Fallen Crest Forever (Fallen Crest Series Book 7)(29)

More and more started bubbling up, but this wasn’t Mason. I wasn’t mad at him.

I was mad at me.

He opened his mouth. I saw the regret in his eyes, and I knew he was going to apologize.

I held my hand up. “This isn’t you.” I softened my voice. “This is me. I’m angry with myself because I never spoke up. I’ve been—”

What the hell had I been doing? Holding on to them? Hoping they’d never leave me? Being beyond scared they’d abandon me like everyone else had? I forced out a breath.

These were the guys who didn’t leave. They hadn’t left. They never would leave.

Mason always said it. He was the forever guy.

I hadn’t been letting myself believe that. I hadn’t pushed my way in so they could hear me, though I knew they would.

They weren’t the problem.

He wasn’t the problem.

I was.

“I’m sorry. I have to go.” I slipped on my shoes and headed out into the hallway.

He followed me. “Where are you going?”

I grabbed my purse and keys. “I have no idea, but I have to go somewhere.”

“Sam!”

I was out the door and heading for my car.

He paused in the opened doorway. “Sam!”

I turned and waved as I got in the car. “I’ll be fine. I just need to think. That’s it.”

My blood rushed through me, my thoughts bouncing all around my head. I felt panicked, but what I’d said was right. I was the problem. I still had to fix me.

I left, and I had no clue where I was going.





It was the middle of the night, and I was being stupid.

I ended up going to a 24-hour diner, and after my phone blew up with calls from Mason, then Logan, and finally Taylor, I texted Taylor to tell her where I was.

I’m coming. She texted back. Don’t leave.

After that, my phone stopped ringing, so I assumed she’d told Mason and Logan where I was too.

Fifteen minutes, two cups of coffee, and a glass of water later, she came my way down the aisle between tables. She wore black leggings, an oversized hoodie sweatshirt, and a baseball cap pulled low over her face.

I half-snorted/half-laughed. “You could be in a magazine with that outfit.” Her hair was gorgeous. It had grown longer over the year, and some of it was pulled over her shoulder. The rest fell down her back.

I wasn’t a girl who got jealous, but I felt the same feeling stirring now that I’d had toward Mason an hour earlier. Taylor always knew who she was. She never questioned herself. I knew that was a quality that had drawn Logan to her.

She frowned, giving me an incredulous look. “Are you joking? You’re drop-dead gorgeous, Sam.”

So I’d been told, but I never felt it.

I shrugged, filling my coffee cup again from the carafe the waiter had brought over. “Well, I’m being a dramatic girl right now.”

Taylor shrugged too. “It happens to the best of us. I think every girl deserves five meltdown moments. It’s good for the soul. Cleansing.”

I laughed. “Thank you for that.”

She grinned. “I should be the one thanking you. I’ve earned major friendship points here. You texted me, not Logan or Mason. Logan didn’t say anything, but I could tell.” She pretended to brush dust off her shoulder. “He was impressed.”

I laughed a little more this time. “And thank you for that.” I felt my insides settling a little. “I don’t feel as ridiculous as before.”

“You shouldn’t feel ridiculous at all, but can I ask why you’re here and not snuggling up with that man of yours?”

“Because Mason started to lie to me, and I flipped out.” I held my coffee mug in both hands. I didn’t pick it up, but was content just feeling the warmth from the hot liquid seeping into my hands.

“What was he going to lie about?”

“I asked them to leave the Faith thing alone. They’re not going to.”

“Oh, yeah.” She nodded. “Logan tried to sell me the same bullshit. I saw through it. Vegas, my ass.” She snorted.

“He tried lying to you too?”

“He can’t lie to me.” She chuckled to herself. “He’s tried. He sucks at it.”

Logan was an incredible liar. That was a testament to Taylor and their relationship.

I let out a deep breath. “I’m not really mad at Mason. I’m mad at myself.”

“Why? You’re one of the nicest people I know. As Logan would say, you’re a big deal.” She winked.

I laughed shortly, then waited as the waiter came over to ask Taylor if she wanted anything. She ordered a coffee and some toast. I was content with my water, but did ask for a refill of my carafe. I never claimed my addiction to coffee was healthy.