Page 35 of Under the Influence

Madden pulls up, and I slip into the car staring out the back window at a distraught Carson getting into his truck.

I turn back around in my seat, looking out the window. Lainey and Madden are entirely silent, and their tension basically radiates off the dash.

“Is something wrong?” I ask, both of them ignoring me.

Lainey huffs, sitting up straighter in defense, “Madden is confused how someone could actually like me.”

He sighs, “You know that isn’t what I meant. It’s just... I thought it was some sick way to get in Nash’s head.”

She throws her hands up, “One day, Nash Langdon won’t run every aspect of my life. I’m so sick of everything in my life being on his agenda!”

I sit back, listening to her, “Is someone going to tell me what’s going on?”

Madden remains silent, watching the road. Lainey smiles, turning toward me, “I met a guy at one of the Oak Valley parties Friday night!”

She wiggles her eyebrows, nearly squealing as she turns all the way around in the front seat, gushing to me in the back. “He’s literally so funny. I haven’t laughed that hard in so long! Not to mention, he’s gorgeous, like Zac Efron post High School Musical gorgeous!”

Madden rolls his eyes, and I can tell something is wrong with him. He forces the lever up, activating his turn signal. The air in the car shifts as Madden opens his mouth to speak, “I. Don’t. Trust. Him. Lainey.”

“I’m a big girl, Mad.”

“Why would Lainey’s love life mess with Nash?” I ask.

Lainey winces, “See, that’s the kicker. Drayton is Nash’s stepbrother.”

“Nash has a stepbrother?” I ask, unsure of what she means. I thought that Nash’s family was Legacy royalty by how he struts around like a prince. I definitely wasn’t expecting divorced parents.

“Yeah,” Madden adds. “He does, and Nash hates him.”

I don’t say anything, soaking in the knowledge.

“Nash will get over it,” Lainey huffs. “I’m sick of him.”

Madden turns the car into the school lot, parking a few spots down from Jovie, who is conveniently hanging all over Nash?

“Case in point,” Lainey points. “He hates her but will still take her to the closest closet for a quickie.”

I feel my stomach turn at the thought, “Why does he hate her?”

Lainey turns back to me again, “You don’t know?”

I look back at her confused, and a little nauseous, thinking about Nash sleeping with Jovie.

“Oh my God,” she turns to Madden. “Jovie is her cousin, and she walked in this place with no idea.”

I watch as Madden looks back at Lainey, both of them sharing looks.

“Well, are you assholes going to enlighten me or just stare at each other?”

Madden silently looks to Lainey for permission, and she shakes her head in approval. The confession slips quickly between his lips, “Jovie had proof of Nash’s mom having an affair, and she forced him to pretend to be her boyfriend to keep the video from getting out.”

I whisper an empty apology under my breath, but it’s not like he’s here to hear it, “Wow, that’s awful.”

“Oh, that’s not it.” He continues, “The affair that Kendra Langdon was having was with Lainey’s dad.”

Lainey’s eyes dim, the spitfire I’ve grown used to fading quickly, “Lainey, I’m... wow.” I find myself at a loss for words. “That’s terrible.”

She shakes her sadness from her expression, covering it with the one that helps her cope, “Jovie released the video. Nash’s dad left and has a new family. I can’t even look at my dad, but I hate my mom more for allowing it, for not leaving.”