"Sam, are you there?"

I choked out, my throat full with desire, "I can't deal with this, mom. I'm fine. We went away to Nate's cabin. I told you about it last night, but you were so crazy and drunk. I suppose I'm not surprised you didn't remember." I waited a beat.

Mason's hand started to rub circles on my hip.

I bit out, my voice rushed, "You haven't been saying any of this crazy stuff to anybody else?"

There was silence on the other end.

"I can't believe you, mom. What have you done this time?"

"Sam, stop lying to me."

"Okay." I remembered when I had walked into my old house and saw her with tears in her eyes and two empty bottles of wine beside her. It was when she had told me we were leaving. "That's what I'm doing. I'm lying. I'm always lying to you. I'm the crazy one in this family. I'm the one who was married to David and left him for James. Yes, I'm the one lying right now."

"You don't have to be so mean to me."

"Oh, mom. Stop drinking. I don't want to hear what else you've cooked up. I'm fine. We're all fine. Stop saying crazy stories like that, unless you're trying to do something. Are you trying to do something?"

"Why would I make that up?"

"I don't know. Why do you ever do anything? For more money? I have no idea." And I ended the call.

Mason stood still next to me and then he swept me up in his arms. "That was great."

I tried to stop myself from smiling against his neck. "Why?"

"You knew my dad was listening?"

When he set me back on my feet, I gave him a small grin. "I didn't, but it'd something she would've done."

He laughed again and slid his phone in his pocket.

I took a deep breath. "Why'd you ignore my friend before?"

His jaw tightened and he pressed his lips together before he looked away.

I added in a quiet voice, "And who is the girlfriend with you?"

He swung his gaze back and gave me a hard look. "Are you kidding me? You know that's Marissa."

"I don't. You've never introduced her."

"What are you doing right now?"

"Nothing." I started to move away, but he caught my arm and pulled me back.

"Come on, Sam. Don't be all jealous and insecure. Marissa is a good friend of mine. I'm protective of her."

He used to be protective of me too. I swallowed back that pain. "You're right. I'm sorry about that."

"Sorry about what?" He studied me intently. "What are we talking about?"

"We had a good time. It's not anything more than that. Just, please don't admit anything to Logan. I think he already knows and if he knows for sure, can you imagine all the teasing I'm going to get from him?"

Mason gave me a disgusted look. "Are you serious? I'm protective of Marissa because I'm the reason she had to switch schools a couple years ago."

I fell silent, but I didn't pull my arm away.

"She's a nice person, she's genuine. Some girls didn't like that we were friends and they tore her to pieces. Catty stuff always happens to her whenever she's around me. She doesn't have any female friends. That's why I didn't want to introduce her to you or anyone else. You have friends, Sam. She doesn't. If she met you, you would've introduced her to your friends, and that's when that crap usually happens. I nipped it from the beginning."

I remembered Tate's words. "Was it Tate that tore her to pieces?"

"She was the ring leader, yeah. And she'd do it again. If Marissa isn't with me, she's with Nate. It's that bad. Tate blames her for why I hate her so much."

I nodded. "Okay."

"Okay…what?" He seemed to be measuring me. I felt him trying to get inside me. "Are you okay now? I'm not going to apologize for your friend. She freaks me out. I'm not going to lie. I don't like her, but I'll tolerate her for you."

A chuckle escaped me. He felt the tension leave me and pulled me against him. "Yeah, I can see that."

He pressed a kiss to my forehead. "Are you going to get wasted tonight?"

"Seems like." I gave him a sloppy grin and he pressed a kiss to it. I sighed as his lips left mine. "It seems like it's my night with Becky tonight, she's down in the dumps because of Adam."

"The quarterback who wants to bang you?"

I shook my head. He knew exactly who Adam was. "Yes, she likes him."

He grimaced. "She could have better taste in men."

"You want her to go after you instead?"

His eyes got wide. "You should encourage those two to date."

I laughed and pressed against him some more. His hands dropped down and started to caress the inside of my thigh. He cupped the side of my face and started to bend down when someone burst through the foliage that had granted us our privacy.

We whirled around and froze.

Logan stared at us with his mouth hanging open. Then he snapped his fingers and threw his arms around in the air. "I knew it! I knew it! Oh hell yeah! I knew it!"

Mason tackled him and hissed, "Shut up about it!"

Logan pushed him off, laughing. "I won't say anything, but man—I knew it."

Mason shoved him back. "What are you doing here?"

He gestured to me. "The mom thing. I knew she was going to call her. Did you?"

I nodded.

"She covered us and made it seem like her mom made the whole thing up."

"Really?" Logan glanced at me with wide eyes.

I shrugged. "If your dad really loves her, he'll forgive her."

He choked out a laugh. "And if he doesn't and you guys are sent packing?"

I knew my eyes had a chill in them when both moved back a step. "I'm pretty sure I can move back in with David until college."

"And your mom?"

Ice went down my veins. "And I'm sure she'll find some other guy to mooch from."

"Man, you really loathe your mom, huh?" Logan whistled under his breath. "I'm just happy that we got dad off our backs."

Mason gave him a sharp look. "He send you something?"

"Yeah, an apology text."