She can’t move. The expression of betrayal on Mason’s face destroys her. What did Reg do this time? After Cade’s and Logan’s lockers were vandalized and Principal McNeil had everyone sign the school’s Hate Speech and Anti-Bullying Policy, Reg promised he was done.

Mason watches Kerrianne carefully and reads the guilt on her face, tearing him apart. He doesn’t know what to do about this. He stalks to the door, then stalks back, coming around to Kerrianne’s side. He crouches in front of her. His voice is low and angry. “Why? Just tell me why you would do that?”

She lifts her palms in a plea, begging him to calm down, as she glances toward Principal McNeil’s office.

“You’re that jealous of Logan?”

“No! I’ll explain. I promise! But not here, okay?”

Mason has no patience for this. “Here and now or we’re done.”

“Everything all right, dear?” Miss Wather shuts the office door and steps over to the counter. Kerrianne nods, tries to smile, pretty certain she looks like a demonic clown. She motions toward the hallway. “Could I—would it be okay if we—I need to speak with Mason.”

Miss Wather transforms from protective granny to a ferocious mother bear. She wags her finger at Mason. Mason would be amused if he wasn’t so pissed. “Whatever’s going on that has you all revved up, dial it down ten notches or you can go have a seat right over there.” She points to the chair next to Principal McNeil’s office. “Understood?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Hands on hips, she doesn’t let him off the hook so quickly, and Mason admires her scrutiny. She nods. “One moment, please.” She grabs her pen and the pad of late passes, rips off two, and writes Mason’s name on one and Kerrianne’s on the other. “You have a half hour.”

Kerrianne reaches out for her pass, but Miss Wather jerks it away, narrows her eyes like a cat set to jump on its prey. “Before you head into class, I expect you’ll stop in for a piece of chocolate fudge. I ordered them online and I’ll need to know if I should buy them again. That’s nonnegotiable.” She looks at Mason. “That goes for both of you.”

Mason nods. Message received.

* * *

Mason drives out of the school parking lot with no destination in mind. He can’t look at Kerrianne, and he refuses to be the first one to speak. He wants an explanation, and no amount of sniffling will soften his now stone-cold heart.