Page 62 of Undertow

I have to collect myself before I get back in the car.

My gaze flickers to the windshield. I can’t see her from here, but I’m sure my mom is watching even now.

I force myself to chill out, pushing Landon out of my mind because he doesn’t matter right now. I don’t know how I’ll deal with living with him, but I’m determined not to let him ruin any part of this, including our first dinner as a family.

I open the back door and slide inside.

The door is barely closed before Mom turns around in her seat, looking back at me anxiously. “No luck?”

I shake my head as I pull the seat belt across my lap. “No, not this time.”

“Well, we’ll have fun just the three of us,” Hayden says, checking the rearview mirror.

Probably more.

I hate that Landon was right, but if I had convinced him to come, he probably would have made the whole night suck.

Turning back around, Mom asks, “Was he at least nice?”

“He was Landon,” I say dryly. “But give it time. I’m sure he’ll come around.”

It doesn’t feel like the truth, and it doesn’t feel like she believes me, but she lets it go for now. I look out the window at the big, lonely mansion as Hayden backs out of the driveway.

I can’t imagine ever thinking of this place as home.

I can’t imagine feeling safe here with Landon under the same roof.

I also don’t want his dad to make him leave. Maybe he’d deserve it, but it doesn’t feel right.

I don’t know how any of us will get what we want out of this.

Mom’s smile steals my attention. I watch Hayden grab her hand and bring it to his lips to kiss it. They look so in love, and then he says, “I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.”

My heart contracts.

I know my mom better than he does, and I know that even if she wants that more than anything in the world, if she knew how Landon just acted toward me in the house, there’s no way it would ever happen.

No way itwillever happen.

She’d never ask me to live here if she knew how much it would cost me, but I can’t let her give up her happily ever after just because Landon’s a jerk.

He might not care if they’re happy, but I do.

Unfortunately, he knows that now.

I just told him.

Shit.

Sighing softly so Mom doesn’t hear, I lean my head back against the seat.

I may not know how we’ll all manage to live together, but I know one thing for sure.

Senior year is going to suck.

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