“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I murmured, but stood and followed him to the car. It was after we had gone a few blocks that I asked, “Are we going to talk about it?”

As I asked that, I watched. His hand tightened around the steering wheel before he replied, “About what?”

“Mason.”

He never looked over. His gaze remained straight ahead. There was no outward reaction, but I felt the shift. He closed himself off from me.

“Logan has feelings for me.” I paused, holding my breath. “What she said was right, wasn’t it?”

His lips pressed together in a thin line.

My stomach dropped. It was. I closed my eyes. Holy shit. I couldn’t believe this was really happening. “We have to talk about it.”

“Why?”

“Why?” I couldn’t believe him. “Because your brother has feelings for me. That’s why.”

“It shouldn’t affect anything, unless you have feelings for him.” He looked now, his head moving in slow motion. When his gaze connected with mine, I felt punched in the gut. The anguish there was paralyzing. He thought I did. I saw it then.

I shook my head, but my voice was soft. “No. I don’t.”

“Are you sure?”

“I can’t come in between you guys. I can’t be like that other girl.”

“You’re not, Sam.” He softened his tone too. “Look, I don’t know if Logan really does have feelings or not. I have a suspicion that he does, but I don’t know. He’s never said a word to me. I don’t think he’s ever acted on it.” He waited, watching me.

My eyes got big. “No. Never. He’s never said a word or anything.”

“Then it shouldn’t be a problem. I’m more worried about when he finds out that Nate and I manipulated him.”

“Maybe he won’t figure it out.”

“He’ll figure it out.”

He sounded so sure. “How can you know that?”

“Because he knows me. I broke the code. We don’t do that to each other. He’ll be more mad about that then the other thing.”

“Oh.”

“Sam, you have nothing to worry about. He’ll be mad at Nate and me, not you.”

A lump formed in the back of my throat. “I was a part of it too.”

“He doesn’t know that or need to know that. Nate and I will cover for you.”

“Mason.” I stopped. This sounded so easy. Logan will be mad. Mason and Nate will apologize, cover everything up, and Logan will get over it. He wasn’t saying it in those words, but that was what he was thinking. My gut told me otherwise. There was a major hole in that theory. Logan. I shook my head. “I don’t think you can cover for me.” I didn’t think it would be the easy to fix.

Mason glanced at me. My head went down, but I felt his gaze on me as he wheeled the car into the club’s parking lot. “Well, we’re here. We can figure this out later.”

“Okay.”

As he parked and got out, I did the same. When I was about to lead the way into the door, he caught my hand and pulled me back. He pulled me in for a hug and bent low to murmur into my ear, “It’ll get better. I promise. Happy birthday.” He pressed a kiss to my lips. “I should’ve said that this morning. I’m sorry.”

I shivered. It was the same effect as always. When I got close to Mason, my body wanted him. Without thinking, I pressed into him and lifted my lips. He was right there and his lips brushed against mine, teasing them, “I am sorry. I love you, Sam.” His hand lifted to cup the side of my face, and I closed my eyes, leaning into his hold. I whispered back, “I love you too.” Then he dipped and his lips pressed fully against mine.

Home.

The feeling swirled inside of me. Mason was home, no matter the problems. As his lips opened and he took control of the kiss, I let him. Things would be fine. They had to. I couldn’t go without this.

As he pulled away, he held me close for a moment. Burying his head into the crook of my shoulder and neck, a shudder wracked through him. I held him close, wrapping my arms even tighter around him. He didn’t think it would be easy. I realized that then. He was scared.

So was I.

“Let’s go in. We can find Logan afterwards.”

“Okay.” He pulled away, lacing our fingers together, and we both turned for the door.

*

Going into the party was like walking through a minefield. There were bombs everywhere. I could see some, but most were hidden. When we entered, I was surprised at the amount of adults in the room. Then I realized they were the parents of the Elite. Seeing Cass and Peter in one corner, I followed his gaze. He stood with his hands in his pockets. Cass had a hold on his arm, but he was looking across the room at Miranda. I stopped when I saw her. She was smug, standing with Emily and Amelia. Mark and Adam were with them too. The five looked like a tight unit.

Adam saw me first. He snapped to his fullest height when his gaze collided with mine. He seemed bored, but that fled instantly. Anger flashed in his eyes. His eyebrows bunched together when he jerked his gaze to Mason before looking away.

The rest of the group saw us then too. Emily waved and saluted me with her drink. Mark frowned. Amelia glanced at Cass and then Miranda before turning away. The only one who wasn’t affected was Miranda. She lifted her chin, holding my gaze in a challenge.

Anger pooled in my stomach. It started flowing through me now. Bitch. She did this. I started for her without thinking. As I realized what I was doing, my foot tripped and I stumbled to the side. Mason caught me, readying me with a hand on my hip. He was right behind me and said in my ear, “Let’s go. It’s time, Sam.”