I sucked in my breath.

Her mouth opened.

The question was coming.

And then Mark groaned behind us, “Mom, what are you doing here?”

Malinda turned with a warm tone in her laugh. She threw her arms out and engulfed him. She pulled his head down to her shoulder and patted the back of it twice before she released him. Then she reached up and straightened some of his hair. As she moved to his shirt, she laughed in another carefree note. “You know me, Mark. I have to treasure these moments with you.”

His eyes became alarmed. “Mom?”

She linked her elbows with his and beamed at the group. “I’m having lunch with my son and his friends. Isn’t that darling? Sam, you’re attending as well?”

“Uh…” My limbs were still frozen.

Then Malinda snapped to attention. Her eyes shifted over my shoulders. “And Garrett, you as well? That would be glorious. I could call David and we could have a mini-family luncheon? That sounds delicious, doesn’t it?” She patted Mark on the cheek. “What do you think, honey?”

He reddened in the face. “Mom. You’re embarrassing me.”

Then she withdrew her arm and her laughter raised a notch. “I’m just kidding. You know I’d never embarrass you like that.” Her sharp eyes swept to Adam. “I’m here to meet your mother, Adam. I told you that this morning, didn’t I?”

He had frozen as well and choked out, “Uh…no…”

Malinda winked at him and leaned forward to whisper behind her hand, “She wants to talk about you returning home. Don’t worry, honey. I have your back. Always.” Then she leaned forward and smacked a kiss to his cheek before she did the same to Mark. Both had their mouths open, but Mark groaned and hurried away.

Malinda laughed as she watched his retreating back. “He acts all aghast of me, but that boy is his mother’s pride and joy. We’re a good unit, the two of us.” Her eyes lingered on Carmine for a moment. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

And Mrs. Carmella shook her head. She jerked herself out of her surprise. “Uh, yes, of course, Malinda. We should have lunch sometime.”

“Tomorrow. At eleven.”

“Oh.” She blinked a few times.

Malinda’s voice could’ve melted sugar. “Unless you’re busy….again.”

“No, no.” Mrs. Carmella forced out a smile. “I’m not, never for you. Tomorrow at eleven it is.”

“I’ll see you here then!” Malinda whisked from the group but not before kissing my cheek and patting my hand. “It’s a pleasure to see you again, Samantha. I’ve missed you this week.”

When she had left, the group was silent for a moment. Then Mrs. Carmella forced out an awkward laugh. Her smile was tense as she scanned the group. “That was Malinda Decraw, Bella. She’s one of the founding families for this club.”

The woman pulled her hand from Garrett, who had yet to meet my gaze, and nodded. She folded her hands together in front of her and spoke in a timid voice, “So I should be very nice to her?”

Carmine’s laugh had a harsh, high-pitch to it. “You could say that. Now, if you all will excuse me. Adam, I’ll be in to welcome your friends to the club, though I think all of their families are members.”

He nodded. “Always good to be gracious.”

“Yes, of course, dear.” She looked away, distracted. “Excuse me again.”

When she left, Adam wasn’t far behind. He gave me a curious look before he disappeared in a back room and I was left alone with Garrett and Bella. I took a deep breath.

Then Garrett gutted out, “All we need is James and Analise to make an appearance. I should assume they’re guests as well?”

I looked down. I hadn’t expected the hostility that spewed from him. “Uh, yeah. I don’t think they come, though.”

“Of course.” A bitter laugh ripped from him. “This place is probably beneath them.”

“I…”

But it didn’t matter. He strode away and out the door. His shoulders were stiff and his jaw was clenched. Then Bella held a hand to me. She gave me a soft smile. “You’re his daughter, aren’t you?”

I looked at it. For some reason, the moment was surreal to me.

She drew it back to her side. “I’m his wife.”

My eyes lifted and caught hers. “I know.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Lunch was awkward. That was the best word to describe it. The food was good. The service was attentive, but when Adam’s boss came around to give the gracious welcome, she gave me a wide berth. It was a different experience, compared to what I’ve received since Logan announced I was his stepsister. On one hand I enjoyed her avoidance, but I was also unsettled by it. She looked at me with fear in her eyes. What had I done to receive that? And then I stopped wondering. It was out of my control.

Adam noticed the chilly reception from Mrs. Carmella and gave me small smile. Maybe it was his way of saying he was sorry the job wouldn’t work out. I sighed when I left. I didn’t want to work there, anyway. I had my back up person to ask. Logan.

After school, I texted him if we could talk, but he replied that he had a mandatory team meeting. I never heard back from him the rest of the night and I hadn’t heard from Mason since the morning. He always sent me a good morning text, and even the usual ones he’d send in the afternoon were absent. My stomach’s knots started twisting again. It didn’t sit well with me, especially on the days when we wouldn’t see each other. He usually sent me more on those days than on one when we knew we’d see each other later. Since I hadn’t heard anything different from Mason, I figured it was another night where we’d go our separate ways. However, after not hearing back from Logan, especially after a message where I asked to talk to him, I made up my mind.