“What he said,” Braden growled.
When I dared to open my eyes, my heart in my throat, it was to find Sam’s face was ashen as he stared at Braden and Adam as though they were Viking marauders come to cut off his head.
“What is all this?” Mum’s voice sent a rush of relief through me. “Get away from the door.” Adam and Braden were jerked backwards, followed by Clark, until my mum, Elodie Nichols, was left standing alone. Tall and willowy, my mum was still gorgeous, and right now she was an angel.
“Thank you,” I breathed gratefully.
She took one look at my expression and threw a dirty look over her shoulder at the retreating men. It appeased me somewhat to know that when I left on my date with Sam, the three of them would get a verbal tongue-lashing that would make their threats to Sam seem like child’s play.
When she turned back she held a hand out to my date. “Elodie Nichols, it’s lovely to meet you, Sam.”
“You too, Mrs. Nichols,” Sam replied quietly, clearly not recovered.
“Well, I’ll let you two get on.” Her eyes glistened as she tucked my hair behind my ear and leaned in to press a kiss to my cheek. “Have a great time, darling. Be back before eleven.”
“Thanks Mum.”
“You’ve got your phone?”
I nodded and quickly stepped out onto the front stoop, gently pressing Sam toward the street. He didn’t say a word as we walked away, heading for the bus stop.
“Just ignore them,” I finally advised. “They’re just messing with you.”
He gave me a weak smile and then checked his watch. “Film’s starting soon. We better hurry.”
***
I slammed the door shut behind me, trying to mentally decimate the angry tears that were determined to spring to my eyes.
“Is that you, darling?” Mum called from the living room.
Miserable and needing a mum-hug, I moped down the hall and entered the room only to draw to a surprised halt.
It was ten-thirty and Braden and Adam were still here.
Mum and Clark were in their armchairs, Braden and Adam on the couch, and all four of them were no longer looking at the television but at me.
I took one look at them and knew why they were here and angry tears began to fill my eyes.
“How did your date go?” Mum asked, her question faltering as she took in my expression.
“Awful,” I bit out and returned my glare to Braden and Adam. “He’s not asking me out again because of these two idiots.”
“Good,” Braden responded flatly. “You’re too young to be dating.”
Mum sighed. “She’s not too young.”
“She’s too young,” Adam agreed. “And look at what she’s wearing.”
“There’s nothing wrong with what she’s wearing. She’s got tights on.”
“She’s fifteen,” Braden argued. “She’s got plenty of time to go on dates. She should concentrate on school.”
“Oh you sound like an old fart, Braden.”
“I can’t believe your attitude, Elodie,” Adam sighed. “I thought you’d be more careful about this stuff.”
“Careful,” Mum spluttered. “It was a date.”
As they squabbled on, my anger had time to grow and seethe, and the humiliation to fester.
The nicest, cutest, coolest guy at our school had asked me out on a date and my brother and his best friend had ruined it for me. “I liked him,” I suddenly informed them, quietly but with an edge that halted their conversation. They all looked at me and a tear slipped down my cheek as I said, “I really liked him. You both ruined it and you don’t even care.” Chest aching with the pressure of my hurt, I whirled and raced for the stairs, ignoring Braden calling my name.
“I’ll get her,” Adam told him which made my legs move faster up the stairs. I banged my bedroom door shut behind me and threw myself on my bed, hiding my face in my pillow as I cried into it.
I heard the knock over the sound of my muffled sniffling and lifted my head just enough to growl, “Go away.”
I tucked my head back into the pillow and waited.
Since I knew how tenacious Adam was it didn’t surprise me when he ignored my command. I heard my door open and the creaks of the floor as he walked over to the bed. The bed dipped on my right side and I heard Adam sigh.
“I’m sorry,” he apologized, his voice deep with sincerity. “Sweetheart, I’m sorry.”
I didn’t say anything, my throat burning even deeper when it occurred to me this was the first time Adam had ever hurt me.
“Els.”
I turned my face on the pillow so I could see him. I ignored the worried look on his young, gorgeous face and told him stonily, “Just go away, Adam.”
He ran a hand through his hair, turning more fully toward me. “Look, I feel like shit, Els. I didn’t mean to ruin your night. Neither did Braden.”
“Oh I’m sure when you threatened sensory deprivation you had no intention of ruining my chances with Sam.”