The guys were gone for an entire week. I had no idea how they could do that, but they did. I shouldn’t have been surprised. I avoided my mother during the week and only once spotted James. I’d been sitting in the study room, which looked like my school’s library when he walked in.
The door shut behind him. I lifted my head from the book I’d been reading. We stared at each other.
He was dressed in a pinstripe black business suit and he had a black briefcase in hand. When I saw a small brown bag in his other hand, I hid a grin. Mousteff must’ve gotten to him too.
Then he took a deep breath. “I am aware your relationship with your mother is none of my business, but I would like to get to know you at some point. I love your mother very much and I do not plan on letting her go.”
And then he left.
He came in as silently as he left and when I watched the door slide shut behind him, not a sound came from it.
Chills ran down my body and I pushed back from the table and went to where I’d once seen Mason pull some brandy from a counter. It was still there and I took a swig of it. Maybe daytime alcoholism would be my next venture?
I put the bottle away when my stomach started to churn. Then I heaved a deep breath. Nope, daytime alcoholism wouldn’t mix with me and I went back to my room and for my running gear.
When I was running back, it had been dark for an hour and a set of headlights approached from behind. I was two blocks from the house and I veered to the side. Most cars swept past, some slowed for caution, but this one slowed so it followed behind me.
I kept going.
What else could I do?
I put on some more speed and soon I was sprinting. One block left.
The car’s headlights engulfed me and my shadow sprang out in front of me. It seemed to be laughing at me, dancing vigorously. My heart was already pounding, but cold sweat formed on my forehead. It spread throughout my body and my teeth were soon chattering.
I stopped.
Half a block from my house.
I turned and stared at the car. It had stopped, now in front of me. Then I heard the window slide down and someone leaned out.
I yelled, “What do you want?”
There was laughter from inside.
My hands balled into fists and I started to jerk forward.
Mason’s voice slid over me. “You’re an idiot.”
My breath spat from me before I could stop it. I grimaced when it landed on my leg, but I couldn’t stop from laughing in relief. “I’m an idiot? You’re the idiots.”
Logan popped his head from the passenger side. “We could’ve been mass rapists, dude.”
“Dude?” I shot him a look and walked to Mason’s window on trembling legs. “I’m not your dude.”
Logan eased back in and smirked at me. “Not yet.”
Nate chuckled from the backseat as he watched the exchange.
“Hop in.” Mason nodded to the back.
I gave him a silly grin, though I didn’t care how silly it might’ve looked. “I’m a half block away. I think I can manage it.”
He shrugged and flashed me a grin back. “Up to you.” And then he sped off. My eyes widened as I spotted the puddle, but it was too late. He drove through it and I was drenched a second later.
