Page 38 of Stand

“You want me to call you Cathy for the rest of your life?”

“That’s not my—” Cat shut her mouth fast. “You’re dodging the point.”

This was always how their conversations went, and Sam couldn’t help but respond in the same childish way. “Which is?”

“That you—” Cat pulled her into their father’s study, now Antonio’s, and closed the door. “That you’rekissingthat man when he’s got all this shit going on around him! What were you thinking?”

“I wasn’t!” she burst out before she could stop herself. Cat opened her mouth. “Wait!” Sam said. “I don’t need a lecture from you on me mindlessly falling on men’s penises my whole life.”

Cat’s mouth stayed open and her eyes widened in horror. “I wouldnever—!”

“Good. Because I haven’t, and I don’t. I don’t care what Thea’s told you. Or the rumor mill.” She was mad now. Just the plain old sisterly mad that she settled into so easily. “I don’t need advice on my love life from you, who found the right guy right out of the gate and has never had to worry about him for a single second.”

“Sam.”

No. Sam liked the sympathy in her sister’s voice even less than her Mother Cat tone. “Don’t analyze me. I’m fine. I—” Why was her throat threatening to close? She knew herself. Knew what she wanted and what she didn’t. “I made a mistake.”We did.“I have no intention of getting to know Ty any more than I already do. I’m going home this afternoon and that will be that. Satisfied?”

Cat folded her arms and appraised her. “All right. Just—wait.” Her hands fell to her sides. The change in demeanor was so funny, Sam smiled. “This afternoon? That soon?”

“I was supposed to leave yesterday!”

“Yeah, but…”

“Cat, you can’t have it both ways. Either you want me out of here or you don’t.”

Cat’s eyes went black, and she leaned back against the heavy oak desk. “You think that’s what I want?”

Sam folded her arms this time. Saying the words hurt, but they were also whatshewanted. To be rid of her siblings’ moods and requirements and obligations. To be on the road, free. Single.

Weren’t they?

When she didn’t answer, Cat said, “You’re one of us, Sam. No matter how hard you fight against it. I wish you didn’t think we’re so terrible you keep running away. We love you, you know.”

Ugh. She’d played the love card. Love didn’t mean you were good around each other. “I love you, too, you idiot. But I’m not good for this family and you know it. I’m better off back where I belong. Which is why you don’t have to worry about me and Ty Cavanaugh.”

Cat shook her head. “You don’t get it at all.” She stood and brushed past Sam on her way to the door. “I’ll never stop worrying about you.”

Chapter 10

Ty stood in the hallway outside Matt’s room. He’d heard Jake go in earlier and needed a minute to compose himself before he saw them. His life was officially out of control.

“Hey,” he said. Matt was sitting up in bed, watching Jake, who was messing with a computer at his desk—Thea’s desk, maybe, way in the past. The memories of the Fieldings pressed into the walls here. Like everything else today, Ty couldn’t believe he was here.

“Hey,” Jake said cheerfully. Matt grunted.

“Take these,” Ty said, handing his son the water and a couple of pills. “How’s the pain?”

Matt grunted again. His face looked more swollen than before—after Julia had hit him, the chairs had done the rest of the work—but there was a light to his eyes Ty was pleased to see. Thank God for Jake and the twins, acting as normal as they could and keeping Matt entertained.

Ty sat on the end of the bed, and Matt moved his feet so Ty could lean against the wall with his feet stretched in front of him. For a few seconds, Ty just sat there. He had to get a handle on this, had to make decisions. Had to protect his family.

“Ah,” Jake said. “Got it.” He backed away from the screen, and Ty recognized the pixelated scenes from an early version of Warcraft.

“Warcraft!” he exclaimed. “I used to play this.”

“You wanna play?” Jake handed him a controller. “It’s a version for PS5.”

Before Ty could protest, Jake handed another controller to Matt.

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