Page 19 of Stand

Cat had risen to her feet, but Kane had reached Megan first, almost carrying her off the stage. Some of her friends were crying for her, which Sam had always appreciated. Sam, Cat, and Thea had to sit through the rest of the ceremony so as not to disturb the other parents, but it made Sam even sadder, which made her angrier, and after her own graduation the next day, she’d gone over to Dan Kowalczyk’s house and not come back for two days. She’d refused to allow her siblings to go to her own graduation.

The silence on the phone must have spooked Alyssa. Sam heard defeat in her voice as she added, “You know, not a big deal, but…”

What else could she say? It was twenty years ago. “What time?”

“Six thirty. But if you’re flying out then…”

“I’ll change my plans.”

“Really?”

It was worth it to hear the joy and relief in Alyssa’s voice. So Sam had to spend another couple of hours at a school stuffed to the brim with memories. Who cared when this adorable kid with purple hair wantedherto be there? “I’d be honored,” she said sincerely. “Thank you for inviting me.”

“Yes!” Alyssa yelped and followed it up with a “Wheee!” that pierced the eardrums.

There was more noise, the squeal thankfully abated, and then Ty’s voice was back on the line. “You don’t have to,” he said.

The contrast between Alyssa’s light voice and his low tones warmed Sam’s cheeks and made her think of those gold flecks in his eyes.

Hey. Back to the conversation.“I want to,” she insisted. They’d be in a crowd, right? She wouldn’t have to talk to him a whole lot. Or even look at him.

Or maybe looking at him would be a nice way to distract her from all the rest of it.

“Great,” he said. But he didn’t sound particularly enthusiastic. “We’ll pick you up at six. I—” He paused. “I’ll pay for whatever the flight change costs.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. She’s a good kid.” She didn’t need to tell him that she’d driven here.

“Yeah. She is.”

“So. If she wants me there, I’ll be there.”

“Sam…”

“Uh-huh?” She liked the way he said her name. Way too much. Her throat went dry.

A silence billowed around them.

“Nothing,” he said at last. “Thanks again. Again.”

Sam laughed at that. “You’re welcome again, again.”

Chapter 6

“Hell of a first date,” Megan said.

“It’snota date,” Sam reminded her. “I’m there for his kid and that’s it. Now shut up and dress me.”

She had to give Megan credit. The dress she’d found in Cat’s closet was appropriate without being motherly, and the shoes weren’t so high they made Sam teeter. The turquoise made her tan glow and went well with the silver jewelry she’d bought in the pueblo. Megan twisted her hair up behind her head; Sam kept putting her hands up to lift the nonexistent mass off her neck, but she had to admit she looked more sophisticated this way.

The doorbell rang at exactly six o’clock. Megan gave her a thumbs-up from the kitchen doorway. She stuck her tongue out at her sister. Meg was way too happy, and it wasn’t because Sam was helping out Alyssa.

Sam answered the door to find Alyssa there instead of Ty. “Wow,” Sam said. “You look fantastic!”

“Thanks!” Alyssa was bouncing up and down in fancy silver shoes that contrasted beautifully with her purple one-shouldered dress. She had a small silver clutch in one hand and her hair was straight around her face. She would have looked perfect except for…

Alyssa’s sweetheart face was marred by muddy brown stripes across her cheekbones and on either side of her forehead.

“Can I—?” Sam didn’t know how to say it without insulting her. But a rapid mental scan of the inhabitants of Alyssa’s house—all male, all clueless—made up her mind for her. “Can I make a teeny suggestion?”

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