“Oh.”

He threw an arm over my shoulder as we headed inside, past the pool. “So, my possible future stepsister, what’ll it be tonight? Movies? Pool? I could kick your ass at pool, I bet. What do you have in mind?”

Adam followed behind. “There’s a basketball game on.”

Mark snickered. “As long as we don’t call anyone else over. Last night didn’t end well.”

“You could say that again.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

They stayed the whole night. It was early in the morning when we heard footsteps above us. Then Adam glanced at his clock. A big yawn spread over his face. “Dude, it’s almost time for school.”

Mark grunted. His eyes drooped.

“Thanks for staying up with me.”

Mark grunted again, “No problem.”

Adam stretched. “Should we drive together?”

“I’ve got basketball.”

He glanced at me. “Sam?”

I shrugged. “Sure. Can we get coffee first?”

“Forget that.” Mark rubbed at his eyes. “I want five energy drinks. Nothing less is going to get me through school and practice.”

A small grin appeared over Adam’s face. “And I’m glad, yet again, that hockey doesn’t start till next week.”

“Shut up.” Mark smacked him in the back of the head.

“Samantha?”

I stopped when I heard my dad’s voice from above. “Dad?”

“Coach?”

David came down the stairs with lines underneath his eyes and a droop to his shoulders. He was dressed in a buttoned-down shirt and khaki dress pants. He wore a red blazer over them. “Your mother told me how to get inside. They’re staying at a hotel next to the police station. Everything is taking longer.”

“Why?” I felt a kick to my gut again.

“Apparently there are conflicting testimonies.”

“Well, yeah. The Roussou guys against Mason and Logan, right?” Adam moved closer to me.

David’s eyes lingered on him before he looked to me. “No, the conflicting testimonies are between the Roussou young men.”

“Really?”

Mark grunted and nodded. “Cool.”

“So.” David’s eyes narrowed again. “Mark, what are you doing here?”

“We heard mom on the phone with you. We took off when we heard Sam was alone.”

“Oh.” He seemed taken aback. “That was very kind of you.” But a question lingered in David’s depths as he looked from both of them to me.

I sighed and hugged myself. “Dad, are they okay?”

He snapped back to reality. “Oh yes. James feels they will be released with no charges. It sounds as if it were self-defense.”

“It was self-defense.”

“Yes, well, there was an incident with a baseball bat and a YouTube clip. That brought in different questioning from the detectives.” He looked around. “Did you all sleep here last night?”

“We didn’t sleep, Coach.” Mark beamed and yawned at the same time. “We stayed up all night. Pool. Movies. Video games. Whatever it took to distract Samantha.” He clamped a hand on my shoulder. “We’re good friends like that.”

Adam snorted. “Stop sucking up to Coach. You’re going to start next year anyway. I’m gone, remember?”

His hand fell away from my shoulder. “Oh yeah. I keep forgetting you graduate this year.” He grunted again. “That’ll be weird.”

David cleared his throat as he continued to scan all three of us. “Well, okay. Let’s get going. I’ll give you all a ride to school today.”

“What about practice, Coach?”

“Your mother will pick you up. Quinn, you need a ride home after school?”

“Nah, Coach. I’m working at the club now.”

Surprise flared in my dad’s eyes. He nodded in approval. “Oh, yeah? What are you doing there?”

“Bartending.”

The approval vanished. “Oh.”

Adam grinned. “Don’t worry, Coach. I’m not a big drinker. It’s not going to be a problem for me.”

The approval came back. He nodded again. “That’s good to hear, Adam. I’m proud of you.”

Adam’s chest puffed up. He beamed how Mark had moments ago. “Thanks, Coach.”

Then David shifted to me. “Are you ready for school, Samantha?”

“Uh.” I looked down. I was still in sweats and a sweatshirt. I hadn’t taken them off since Mason left. “I guess.” Both guys snorted behind me. I twisted around. “What?”

They sobered up right away. “Nothing.”

Adam smiled. “You look fine.”

Mark chuckled. “Just don’t let the girls see you. They’re going to rip you apart.”

My back stiffened. “Since when have I cared before?”

“True. Very true.” Then Mark threw an arm around my shoulder. “We’re ready to go, Coach!”

The drive to school brought old memories. David had always driven me to school when he was married to Analise. I would take the car home and return when he was done with practices or meetings. Analise had never cared where we were. She was gone on a normal evening. I thought she was with friends at the time, but now I knew better. But the bond between David and me had strengthened because of her absence, and now, I swallowed back a painful knot.

I took a back seat on purpose. Adam took the front seat and Mark was beside me, but he leaned forward to join with their conversation. I slunk down in my seat and wrapped my arms over my chest. I hugged my school bag to me and tried to keep the tears from coming out. My lip was trembling, but I took a deep breath. It needed to stop. I needed to stop.

My old routine was gone. David didn’t take me to school anymore. I didn’t pick him up afterwards. There was no Analise at home either.

I needed to let it go. I needed to run. It’d been too long.

I reached for my phone and checked again. There was no message, but I needed one from Mason. Then I took another breath. I was being selfish. I should’ve been there with them, not going to school.

“We’re here, Sam!” Mark shouted in my ear. Then he drew back and gave me a sheepish look. “Sorry. I got excited. I get hyper when I don’t sleep.”