“What?” A quick laugh left her, but her eyes narrowed.

“He said you brushed him off.”

“Oh.” A second laugh came out, more relieved. “It was nothing.”

“Sam?”

“It was stupid.” She sat back, facing the front. Her head leaned back against the headrest. “I just freaked for a second. It’s ridiculous.”

“What was it?”

She groaned before saying, “I got jealous.”

She fell quiet again.

I prompted, “Of?”

“Of Logan.”

I frowned. I hadn’t expected that answer. “Of what?”

“Because Malinda told him, not me, that they were coming up for parents’ weekend. I…” She faltered again. “I got jealous.” A sheen of tears were on her eyelids. “They’re my family, not his, and I got jealous about that.” She wiped at the tears with the back of her hand, even though they hadn’t fallen yet. “It’s so, so, so dumb. You guys are my family, and so are they. I shouldn’t have felt like that. I have no right.”

“Sam.” Shit.

She was beating herself up over wanting a family.

I said softly, grabbing her hand, “You can feel like that. You’re right.”

She turned to me. The side of her mouth dipped down. “What are you talking about?”

“Malinda, David, and Mark—they are your family. They’re your legit family.”

“Mason—”

I stopped her with a gentle grin on my face. “No matter what, yes, Logan and I are your family. We always will be…even if something happens to you and me.”

Her eyes got big.

I said quickly, “Not that I want that to happen, but if anything were to happen, I’ll still be your family. Logan will still be your family. You’re in with us. No one gets in with us, and you did. But, having said that, David and Malinda are parents to you. Your real mom’s a bitch. You finally got what you’ve always wanted—a loving mom and a loving dad. It is normal for you to want to defend that. You’ve reached gold, as far as I see it. Protect the gold. Shit. Hoard the fucking gold. Loving families aren’t as common as some people think. And since we’re sharing here, I have to admit that I’m a little jealous of your setup with David and Malinda.”

“You are?” A tear slid down her cheek, but she ignored it.

I didn’t think she noticed it. Her eyes went back to sparkling. A little bit of pink moved back to her cheeks, too.

“My parents love me, but they’re a mess. James is off with your mom. I’ve not seen him in months, and Helen’s gone back to traveling ninety percent of the time since Logan and I are three hours away. You got parents coming for parents’ weekend, and they aren’t coming with an agenda.”

“Oh, Mason.”

I saw the sympathy creeping in and shook my head. I didn’t want to see that in her. “Don’t pity me. I’ve got a trust fund in the millions. I’m hoping to go pro football, but if I don’t, I’ll still be fine. I’m best friends with my soul mate and my brother. I’m damn blessed, too. I’m just reminding you that you shouldn’t feel guilty about protecting your family.”

“You’re my—”

She started to reach for my face, and I caught her hands, bringing them to my lap, as I laced our fingers.

“I know. We’re family, but you can have two families. You can enjoy having a mother, too.”

More tears slid down her face, but she only gazed at me. She was sitting sideways, and she rested her head against her seat. “It’s a weird feeling.”

“What is?”

“Healing.”

And right there, that word from her, took my breath away. Fuck the dorm deal. I shoved the other concern away. I’d deal with it on my own terms.

I started the vehicle.

“Where are we going?”

“You’re staying the night.” I flashed her a grin.

She smiled back, and the sight of it was a gut punch. She was damn beautiful. My dick was already hard, and I couldn’t think about all the positions I wanted her in, or I’d be pulling over in some other lot. Instead, as I left the lot, I glanced up where Sam’s room was, and I wasn’t shocked to see the roommate there.

She’d been watching us, but as I met her eyes, she shifted back and let the curtain fall.

Caught you.

SAMANTHA

A cake, balloons, groceries, flowers, and an inflatable chair greeted Summer and me on Friday morning. They were piled in front of our door when Summer got up to leave for the restroom.

“Uh…” She stepped back and cleared her throat. “Sam?”

I had no words. “Um…”

“Oh.” A bright laugh came from the hallway. The inflatable chair was picked up and lifted before Malinda’s flushed face was seen. “Happy parents’ weekend, Samantha!” She shoved the chair behind her and waded through everything else.

Her arm was thrown up, and I had a second’s notice before she crossed the room’s threshold, grabbing me in the tightest bear hug I’d experienced in a long time.

She rocked me back and forth, smoothing a hand down my hair. “You look surprised. Good.” She pulled back and patted me once on both shoulders with her hands. “Mission accomplished. I wanted to have you wake up with a delight. Now,” she leaned forward, took a sniff, and wrinkled her nose, “I see I really did beat you to the punch. You need to brush your teeth, honey.”

“Malinda,” I started.

“Nope. I won’t have it. Mom…” Her voice faded. “Well, maybe Mama Malinda? I don’t want to push you. I’m sorry. Malinda is just fine.”

She was hurt, and I was a dipshit.

“Sorry.” But I couldn’t bring myself to say the mom word.

And Mama Malinda was Logan’s nickname for her. Knowing I couldn’t appease her that way, I hugged her once more. This time, it was me who held her for a moment longer than necessary.

She melted and murmured under her breath, “Oh, sweetie.”

The tears were there. I heard them in her choked voice, but she cleared her throat and stepped back.

Wiping at the corners of her eyes, her smile never wavered. It was from ear to ear. “Thank you for that. I do love you, my new daughter.”