Fallen Crest Home(50)

As we reached the last door that separated us from them, their conversations began to stop. It felt like one by one, everyone was turning to watch us enter.

I couldn’t blame them.

Mason reached behind him, and I slipped my hand into his.

Mason and Logan were gods to them. There were legendary rumors and stories about the Kade brothers, and even though Mason and Logan had gone to public school, I knew first-hand how much everyone had wanted to be like them or be with them. Even now, eyes widened, mouths opened, and people were almost gawking at Mason.

This was his football celebrity. They would’ve had something akin to this reaction before, but it was more now.

Nate leaned close, whispering, “I forget about his football status, you know?”

I nodded. “I know what you mean.”

A part of the crowd shifted, and Adam appeared first, with Becky in hand, followed by Mark. My stepbrother stayed back as Adam approached with his hand held out.

“Mason, glad you stopped by.”

Mason frowned, looking at him with narrowed eyes. He didn’t move to shake his hand. Unease slithered down my spine. This felt staged. Something about Adam’s approach seemed off. He had an odd look in his gaze.

I looked at Becky, saw the fear there, and knew whatever Adam was hoping to accomplish, it wasn’t good. I stepped forward, intentionally bumping Adam’s hand aside.

“What are you talking about? My stepmother is throwing this party, remember? You’re acting like we weren’t invited.” I leaned closer, but made sure everyone could hear my words. “It’s more the other way around, Adam. Something like your engagement.”

I felt bad seeing the hurt flood Becky’s face, but knew the others would speculate about what I meant. That was what I wanted. We weren’t beneath Adam. He wasn’t going to push us that way.

An unreadable mask came over his face, but I didn’t care about him. I stepped toward Becky. “Can I talk to you?”

Her eyebrows pulled in before she nodded. “Okay.”

I led the way back to the front lobby, but I didn’t stop. I kept going, veering into an empty conference room.

“Sam? What’s going on?”

I moved around her, shutting the door. “Is it true that Adam’s going into politics?”

“What?” She hugged herself before her mouth set in a determined line. “How is that any of your business?”

But she knew what I was going to say. Just like she’d known the whole time.

I nodded. “So he is.”

“Why are you asking?”

“Tell me one thing. Was it your idea for me to be at your engagement party?” I waited a beat, watching the questions flit across her features. “Or Adam’s?”

“It was mine.” She looked away. “I might’ve mentioned it a few times.”

That told me everything I needed to know. “Becky, don’t marry him.”

I reached for her hands, but she pulled them away.

“How dare you?” She took a step back.

“I dare because you knew this is what I would say. That’s why you wanted to reconcile. He wanted me, Becs. Not you. He plotted to get me, over and over again. That’s why Mason hates him. And now this, your engagement, him going into politics—you wanted me back in your life because I’m the only one who’ll tell you the truth.”

She turned away, still hugging herself, but she made no move to leave. She was listening to me, and I had to think it was because I was saying what she wanted to hear.

I softened my voice. “He’s going to cheat on you.”

She sniffled. “How do you know?”

“Because you know.” There were windows in the room that looked out over the pool. Adam wasn’t watching us, but he kept glancing at the doors that led to the lobby. I noticed Jessica and Lydia next to him. Jessica reached for his hand, and he turned toward her.

It was a flashback for me; only instead of Adam, it had been Jeff.

I couldn’t help myself. “Is he already cheating on you?”

“What?!” She whirled around, saw what I was watching, and shook her head. “No.” She sounded a little stronger now. Her small shoulders rolled back, and she lifted her head higher. “But she’s been trying. I’ll admit that much.”

“He’s not sleeping with her?”

She shook her head, standing next to me. “I installed a program on the computer so I can monitor all his emails and social media pages.”

Um. Holy shit? I felt my jaw falling.

“She’s been private messaging him, but so far he’s not responded. He’s just been polite, as he’s been with all of them.” Her gaze lingered on Lydia before moving on to Miranda and Amelia. It stayed the longest on Amelia.