If only it felt good to be home. That’s the last thing I feel as we pull up the long driveway, my headache starting to pound. I almost debate telling Chase to turn around and take me back to the airport, but I don’t. Not when I see my father standing outside the front door with a smile pasted on his face.

“Looks fucking happy to me,” Chase mutters.

He does, but we all know what is to come. I don’t think he ever truly loved our mother, but he tried. I’ll give him that. This woman, however, I think he might. She could very well ruin him. I won’t stand for that. I’ll do everything in my power to make sure that doesn’t happen.

3

Molly

“Hey, Molly,” someone calls in a hushed whisper.

I glance up from my computer to see West headed toward me. Stupidly, I look behind me like there might be another Molly around here. I didn’t know West even knew my name, let alone why he’s saying hey to me. He runs in the same circle as Emily. He was on the football team, if I recall. We had one class together last semester. Never once did we say one word to each other.

I’ve seen firsthand how girls fall all over him. A lot of them he doesn’t give the time of day to. He can be a bit of a jerk about it to some of them. I don’t understand the appeal. Sure, he’s good-looking, but what they see beyond that is a mystery to me.

“Yeah?” He comes to stand beside the table I’ve taken over in the library. I always come here for lunch. The cafeteria is intimidating here. I peeked in one time and thought, Nope.

“You’re hard to track down.”

“I am?” Why is he tracking me down? He’s never uttered a word to me and now he’s going out of his way to find me. Something doesn’t add up here.

“Yeah.” He chuckles. “Did Emily tell you about the party this Friday night? My parents are out of town, so this might be our end of the year blow-out.” There are still a few more weeks of school left.

“She didn’t mention it.” I think Emily would know I wouldn’t want to go. I’m really not the party type.

“Well, you’re invited if you want to come.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a piece of paper, dropping it down on my laptop. “I put my number on there too.” He winks before strolling back away. What the hell just happened?