They are interrupted by a knock at the door.
I’m trying to break apart my sisters when my mom answers it.
“You must be the new boyfriend,” Mom is saying to someone in the foyer.
“You’re not going to ruin my moment,” Lauren shrieks. “Baby, get in here and show them the video you have on your laptop.”
“Slander!” Amy hollers and shoves Lauren.
My sisters start fighting. Isabella is live streaming while Gran calls out boxing tips.
I’m standing there when I see Jaxon in the doorway of my parents’ living room. The glass slips out of my hand to crash on the floor.
I’m too shocked to even scream.
My stalker flashes me that reptilian smile. “Isn’t this just a party.”
42
SALINGER
My younger brothers file into my destroyed office.
“What the hell happened? It looks like the Hulk crash-landed in here.” Hawthorne rights the overturned chair.
“Shit, dude.” Faulkner tests out the phone, trying to get it to work again.
“I’m fucked.” I sit down heavily on the couch.
My brothers are sympathetic.
“I heard about the port contract, big bro.”
“Better luck next time.”
“I don’t care about the port contract,” I admit. “Mandy…” What? Broke up with me? Dumped me? Hates me? “Left.”
“Left? Where is she?” Hawthorne sounds alarmed.
“You said that guy’s still after her, right?” McCarthy’s voice is urgent.
“Yeah.” I gaze out the window into the storm. “I never should have let Mandy go. She’s upset—she’s going to do something stupid or dangerous.”
“She could already be in danger,” Faulkner adds.
My head drops in my hands. “I need her back. I can’t survive if anything happens to her.”
“Holy shit, dude, you slept with her.” Whitman’s mouth drops open.
“Slept with her?” Crawford steps into the room. “Look at his face. He’s in love with her.”
“Who the fuck invited him?” McCarthy demands.
“Here to gloat?” I spit at Crawford.
“What the hell did you do?” Crawford’s eyes go immediately to the tie on the floor then to the lipstick on my collar. “You motherfucker.”
“It wasn’t my fault.”
