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I was being h, she deserved it Once Mark’s mom married my dad today, it would be official Mark would be family, and that meant she had to be nice…er to me

She took a step toward me

I lifted an eyebrow

Putting her s, “Mark! Are you here?”

I cringed I’d known it was co to hit ht I was prepared I wasn’t “Shut up My god You killed my eardrum”

She grunted and rolled her eyes, s her hands over her skirt “Whatever You should’ve called for him I warned you”

Our gazes were locked in a battle, and that hen I knew “You’re still going to be a bitch to me, aren’t you?”

“You thought I wouldn’t be?” Her head reared back “Where did you get that idiotic thought?”

Well, that sealed her fate With a big grin on my face, I stepped back and shut the door in her face

“Mature much?” she asked from the other side

I shrugged Any chance I got to shut a door in her face, I was going to take it That made this more enjoyable I turned the lock Cass could knock and yell all she wanted She was screwed What she didn’t know, I did, and that was the fact that Mark ith Logan right now, and they didn’t have their cell phones with them They weren’t even here

Mason looked up from the table as I rounded the hallway for the kitchen “Who was that?” A pad and pen were sitting in front of hi up a speech

Mark was the best roo to do with doves I didn’t want to know any details, so I hadn’t asked All I kneas that they’d left their phones for so recorded against them As they had done that, Mark dropped another bo to do one No one trusted Logan to give the speech so that left one person: Mason This was the reason my boyfriend remained behind with me

Needing to leave to get lad Mason and I were the only two in the mansion at that ht noas trying to hold back fro into the chair beside him His hair was tousled and messy since he hadn’t cut it most of the summer It would be buzzed tomorrow for football season, so until then, I would enjoy running h it

A shadow had forular cheekbones, a strong jawline, and an athletic build, which was sculpted to perfection fro over the past summer, I knehy he was coveted by so many at Cain University

My fingers ached to smooth some of the worry lines from his eyes as I said, “No one”

His eyebroered “That didn’t sound like no one”

I shrugged and leaned close “Trust me No one important”

“Hrinned and met me for a kiss

With that gentle brush froh ether for three years now, and we had been through athe last year was co to an end, permanently After this weekend, all the cars would be packed, and Mason, Logan, and I would beto Cain University

Mason would be starting late with his practices, considering his probation time from Cain U After his last run-in with Sebastian, Sebastian’s crew got suspended, and so did Mason He was allowed to take all his finals online, and he didn’t lose his football scholarship, but I kneas antsy about returning to college

As our kiss deepened, he sighed, and I could feel the tension in him

Cupping the side of his face, I pulled back “Everything will be fine”

The concern was heavy in his eyes He lifted a hand to tuck soers on an…” The ends of his htened, and a flash of pain filled his eyes for a moment “I don’t knoill happen, Sam, if they touch you I don’t”

“It’s not going to come to that”

Park Sebastian was the ringleader for the now officially banned fraternity, and he was the real reason behind Mason’s feud with them Mason hadn’t wanted to play the fake who-are-you-related-to, hoealthy-are-you-going-to-be-in-the-future, or you-scratch-ames that Sebastian initially tried to recruit hihtly

I ran aze into his eyes He was scared I’d felt it during the surow ot to this weekend

I had no intention of being one of his weaknesses “Mason, you don’t have to worry about ht it No one will hurt an”

His hand rested on the back ofmy face He wanted to believe h toowould be okay, but I couldn’t be his Achilles’ heel

No, it wasn’t going to happen I wasn’t going to be used to hurt him

I shifted closer to him “I mean it, Mason I’m here I’m at your side I’ll do whatever you want”

“Sam—” he started

I saw the struggle in hiet to have your back this time And I will No one is after me—no scorned lover, no obsessed stalker, not even a hateful bitch like Cass No one like that will get close to me Been there, done that I kno to handle them”

I pulled hi deeply into his eyes He was torn, so I sain I ainst the into at school, and I’m here to help you That’s it That’s all”

He shook his head “You shouldn’t have to That’s what pissesafter you, but…he’s capable of anything”

“Stop”

Mason always kicked ass He’d stand in the line and dare people to go against him He wasn’t like this, unsure of the future This wasn’t a Mason I was used to, and that tugged at my heart even more

“I will make friends, if that will ease your e comrades, and when I come over to your house, I’ll an can come pick me up all the time How about that?”

He only said, “He can’t hurt you I don’t knohat I’ll do if he does”

“He won’t” I leaned close, pressing a kiss to him once more I whispered, “I promise”

“Yo!”

As a shout caan and Mark rushed in Their cheeks were red Beads of sere on their foreheads, and both had stupid grins on their faces

Logan said again, “Yo” He stopped, his eyes narrowed, and he cocked h

is head to the side “Did you two just beat it here?”

Mason’s hand fell froan, we’re not like rabbits, hu all the time”

“Why not?” Logan grabbed the orange juice froht it over to the table

As he set it down, Mark grabbed two glasses, and both sat down

Logan added, “I would You know, if I could…like we could’ve been—”

“Shut the fuck up” Mason glared

Logan winked at lass “Coht ere all fine as discussed You know, the idea of Sam and me, that there could’ve been—”