Misinterpreting Fate (Book 2)

3. Caught

Chapter 3: Caught

Sam

I was still half-asleep on the couch in the living room when I heard Dad talking softly in the other room. I wasn't paying too much attention to what he was saying until I heard my name.

"Sam's still sleeping," he was saying. "I guess we can when we get home later." He paused and I assumed he was probably on the phone with Poppa. "I don't know, Mika. He was acting weird when I brought up dating on Friday. I figured he wasn't thinking about it yet, but if... exactly."

I sat up, fully awake. They better not be talking about what I was thinking. Owen said our secret was safe. He wouldn't have lied to me. Unless something happened yesterday. I didn't talk to him at all yesterday. What if something happened? Why didn't he warn me?

I grabbed my phone off the coffee table and texted Owen: does my poppa know?

"Sammy, you're awake!" Nana said, walking into the room. "Let's get you some breakfast. What do you want?"

I shook my head, tossing my phone onto the couch next to me. "I'm not really hungry."

"Of course you are. Come on."

I sighed and followed her into the kitchen, which just so happened to be where Dad was, sitting at the table and still talking to Poppa.

"I got to go, Mika," Dad said when he saw us walk in. "I'll see you later. Love you." He hung up the phone and looked at me. "Good morning. Sleep okay?"

There was no hint of anger or disappointment in his voice, so maybe I was safe after all. I shrugged. "Yeah, I guess."

He chuckled. "You'll have your bed back tonight. I know that couch isn't the greatest."

As much as I wanted to go home, I didn't like the fact that I didn't know what I would walk into when we got there. I was still pretty certain that he and Poppa were talking about me and Owen.

"Sammy," Nana said, interrupting my thoughts. "What do you want to eat?"

I guess I should eat. "Maybe some eggs?"

She smiled, glad that I made a decision. "Coming right up."

"Thanks, Nana."

She got started on making my breakfast while I sat down. "So Allen," Nana said. "How's my granddaughter? I haven't seen her since the wedding."

Oh, the wedding. That day was one I'll always remember, and not necessarily because it was the day Amy got married. It had more to do with the fact that I managed to sneak out of the house that night. It was the night I gave my virginity to Owen. The best night of my life.

Dad chuckled. "Neither have I. But I've talked to her. The honeymoon sounded fabulous. She and Steve are now working on decorating the house they just bought together."

"Good for her." Nana placed a plate of cooked eggs in front of me. "When's your turn, Sammy? Any interests yet?"

I shook my head. "No." At least, none that I can admit.

"He's still too young, right Sam?"

I looked at Dad. On Friday he was asking the same question about me dating, but now he says I'm too young?

"Where's Grandpa?" I asked, changing the subject. As long as we weren't talking about my dating life, or lack thereof, I was fine.

"Out in the garden reading his newspaper," Nana answered. "I should make him some eggs too."

"You know what," Dad spoke up. "I'd love some too, while you're at it, Ma. If you don't mind."

"You can get your own damn eggs. I cook only for the old and the young, not the middle aged. That's what your husband's for."

I chuckled. Nana's always said stuff like that to Dad. "I'm glad I don't have a mom," I muttered.

"Maybe not," Dad said, having heard me. "But you've got two overprotective fathers. That might actually be worse."

The way he said it terrified me. He was right - they were overprotective. Why did I ever think going behind their backs to be with Owen was a good idea? I was going to get caught eventually. I should have known that before I got too invested.

After we all finished eating our breakfasts, Dad and I headed back home. We didn't talk all that much on the way home, other than him asking me what my plans were for the rest of the night, to which I told him I was going to hang out with Ryan and Jaime. Honestly though, I was probably going to try to see Owen if I could. He still hadn't answered my text from this morning and I was getting increasingly nervous the later it got.

Dad's car was in the driveway when we pulled in, which was weird. Normally he'd be at the restaurant by now, not here.

"What is Poppa doing here?" I asked.

Dad shrugged. "I don't know. Let's go find out."

We found him in the living room, sitting on the couch watching TV. As soon as Dad and I entered the room, Poppa turned off the TV and looked up at us. I think he said things, but all I could focus on was my sketchbook sitting in the center of the coffee table. The same sketchbook I had with me on Friday.

"Sam," Dad said, gaining my attention. "Sit for a minute. We should talk."

I shook my head, trying to come up with an excuse to get out of this.

"Samuel Carr-Simmons, sit your ass down right now," Poppa demanded.

I sat.

After a moment, Poppa picked up my sketchbook. "So, one of my employees brought this to me last night. He said he accidentally knocked it off the counter and it opened to a very inappropriate drawing of himself and you." He opened to the page I drew right after our first real time together - after Amy's wedding two months ago. It was very detailed.

"I didn't do that," I blurted.

"Don't lie to me." He started flipping through the pages, showing me each of the ones I did of Owen. "This isn't okay, Sam. He quit because he didn't feel comfortable knowing that you had this... this obsession with him. Now, I don't care if you're into boys, but this is unacceptable, Sam. You took this crush just a little too far."

I felt like my heart just shattered into a million pieces. "No! That's not true! I'm in love with him and he's in love with me! We've been together for the past year! Why would he lie? He loves me!"

I couldn't stop the tears from falling. I sat there, sobbing, unable to control myself.

Dad handed me the box of tissues and I took one, not making eye contact with him. He's known since this morning - I was right. Why couldn't he have at least warned me this was coming? Or said something sooner? Not that either of those would have made the truth any easier to hear.

Owen ratted me out and lied about our relationship. He was supposed to be the one I'd spend the rest of my life with. He ripped my future away from me and I didn't know how I was going to recover.