Analise beamed at me. "Sit, sit. Let's chat."

I sat and glared.

She pushed a cup to me. "James didn't touch his coffee. You can have it. I know you like those coffee drinks."

It went ignored. "I went home today."

"Honey, this is your new home." She frowned and glanced towards the ocean. A divider wall sectioned off their backyard, but a small trail led from behind a door in the divider to the beach. "Isn't it beautiful here?"

"I saw dad."

She picked up her cup. "I just love tea."

"Since when?"

"Oh, Samantha. You're too funny sometimes. I've always liked tea."

"You've been a caffeine addict since I was little."

"Yes, well, I'm trying to wean myself from that. Tea is much better for you."

"And is James better for you too?"

She turned and set the cup down.

"Is he, mom?"

"So you saw your father?" Her voice hardened. "He wasn't supposed to be there."

"At his own house?"

"I asked him to stay away. I knew you'd go back today to make sure we had remembered everything."

"You didn't want me to see him?"

"It's for the best, Samantha."

"For who? You? He's my father."

She patted my arm once and leaned back, tea back in hand. "You'll see him at school. Your tuition is still going to be paid."

"Why wouldn't it?"

"We're getting a divorce, honey. You do know that certain things in life change during these times."

"Yeah," I bit out. "Like families."

The corner of her mouth curved down and she set the tea down. Her hands were gentle as she placed it back on the cup holder. "I am your family, Samantha. It'll always be you and me, but now I have James. You should get to know Mason and Logan. They're very nice boys."

"And you've gotten to know them?"

"I have." She watched me. "A few times."

"When?" My stomach churned inside. My hands clasped onto the back of my seat.

"Over the last year, I've had dinner with them."

"Over the last year?"

"I did tell you that I left your father. We've been struggling for a long time, Sam. I know you noticed, though you never say anything. You should talk more, honey. It's healthier for you."

"You cheated on dad for a year?"

She sighed. "I didn't cheat—"

"You said a year. You've been cheating on dad for a year?" I leaned forward in the chair. "Did dad know?"

She rolled her eyes. "Like your father was a saint. It takes two to keep a marriage. David hasn't been around for years. You might want to ask him why he's been so absent too. Or didn't you notice?"

"He coaches a football team. He's gone a lot."

"Football season doesn't last a year, honey. You might want to wake up if you're going to start casting blame." Her voice was like whiplash.

I shoved back the chair. "It takes long hours, sometimes two practices a night. They're already starting their Sunday practices. They have training that lasts all year, mom. It's a private school. Their football program is a big deal there. I know all the hours it takes. Jeff's been on the team for three years."

She sighed again. "You and that Jeffrey boy, he isn't good for you either, Sam. His father's a mechanic and his mother works as a cashier at the grocery store. There isn't a future with him."

I reared back. "I'm not marrying him."

"I know you, Samantha. You've been dating him since before you were freshmen. And even I noticed that he cheats on you."

A cruel smile came to me. "You're right, mom. You would notice. Cheaters can always tell when they've met another cheater. Congrats on being in that special club."

I sailed inside, but stopped short. Mason and Logan both sat at a table. They watched me. I watched them and then I darted upstairs. It didn't take me long to change clothes and grab my iPod. When I went back downstairs, they were gone. It didn't matter. Nothing mattered.

I hit the driveway running and kept going. Running had always been an escape for me and it still was. I didn't return until it'd grown dark and my body could barely stay upright. When I walked back inside, the whole place was silent. Eerie. My footsteps echoed in the hallways.

When I went past the dining room, my mom spoke from the table, "You've taken up running again?"

I took out my headphones and stood there. Sweat dripped off of me and I wondered if she'd make some comment how I dirtied the floor.

She sighed to herself and stood. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised."

I mopped some of the sweat off my face.

"I had dinner with James and the boys. They asked about you, but I told them you were upset with me. And do me a favor, Sam, eat something tonight? I don't want to start worrying that your eating disorder is back."

When she went down a hall, I saluted her back and then extended my middle finger. Then I rolled my eyes and went to my room. After I showered, I sat down and turned my phone on. It beeped continuously. Jessica and Lydia were at a bonfire. There was no word from Jeff. Then I shut it back off and crawled in bed.

My first day of the school year was going to be exhausting. I knew the whole year would be. The weekend had just started it off with a bang.

CHAPTER THREE

It was the first day back and I was a junior this year. Before last weekend happened, I'd been ecstatic for the year. We were juniors, one year away from being seniors. Then IT happened and I had no idea how the day would go.

My dad was their varsity football coach. He was beloved by many rich fathers and even a few mothers. The guys respected him. And my mother had left him high and dry. As I walked towards my locker, I wasn't sure what reception I'd get. If people would sympathize with me or label me a whore, like mother like daughter and so on. But when a few of the football captains rushed past me without a second glance, I wondered if no one knew…

Then Jeffrey fell against the locker beside me. His hair was filled with mousse and he gave me a crooked grin.

Oh, those dimples, how they used to work on me.

He grunted. "You no showed all weekend. What's up with that?"