Fate's Demand (Twisted Fate, Book 3)

Chapter Thirteen

"Are you guys okay?" I asked and broke free of Gabe's hand to rush to my parents' sides where they stood with Mike, Raffy, and Suzie.

I scanned the rest of the crowds that had grouped in clusters. Everyone was soaked, their clothes hanging. Before I could make a fool of myself over Gabe, Mike, and Raffy—it was like a surprise party you know about and anticipate anyway—I looked around and tried to ignore the other muscles on display, but visible through the thin fabric soaked through and sticking to every guys' chest. Suzie, in her graduation gown and cap, looked like a drowned rat, and I was surprised she wasn't running to find a mirror in order to fix the mascara streaking down her face.

The guests who hadn't left had piled into the main gym of Royal Academy. Everyone except for the janitor, who was following group after group with his trusty mop and bucket, was water-logged. Squishing shoes echoed over the conversations as the families who found their children hurried out the main doors to get home.

My mom looked forward and smiled, holding out her arms, and I let her tuck me into her side as she stroked my hair. "We're fine. We managed to get some very pretty pictures of Suzie receiving her diploma."

I stepped out of my mother's embrace and narrowed my eyes at Suzie. "Did you find your parents?"

Suzie looked away and Mike cleared his throat. "They had to go home."

I winced and tried to catch her gaze again, but she refused to look up.

"So, what now?" my dad asked, shaking the rain from his hair. He reached up and rubbed the newly-acquired beard sprouting along his jaw and looked around us in a circle.

"We should go," Raffy said and pinned me with his glare, his mouth pinched at the corners.

"Where?" my mom asked. Her gaze darted between us and then fell to Gabe on confusion. Add Mike to the mix, and now I had to explain three prom dates.

All her photographic evidence of today didn't look good for me. Three guys? If she decided to share, whoever I settled down with—if I managed to earn the chance by getting out of this mess—would assume I'm up for an open marriage. All but the pictures of me getting my diploma was getting the ax if I ever had the chance.

"The after party!" I smiled at Raffy and then looked at my mom. "Teigan's throwing an after party, but since the grad party outside is obviously canceled... I guess it's just the party now."

"What time will you be home?"

"Mom, don't worry, okay?" I rolled my eyes at my dad, hoping for help. "I'm eighteen, remember? That means I'm a big girl now. I promise, in a few days, when I get home, I won't be late."

"Alyssa!"

"Geez. Have a cow. I'm joking?"

"I'm sorry if the humor was lost on me," she said, appearing weary.

I bit my tongue and looked back to my dad, feeling bad that my joke may have been in poor taste considering everything she'd just been through. Why couldn't I just be grateful she was here and leave the sarcasm at home for a day? I was wasting time being a smart ass, and if she knew what happened, she'd expect a lot more respect—she'd earned it.

"Honey, why don't we go home now?" Stepping forward, my dad took her hand and smiled. "Alyssa deserves to have a little fun. I'm sure she'll promise to check in."

"Yes. Every hour, on the hour." I nodded. Realizing what I had said, I winced. "Well, maybe not every hour, but I'll make sure to keep you guys in the loop."

"See?" My father shot me a looked filled with annoyance and then masked the emotion as he refocused on my mother. "She's fine, and you need to rest."