“And there’s still Tanner.” Eli watches Caden carefully. “He’s part of this and we can’t forget that. We don’t know if he’ll try anything this week or help Zach.”
“Mike Cook has been monitoring him.” Jack stretches. His shirt rises to show his abs. He catches me looking and smirks, but I don’t mind. I focus on the issue.
“He’s been good lately during art class for the most part.” I shrug. “He doesn’t try anything now that Caden is part of our group.”
“We can’t forget he was there at the house.” Eli leans forward again and his face is concerned.
“He hasn’t been there since, but that doesn’t mean he’s not involved.” Luke squeezes my hand.
I draw in a breath. “I’m game to do whatever is necessary to take them all down.”
“Hopefully, whatever my father has planned waits.” Luke meets everyone’s eyes. “This week we need to focus on what our peers are working on. The quicker we get this dealt with, the sooner we can focus on getting out from under our fathers.”
“Who do we think the person is on the computer?” I’m curious if anyone else believes it might be my dad.
Jack tips my chin his way. “Whoever it is, they wouldn’t answer any personal questions. Not even a gender. They’ve unlocked a few things, but we’re not into the main computer system yet. I don’t know if we should give them access to the hard drive. There’s too much at stake if that gets wiped.”
I nod. “That makes sense. Are we going to be able to get into the hard drive?”
Jack smiles. “Have faith, sweetheart. I haven’t found the system that can resist me once I set my sights on it.”
He kisses me softly before drawing away. “We work with the mystery person until we can get in without them. It’s someone your mother or father trusted with your pickup word at a time when they could have gotten you as a child. They never made a move to abduct you or hurt you, so we trust them until they prove us otherwise. We wouldn’t have gotten this far without them.”
“But if they’re just trying to destroy my father’s work?” Too many friends have turned out to be foes lately. I’m not sure what to think of Penny with Sidney. I know it’s part of the plan, but it hurt a little to think we might actually be friends and to watch her betray me like that.
“From what I can tell, your father wrote this script.” Jack runs his finger down my arm soothingly. “It’s elegant. He really was good at what he did.”
Did. I haven’t come to grips with the fact my father not only wasn’t a lousy husband and father and ran from his responsibilities, but he may have died trying to protect us. It changes how I felt about him my whole life. But it’s also too new to process. Not with everything else going on.
“What do we do this week?” I look at them. “I never really did anything outside of the Homecoming game when you guys were occupied.”
Caden smiles. “There’s the themed days at school, which we ignore. The bonfire. The carnival. A few pics and the parade. But for all those things, the whole court will be together.”
“And if not, I’ll be close by, in case he tries something.” Jack squeezes me into his side. “The game and the announcement of the court, you’ll be on the field with us. And then the dance.”
I smile, thinking about the dress Kenz gave me for the dance. “How are we going to work out the logistics? With everyone’s parents?”
Luke leans forward. “If they all already know we’re all dating you, I don’t think we should hide that fact.”
“My dad doesn’t seem to know.” Jack raises a hand. “Nico’s mother might not know either.”
“I’m not sure my mom knows.” Eli shakes his head. “But it’s likely she does. If we’re going to keep this going through college, it’s probably best just to get it over with. Tell them and let the pieces fall.”
“I don’t think your parents are going to be happy about me.” I glance at Eli, Jack, and Caden.
“They aren’t the ones in our relationship.” Caden walks over to me and kneels at my feet. “What they want for us has never been an option, little nympho. I don’t give a fuck what they think. You’re ours and that’s the end of it. They don’t get a say in this. They don’t get a say in us.”
I cup his jaw and try to ease the anxiety racing through my system. The guys are set on this, but I’m not sure what their parents will see when I show up with all five of them. What they’ll think of me being with five guys.
Maybe I’m overthinking this. Maybe everything will be fine.
Caden’s green eyes sparkle up at me. I want to sink into them and let him protect me from everything. I don’t want to hide what I feel for all of them. And that’s what I’d have to do if we don’t tell their parents we’re together.
“Okay.”
Caden leans forward and kisses me. “It’s going to be great.”
I smile, but I’m not sure how we’re going to make it through Homecoming.
