Fallen Crest Forever (Fallen Crest Series Book 7)(57)

Hey! Sharon and I are coming to Mason’s game. It’s last minute, but my firm has a private box. Did you and the others want to join us? Seb stayed back in Boston with the grandparents.

Shit.

I texted back, Do you have room for me, Logan, Taylor, Nate, Malinda, and David? They’re in town too.

He replied almost right away. There’s a few seats, but there’s standing room. As long as they’re okay standing? We’ll have food and drinks too.

I typed back, Sold.

Maybe I should’ve chosen my track and cross-country coaches, but it didn’t feel right sitting with them over family. The jaded part of me wondered if they would’ve asked if I hadn’t run so fast yesterday. I was guessing not.

Heading out to the kitchen and living room, I stopped to see if I heard anyone. Nothing. There was complete silence.

“Logan? Nate? Taylor?” I called.

Still no answer.

I started upstairs and knocked on Nate’s room first. “Nate?”

I heard a crash from inside, followed by a curse and a grumbling, “Yeah?”

“We have Mason’s game soon. Are you up?”

I was lying, but everything would take longer. This was a major D1 game. Traffic would be backed up, and getting into the stadium would take forever. Since Taylor and I were on an athletic team now, we’d gotten special parking permits for spaces closer to the stadium. I hoped we could park there today and cut back on some of the walking. I also wondered how many other athletes might be thinking the same thing.

I went to Logan’s door, but it opened before I could knock.

He peered out at me. He kept the rest of himself hidden, and he said, “I love you, Sam. You’re my sister, but if you yell for me in the next half hour or knock on this door, we’re going to have problems.”

I didn’t need to guess. “You’re having sex?”

“Yes. Go away.”

The door slammed in my face.

I turned around, and a girl was slipping out of Nate’s room. Her hair hung loose, and she was holding her shoes. Her dress had twisted up, only covering half of her body. I listened and could hear Nate’s shower running. This girl was trying to sneak out.

“Hey.”

She screamed, jumping around to see me. Her eyes were wide, and her face drained of blood.

“Oh.” She cursed, raking a hand through her hair. “Fuck. Hi. I’m Valerie.” She started to hold her hand out, saw it was still full of her shoes, and cursed a third time. She switched her shoes to her other hand and held it out again.

I waved. “You don’t have to worry about being formal. Do you need me to call a cab?”

“Could you?” Her voice was hopeful. “Oh, that’d be wonderful.”

She kept sneaking glances back to Nate’s door. After the third time, and after her eyebrows pulled together in apparent confusion, I asked, “Do you remember last night?”

She bit her lip, following me down the stairs and into the living room. “I remember going to a club with some friends. I remember shots. Lots of shots. Then we went to another bar. It was a little pub type of bar, but it was so packed. And I remember a hot guy . . .” She kept biting her lip and cringing. “Yeah. The rest of the night is a long blur, but I remember having really hot sex.” She groaned to herself. “Really hot sex. Oh boy.”

I checked outside to make sure somehow her car hadn’t gotten to the house, though if it had, I didn’t want to know how. I was relieved to see the front was empty except for Logan’s Escalade and Taylor’s car. Nate’s and mine were parked inside.

I started dialing the car company. “They’ll be here shortly, I’m sure.”

“Oh good.” She looked around the house again, bending her knees. “Uh, is there a bathroom around here? That I . . . could . . . use . . .?” Her soft voice trailed off.

I pointed down the hallway. “First door on the left.”

“Oh, thank you.” She took off, rushing around the corner.

I was just hanging up with the cab company when Nate hurried downstairs. He took the phone away from me. “No, don’t call a cab.”

“Wha—” I pointed to the phone. “They’re coming.”

He cursed, then yanked it to his ear. “Hello?” He waited a few seconds, then said, “Yes. I want to cancel that cab. She didn’t know she didn’t have to call it.” He frowned. “Of course she’s safe. Here.” He thrust my phone back to me. “They want to make sure you’re okay.”

I took the phone. “I’m fine. I was calling for him, but it’s not needed. Thank you.” I hung up and frowned at Nate. “What are you doing? She wanted a cab.”