s boss came around to give the gracious welcome, she gave me a wide berth. It was a different experience, compared to what I’ve received since Logan announced I was his stepsister. On one hand I enjoyed her avoidance, but I was also unsettled by it. She looked at me with fear in her eyes. What had I done to receive that? And then I stopped wondering. It was out of my control.

Adam noticed the chilly reception from Mrs. Carmella and gave me small smile. Maybe it was his way of saying he was sorry the job wouldn’t work out. I sighed when I left. I didn’t want to work there, anyway. I had my back up person to ask. Logan.

After school, I texted him if we could talk, but he replied that he had a mandatory team meeting. I never heard back from him the rest of the night and I hadn’t heard from Mason since the morning. He always sent me a good morning text, and even the usual ones he’d send in the afternoon were absent. My stomach’s knots started twisting again. It didn’t sit well with me, especially on the days when we wouldn’t see each other. He usually sent me more on those days than on one when we knew we’d see each other later. Since I hadn’t heard anything different from Mason, I figured it was another night where we’d go our separate ways. However, after not hearing back from Logan, especially after a message where I asked to talk to him, I made up my mind.

I was going to their basketball game.

I knew they weren’t playing, but they would still be there. I was going, even if I sat alone. Then again, maybe I would sit in the opponent’s side. I longed for that anonymity again.

Since Mark played for Fallen Crest Academy’s basketball team and they had their own game that night, I knew I wouldn’t be successful in rallying anyone to go as my guest. Though I considered Becky, she informed me after class that she had to wear her uniform for the entire weekend. Someone snickered as they walked past us, but she placed her hands on her hips and stood tall. She stood proud. “It’s a hazing practice, but I’m happy to wear this uniform. I will even sleep in it.”

Becky was out.

Parking was packed around Mason’s school. It was a large building with a large parking lot, and I didn’t find a spot until I was six blocks away. As I walked by myself, the cold air swept past me and I shivered. I was glad for the bulky sweatshirt Mason had given me and dug my hands into the pocket. My teeth were clattering against each other by the time I arrived at the front door. A group of students dressed in their school’s colors, red and black, dashed in front of me. They threw the door open and a burst of warm air blasted me.

I gasped with relief, though I hadn’t realized how cold I really was until then.

The line inside was long and took twenty minutes before I was able to pay for my ticket. I was handed a program and then skimmed the concessions lines. The ticket wait was nothing compared to those. It would’ve been forty minutes before I got the only thing I wanted, a soda, so I ducked inside the first set of doors and stopped in amazement.

Both sides of the gym were packed. It didn’t look like there was any open seating on their stands and then a roar went over the crowd. It wasn’t difficult to find where Fallen Crest Public’s cheering section was located. They were across from me, on the other side of the gym, which meant I was beside the opponents. I didn’t care, but another cheer went over the crowd.