I woke when Tray got up and padded into the bathroom. When I heard the shower turn on, I rolled over and checked my phone. Four calls from Mandy. And…holy shit…one from home. That meant Austin. And that meant—fuck—something was wrong.

Calling Mandy, I braced myself, hearing her answer in a panicked voice, “Oh my God. Where have you been? Where’d you go last night?”

“I’m at Tray’s,” I said, waiting for the bomb to drop.

“Well get your ass home. Mom and Dad are showing up in an hour.”

“Oh…fuck.”

Mandy hung up.

Just then the shower cut off, and a moment later, Tray strolled into the room, a towel around his lean hips.

“What?” he asked, stopping in mid-reach for some pants.

“My parents are heading home.” I groaned, falling back on the bed.

“Alright.” He grabbed the rest of his clothes and dressed in front of me.

Glancing at me, he asked, “You going to get ready? We gotta get over to Carter’s to pick up your car.”

I’d forgotten about my car. I was still reeling, thinking of all the illegal acts I’ve been committing since my adoptive parents had been out of town. If they knew—holy shit—they’d either give me back or never let me leave the house again.

Tray sat beside me and nudged me with his leg. “Hey, you okay?”

Numbly, I said, “I broke into the police headquarters yesterday.”

“What?” Tray choked, turning to me, one hand bracing himself up on the bed.

I started to ramble, “I broke in and I destroyed evidence. I broke into their high school and stole their controller for all their security. My ex-boyfriend put my best friend in the hospital. I’ve got another best friend who’s pretending to be friends with a guy like Gentley, so he can make it through high school. God, he’s just faking it. Everyone thinks he’s this happy, carefree, likeable guy who’s just interested in a piece of ass—and he is—but that’s not all he is, and no one over there knows. Except me and Geezer. And Geezer’s got a punctured lung and three broken ribs. From my ex-boyfriend who I thought I loved and would always love. Me and Bri. That’s how it was supposed to be and now…” I took a deep breath, biting my lip, the tears just there, teasing my eyes. “Oh fuck. Let’s go.”

“Wait.” Tray turned and neatly trapped me on the bed, between his arms as he peered down at me.

I fell back against the bed, watching him above me.

“What?” I asked. He was just staring at me.

“I don’t know,” he said lamely. “You broke into a cop shop?”

“Yeah.”

“Holy hell, Taryn. I can’t believe you.” He shifted and fell beside me, he rubbed one hand over his face. “Wow.”

“Yeah,” I said dryly. “Sorry I laid all that on you like that.”

“No. It’s…wow. I’m just…I just slept with a chick that broke into a police station.”

I let a laugh escape. Couldn’t help it. But when it’s put like that—yeah, it was funny. And I slept with a guy who had tarred a high school’s gymnasium and tilled their football field. All to get revenge because they had their game book stolen. At least he wasn’t in the drug trade.

Wait.

“How frequent is your steroid business?” I asked.

“Uh…” he mused. “It’s not really something I talk about.”

“I just told you I broke into the police station. You can humor me,” I said shortly.

“It’s…it maintains itself, mostly.”

“Jace warned me about you.”

Tray didn’t say anything, but I could feel his body stiffen.

“He said you were the lesser of two evils.”

“Between him and me?”

“You and Brian.”

“Fuck, Taryn, we’re just messing around. It’s not like we’re in some relationship,” he cursed, shoving off the bed.

I stood up, uncaring that I was naked. “Hey,” I stopped him, grabbing one of his arms, and swinging him back to me, “that’s not even where I’m going with this.”

He took in the fierceness in my eyes and then slowly slid down my body, a faint grin coming to his mouth. Those lips—I tore my lustful thoughts away. “I’m just saying, we both have some shit on each other. That’s all it has to go—nowhere else. Alright?”

Slipping one arm around me and pulling me against him, he murmured, “I seem to remember a few of your threats to Gentley.”

“You’re not immune,” I shot back, melting into him as one of his hands came to my neck, already tipping my head back as his mouth descended, slowly to mine. “You leak anything I just spilled—we’re at war.”

He kissed me and murmured against my lips, “I don’t really want to piss off a girl who can break into a police station.”

When you put it like that, I could see his point.

I deepened the kiss and then pushed him away. “I should probably be at the house when my parents show up.” Bending over, I grabbed my clothes and quickly dressed.

Tray ran a hand through his hair. “You want to shower?”

“We don’t have time.”

He chuckled. “I’ll stay out. Just thought you might want to be all fresh and clean when you see the parents.”

“I’ll open my windows in the car,” I said dryly, snagging my purse and already heading out the door. “Come on.”

As Tray drove, I called Pedlam Hospital.

“Charles Josephson’s room, please.”

The phone rang twice before I heard a female’s voice answer, “Geezer’s room.”

“I’m a friend of his. Can I talk to him?”

“Sure.” The phone was transferred and I heard Geezer croak, “What’s up?”

“Hey, Geeze,” I said softly.

“Tartar!”

“You hangin’ in there?”

“Oh yeah. Yeah, yeah. I’m not high, so it’s total suck-age, but other than that, hospitals are awesome for picking up chicks.”

“You getting frisky with your nurses?”

“Some of ‘em. Some of ‘em.” I could hear the laughter in his voice, but I heard him hiss in pain the next second.

“How long you going to be in the hospital?”

“Oh. Not sure. They want to keep me for observation, something about my lung.”

“My parents showed up today so I gotta go play ‘nice daughter,’ but then I’m all yours, okay.”

“Good. Good. I’ll see you then, Tartar.”

I hung up and relaxed in my seat, hearing Tray on his own phone.

“Hey,” he spoke monosyllabic. From the other end, I could hear someone talking. “Yeah. Meet me at the diner in about twenty.”

Seeing Carter’s house come into view, I was amazed again. The place was just not meant for one person should live in. Seriously. A movie star would buy a place like that.

“Carter’s parents live in Europe. A lot of it’s just guilt,” Tray murmured. He must’ve read my thoughts.

“And yours?”

“My parents live in South America.” He flashed a grin, pulling beside my parked car. Mine wasn’t the only one there. There were at least a good dozen cars, scattered up and down the road.

Must’ve been one hell of a party.

I unclipped my seat belt and opened the door.

“Hey,” Tray called out.

Pausing in the door, I looked back at him and waited for him quietly. .

“Call me tonight. If you want to, I don’t know, come over and watch a movie or something.” He rolled his eyes.

“Thought we were just messing around.”

“Precisely.” Tray grinned, one might classify that grin as wicked, but not me. That was just him. There was a little bit danger mixed in with him. It was there. I’d gotten glimpses of it, just little flashes though—but I saw it again. And it made me wonder, as I closed the door and climbed into my car, when I’d see the full face of what was just simmering underneath his façade.

But I didn’t dwell on it too much. As soon I pulled up outside my home, I breathed a quick sigh of relief—the parents weren’t home yet. Hurrying, I swept inside and up to my room where I grabbed my robe before heading into the bathroom. I could hear Mandy in her room, probably on the phone because she was talking to someone, and Austin was probably hibernating in his room—anywhere to keep away from us.

After showering and changing clothes, I wandered down into the kitchen, now more relaxed. Austin was poking around in the fridge, his lanky form wearing basketball shorts and a Rawley jersey.

“Hey, kid,” I spoke up, reaching around him and grabbing a yogurt.

He raked his eyes over my form. “Showering doesn’t hide your recent lay.”

“Excuse me?” I muttered, startled. The kid was in eighth grade.

“Mom and Dad are going to know.”

“Hey,” I shot my leg out and blocked his exit from the kitchen, “what the hell’s your problem?”

“Nothing. I’m just telling you—you look like you got laid last night and showering isn’t going to hide it.”

I tipped my head to the side, eyes speculative, “You get laid last night?”

He snorted, “I’m fourteen. Mom and Dad would skin me alive.”

Whatever. I asked instead, “So what’s her name?”

Austin shoved my leg off the counter and walked out of the room with a plate of pizza. A second later I heard the TV blaring.

I shook my head. The fourteen year old had an attitude. Looked like we were a match made in heaven. I’d need to pay more attention to him.

“When did you leave last night?” Mandy asked, coming down the stairs.

“When you and Carter decided to start a make-out session at the table.”

“Everyone saw you and Tray leave together. Seriously. It was so sweet—Jasmine and Devon showed up with Grant at the party. Jaz still has it for Tray and I guess they showed up just when you guys were taking off. I seriously loved it! It’s the perfect revenge.” she chatted happily, grabbing a Pop-Tart.

“Except it has nothing to do with you, Jasmine, or Devon,” I remarked, jumping on top the counter, swinging my legs, watching Mandy rush back and forth in the kitchen. “What are you doing?”

“Trying to make some food for when Mom and Dad get home. They should be here any minute.” She expelled a deep breath.

Huh. I’m fine with what I had to eat.

“So you and Carter,” I mused.

She shrugged and, if possible started to busy herself even more. She remarked, “I don’t know. We just…I guess so.”

“You were all for it before. Carter specifically asked me to come to his party, remember? And he stayed the night.”

“Nothing happened.”

“Something did. You progressed,” I pointed out.

“Yeah…”

I narrowed my eyes, studying her. Something had happened. Something…oh shit. I announced, “You talked to Devon last night.”

Mandy jumped, spilling the milk.

“You did. And you’re thinking of taking him back,” I pressed on, my eyes wide in shock.

“I did not. I mean…maybe…I don’t know.”

“When’d you talk to him? After your make-out session with Carter and before the two of you had sex?”

“We didn’t…well…shut up about it, alright?” she snapped.

My sister. All blonde. Cheerleader. On student council. And flustered right now. I loved her.

“Mandy. It’s fine if you did. You guys were together for like, four years.”

“What?” She whirled to me. “Oh. You mean me and Devon.”

“So that’s it.” Understanding was now dawning. “You had sex with Carter last night and now you’re feeling guilty about it because of Devon.”

“Shut up,” she hissed.

“It’s not like you have to call Devon, begging for forgiveness—”Catching that her hands froze at my words, I swore, “Holy crap, you did, didn’t you? Mandy!”

“What?” she exclaimed, and I saw the despair in her eyes. “It’s not like…I still love him, you know? Me and Dev. We were together for four years. Four years, Taryn. I can’t just…wash that out of my system.”

I cringed at every word; it was like a dagger stabbing me with each word. I could relate. Trust me. I gritted my teeth and slammed a steel wall on the emotions that were boiling inside me.

Tuning back in, Mandy was still talking, I heard her say, “And Carter…he’s…I used to have such a crush on him, but he was dating Sabrina Lyles…and what Devon did.”

“Devon cheated on you,” I said flatly. “For an entire year. He fucked around behind your back, with your best friend. He’s not a guy you want with you.”

Mandy went pale at my words and I didn’t care.

I pressed harshly, “He’ll do it again because he’s weak, Mandy. You need a guy that’s going to put you first and not let some little tramp seduce him—over and over and over again. He went behind your back for over a fucking year. And I bet it wasn’t Jasmine doing the seducing, I’d bet you a million bucks Devon was the one doing most of the calling.”

“Shut the fuck up!” Austin cried out behind me. He’d heard every word and had probably been listening the entire time. “Just because you stayed with some loser, doesn’t mean Mandy’s like you.”

“No, she’s not. But she’s about to make the same mistake I did.” Brian hadn’t continued to cheat on me, but those two times—they’d been enough to rip my heart out.

I’d had enough of this conversation. Hopping off the counter, I said, “I’m going to visit a friend in the hospital. Tell your parents I’ll be home tonight.”

Mandy and Austin both froze, registering my words, before I swept out the door.

It wasn’t until I was in my car that I cursed, realizing what I’d just said, Tell your parents I’ll be home tonight.

*

I hated hospitals. I’d always hated hospitals. I’d been coming to them my entire life. It always seemed someone was in an accident, someone had tried to kill themselves, or now—someone had been beaten close to death. I know Geezer wasn’t dying, but he could have. I watched Brian put a few people in the hospital over the years, and they’d stayed a lot longer than just for observation. One of them had been in a coma for a few days.

Brian had spent that time in jail, followed by a short stint in prison.

And I stayed with him. I had been terrified, yes, but…he was all I had. He’d been there, through thick and thin with me. But now—some of that love was starting to give way to my right, my fury.

The son of a bitch had twisted so much from me over the years. He’d convinced me that only he cared and I believed him. I still do in some way.

I don’t care what Grayley said. I knew, deep down, it had to be me who’d put Brian in his place. Only I could. I just had to figure a way around my promise to him—somehow.

But not today. Today was for Geezer.

I absent-mindedly wiped away a tear as it slipped down my cheek as I parked and walked down the parking ramp, towards the hospital.

Checking in at the front desk, I pinned my visitor’s pass to my shirt and took the stairs.

Again. I’d been here many times and knew my way around.

I could hear voices in the room as I slowed down, approaching it.

The door was open so I knocked with the back of my hand, pausing in the doorway.

Geezer’s face lit up in a smile—or it would’ve—if the bruises had allowed it.

God.

“Tartar!” he said, his voice still weak.

“Hey.” I forced a smile, moving to his side. Bending down, I kissed his cheek. “The other guy better be in the morgue,” I teased.

Geezer looked at me gratefully.

Noticing who was in the room, I blinked, seeing a lot of our old crew. Kerri, I frowned, seeing her own bruises. Liza, her waif-life figure swamped in a Cowboys sweater. Grayley was there, he’d hopped up on the windowsill, making room for me. I sent him a small smile. He winked back at me in understanding. And, to my surprise, I saw Trent Gardner, tipping back in his chair, one hand on Geezer’s bedrail.

“Hey,” I said, sweeping my eyes over them all.

Kerri greeted warmly, “About time you got here.”

And that was it—I’d been welcomed back.

“Hey, chick,” Trent drawled, “about fucking time you showed your face around these parts.”

I grinned, sitting in Grayley’s vacated seat. “Shut up,” I retorted back playfully.

Trent rolled his eyes and launched back into his story, apparently about a party last night where he’d tapped some form of ass. Hearing a familiar name, I interrupted, “What party were you at last night?”

Trent looked at Grayley. “What party, dude?”

“Same party as you, Taryn. That one guy’s. No idea what his name is,” Grayley informed me.

“Who’d you tap?” I asked Trent.

“I dunno. I think her name was…fuck, I don’t know.”

“Sasha.” Grayley helped out. “Looked like a Hooters girl.”

I groaned, “You fucked Sasha Klinnleys? From my new school?”

“What of her?” Trent asked. Of course Trent would ask that. He didn’t give a shit that I knew her or wasn’t happy that he’d screwed her. No. This was Trent. He was unmoving, laidback in the face of death, antagonistically cool—Trent.

I didn’t know how to describe Trent. He’d always been around in our circle, but he could be placed in a lot of other groups. He and Liza had been an item for a little bit, but that’d ended when she slept with Brian. Trent was probably the only guy in Pedlam who could tell Crispin Gentley to fuck off and then just walk away—unharmed. I didn’t know how Trent did it, but he did. Every damn time. He was just…nonplussed. Down to the bone. He’d hang out with the popular kids one week. The potheads the next. The Goths the following weeks. And even the preppies liked him.

But he’d taken a liking to Geezer. I’d forgotten that. Since he was here with Geezer, that meant he’d taken a stand against Brian. Guess Brian had violated some code or something otherwise Trent would’ve shown up at the house or something. Or just asked Grayley how the Geeze was doing, if he was still limping and smoking. Something like that. Not be in the hospital. With his ex and all of Geezer’s friends.

“Nothing. I don’t like her.” I rolled my eyes.

Liza laughed. “Like I’m surprised that you wouldn’t like someone.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’re not the easiest person to get along with,” she said shrugging.

“Leave Taryn alone,” Kerri spoke up. “She’s got a lot of stuff going on—like her new family. How is your new family going?”

“It’s alright. Got a cool sister and brother. I just realized today that my new fourteen year old brother has an attitude like mine.”

“Sounds perfect. You dealing with a mini version of you.” Kerri sighed.

I looked at Geezer and saw he was just watching all of us. I could tell he was happy from the sparkle in his eyes. It was nice seeing a sober Geezer looking back at me. Too bad I knew he wouldn’t say that way for long. He’d be back smoking as soon as he got in the car of whoever picked him up.

Grayley must’ve recognized my look because he coughed and spoke up, “Geeze’s sleepy. Let’s head out.”

“No…” Geezer argued weakly. “Stay.”

“Nope,” Grayley said firmly. “Let’s head out. We’ll be back in a while so you can get some sleep.”

No one said a word when they saw I stayed in place. That’s probably why Grayley made the comment, so I could talk to Geezer alone. As soon as the door was pulled shut behind them, I grabbed Geezer’s hand and whispered, “I am so, so sorry.”

Geezer shook his head quickly. “No,” he choked out hoarsely.

“I promised Grayley I wouldn’t do anything to Brian, but…he can’t get away with this.”

“He won’t,” Geezer murmured. “Grayley’s freezing him out. He and Trent.”

“What do you mean?”

“No one. No one will talk to him.” Geezer coughed.

“Oh God. I’m sorry. I’ll talk to Grayley. Don’t worry about it.” I smiled softly, brushing his hair behind his ears. “You rest and heal, okay.”

Geezer squeezed my hand tightly. I saw the tears at his eyes and bent to kiss his forehead again. Resting my cheek against his forehead, I whispered, “Just get better. Heal.”

Geezer knew I wasn’t talking about just physical healing. I meant it in every other way possible. I was tired of seeing my best friend high 24/7. I was tired of not having him around me anymore. He needed to grow up with me, not stay the same age.

I curled up in the lounger beside his chair and closed my eyes. Pulling my knees against my chest, I wrapped my arms around them and promptly fell asleep, Geezer snoring right beside me.

*

Grayley woke me up an hour later. The nurse needed to do her checks and they needed privacy for Geezer. Whispering goodbye to Geezer, I pressed a kiss to his forehead again and moved out the door.

Grayley was waiting for me in the hallway.

“Hey.”

“Hey.” He gave me a half-grin back, leaning against the wall, his hands stuffed in his pockets.

“He’s…um…”

Grayley shrugged.

I left it alone. I didn’t have the energy right now anyway.

“I took off before my parents got home. They’re probably pissed at me.” I sighed.

Grayley nodded.

“Gardner, huh,” I murmured, finding myself staying in place instead. The door wasn’t coming to me.

He nodded again.

“Geezer said you guys are freezing Brian out.”

Grayley shrugged.

“Could you talk, maybe?” I shot out, starting to get irritated.

“I told you. Leave it alone.” Was all he said.

“You’re pissing me off.”

“I can handle it,” he said smoothly.

“Fucker.”

“Bitch.”

I rolled my eyes, chuckling.

“Go. Pacify your parents. We’ll be here.” He nudged me with his shoulder.

“Okay. Okay. I’m going.” I started walking backwards. “But I’ll call for a report later in the week.”

“You can stop by for a report,” Grayley pointed out. “But I’ll give you one anyway.”

“Alright. Tell him…”

“He knows,” Grayley finished, turning and leaning one shoulder against the wall, just watching me walk backwards.

When I found the door behind me, I hit the button, asking for it to be unlocked. When it buzzed, I pushed through and it closed. I saw through the window that Grayley turned back and entered the room as the nurse left.

I hit the elevator button and waited.

And found myself staring in shock when the doors slid open, revealing Brian’s startled eyes.

“Taryn!” he cried out, slapping the elevator door shut as he moved to follow me.

I blinked, realizing I had instinctually taken a step backwards.

“No,” I said, and shoved him away. “Fuck no!”

“Taryn,” he said again.

I slapped him, uncaring where we were or if I set him off. I slapped him again. “You put my best friend in the hospital, you asshole!”

“Taryn,” he pleaded, trying to gram my arm.

I slapped him a third time. “You hit Kerri.”

“Come on…” He was starting to get pissed, but I didn’t care. Hell, I wanted him mad. I wanted to see that side of him. I wanted to remember it so I could have that picture in my mind when I hated him for the rest of my life.

I hit the elevator again and shoved him inside.

When the door shut, I hit the emergency button, halting the elevator and full-out punched him. The funny thing is that I decked him using the moves he’d taught me. I grabbed his head and brought my knee up.

Now. Fighting is wrong. Assault is wrong and I could get arrested for this, but I rarely stopped to think about the consequences before I did something illegal. Right now, all I cared about was hurting Brian as much as he’d hurt me and those I loved.

So I whirled and kicked him again. My heel neatly clipping him in the face.

Asshole.

“Stop, Taryn,” Brian hissed, grabbing my arms.

I wrenched my arms up and wrapped them around his. As his eyes widened at my hold, I brought my knees up, hard. In the groin.

Brian toppled to the ground.

I released the emergency hatch.

“You fucking stay away from my friends. You stay out of my life.”

Brian groaned, “Bitch.”

I knelt beside him and tapped him on the forehead. “You bet and this bitch can get you hauled off to prison if you keep pushing me. You touch my friends—I’ll send what I got to the cops. And trust me, if I have to, I’ll go searching. Whatever I need to get you in prison.”

Feeling the elevator come to a halt, I brought out my taser and grinned in satisfaction as it crackled against his chest.

Then I pocketed it and stepped out from the elevator, leaving Brian on the ground in the fetal position.

I’m a cold bitch and Brian knew it.

I heard gasps from behind me as I walked through the circling doors, feeling the sunlight hit me as I stepped out onto the sidewalk.

As I strolled up the parking ramp’s stairs, I called home and heard Shelley answer.

“Hi, Shelley. It’s Taryn.”

“Taryn!” she gasped. “Where are you? Mandy said a friend of yours is in the hospital.”

“Yeah. One of my friends from Pedlam. He’s got a punctured lung and a few broken ribs.”

“Oh my gosh, Taryn. Well, you stay as long as you need to,” she rushed out.

“Um…thanks, Shelley. I might sleep over at a friend’s tonight.””

“That is totally okay with your father and myself. I think Mandy will be relieved. She was talking about a party with some of her friends anyway. We’ll just have a nice quiet dinner tonight.”

“Okay,” I said, lamely.

“Alright. I’ll tell your father what’s going on and we’ll see you tomorrow then.”

“Okay,” I repeated, hearing the dial tone as I sat, dumbly, in my car. The keys still held in my hand.

I put the keys in the ignition and started my car, turning down the ramp.

An hour later, I pulled up to Tray’s house and walked around to his pool-house.

What the hell was I doing here?

But I kept walking.

I heard music and laughter coming from the main house so I steered that way. Opening the back door, I followed the noise, finding myself going down to the basement and—whoa—saw the largest media room in my life.

The screen looked like it belonged in a movie theater.

Grant, Bryce, Carter, and Tray were lounging on the couch, beer bottles opened in front of them, the Spurs game on the screen.

Grant saw me first. “Hey, Taryn.”

Everyone else looked over at me.

“Hi,” I said awkwardly, feeling out of place.

Tray stood up and approached me. “Hey.”

“Sorry,” I said softly. “I…don’t know why I’m here, really.”

He frowned, studying me and then grabbed my hand and pulled me upstairs. Leading me into the kitchen, he opened the fridge. “Want something to drink?”

“I’m sorry. I...I shouldn’t be here.” I moved to leave, but Tray was there, pressing me against the counter.

“Hey,” he said quietly, tipping my head back to meet his eyes, “you want a pop?”

“Uh…” I faltered, feeling my cellphone buzzing, I pulled it out and saw Grayley’s name flash on the screen. When I didn’t answer it, Tray’s eyes shot to my face, seeing the hesitation. I don’t know what else he saw because he steered me to a stool and took my phone out of my hands. Watching me, he pocketed my phone and then grabbed a Diet Coke from the fridge and poured it into a glass.

Grabbing my hand, he led me downstairs. He let go when we reached the media room and wandered over to the couch. I followed uncertainly and curled up on the couch beside him, a little space between the guys and me. Tray put my Diet Coke on the table in front of me and grinned, grabbing his beer as Bryce cursed at the screen.

I watched the game with the guys.

Devon showed up an hour after I did and he paused, only for a few seconds when he saw me, then sat on the other couch after helping himself to some mysterious supply of beer bottles in another room.

The guys didn’t talk about girls. It was kind of nice. When I hung out with Geezer, Grayley, and whoever else chose to show up, they always talked about girls. They treated me as one of the guys half the time. Notice how I said half the time.

These guys watched the game, drank, and laughed about who got into what fight at Carter’s party.

It was a nice…break.

I didn’t partake in the conversation. For one, I didn’t watch the Spurs enough to have any form of opinion. And two, I was content to curl up quietly beside Tray. When Tray didn’t press me, the rest followed suit. Listening to their conversation, I could hear how Tray was the leader. Of course, I’d always known that. But…there was this steel respect each of them had for him.

Sometimes Tray didn’t even speak up in the conversation, but the other guys were constantly asking what he thought about so and so. What he’d do, etc. If someone ventured onto a conversation Tray didn’t want covered, he’d look over and the topic would instantly be dropped.

It was nice. Brian would’ve growled, cursed, threatened and finally the topic would’ve been changed. Hell, sometimes he would’ve just hauled off and thrown the person into the wall or off their chair.

Tray respected the guys back.

Another hour later I finally realized what I was hearing. It wasn’t just respect. But loyalty.

These guys were loyal to each other. To Tray, first and foremost.

Brian hadn’t been stable enough to even demand loyalty. Well, he’d demanded it, but he’d forced it. It hadn’t been given out of free will.

Tray did that. He got loyalty because it was freely given away. He was loyal back.

Brian was anything, but loyal.

I must’ve dozed off or stopped listening because I blinked, startled when Tray spoke up, “It’s Mandy, Taryn.”

Looking up, I saw Tray regarding me, waiting for my decision. The rest of the guys were watching too, with questions in their eyes as they saw Tray holding my phone.

“Uh—”

I saw Carter and Devon glance at each other, but neither spoke.

Then again, apparently it was the rule for these guys. No talk about girls—too much drama. I don’t know if that was really the case, but I could see it being the reason.

I shook my head and stood up, wandering upstairs and into the pool-house. I curled up in Tray’s bed and closed my eyes, falling asleep within seconds.

I woke up sometime later when I felt Tray slip in beside me and wrap his arms around me, pulling me against his chest.

I didn’t say anything, but he knew I was awake. I felt his hand rub against my stomach, slowly, and I closed my eyes, feeling the warmth spread at his touch. Falling to my back, I felt his hand wander down, slipping underneath my pants and inside my underwear.

Feeling his hand down there, I gasped when his lips found my neck.

Arching into his hand, I reached for him and met his lips.

As he brought me to the edge, I groaned against his mouth, feeling his tongue sweep inside and then I spilled over, gasping.

Tray laughed softly against my mouth when he rolled me underneath him, both of us still fully clothed.

I wrapped my legs around his waist and let my head fall against the pillow. Tray laid there, his mouth now moving to my neck, one hand resting underneath my shirt entwined under my arm, by my shoulder. The other resting on one of my legs, caressing it lazily.

Tray let his full weight rest on me, which I liked and swept a hand down his back, and we stayed like that, neither pushing to go any further.

After a little while, Tray lifted his head and moved to the side, half his body resting on top of mine.

He murmured, “I get a distinct impression that you’re hiding out here.”

“Your distinct impression would be correct.”

He chuckled softly. “Because I actually came in to tell you that Mandy’s here.”

“What?” I cried out, sitting up.

“Relax. The door’s locked.”

“I don’t want to talk to her. Not yet. She thinks I’m staying at a friend’s in Pedlam tonight.”

“You told her that?”

“No. I told our mother that.”

Tray chuckled, sitting up. “Mandy’s not one to narc.”

“Is it awkward in there?” I couldn’t help asking, biting my lip as I met his sardonic gaze.

“Between her, Dev, and Carter?” He chuckled again. “It’s a roll in the fucking hay.”

“Fuck.” I sighed, as Tray got up from the bed and moved into the bathroom. A moment later, he came back out and murmured, “Come on. Otherwise Mandy’s gonna come in here and I don’t want Mandy in my bedroom.”

I laughed, couldn’t help it. But I let him grab my hand and hoist me out of the bed. The guy was strong, holy hell.

When Tray cut down into the basement, I grabbed a Diet Coke out of his fridge before reluctantly wandering down the stairs.

I gritted my teeth, prepared for whatever Mandy was going to throw my way when I entered the room.

But all she said was, sitting on the farthest corner from Devon’s couch, “Your friend Grayley’s called the house, like three times.”

“I figured he would,” I remarked, sitting on a lounger and placing the Diet Coke on the stand beside it.

“You’re avoiding his calls?” she asked in surprise. “Way you guys acted last night, it was as if he was your brother or something.”

I sighed. “Leave it alone, Mandy.”

“Why?” she asked sharply. God. She was pissed and probably not because of me, but she’d chosen me as her whipping lamb.

“Because some shit’s going on that you have no idea about and I don’t want to deal with it right now,” I snapped, running a hand over my face.

“Like what?” she asked, pouting.

Anything I would’ve shot back at her was interrupted when Jasmine and Amber called out, from the top of the stairs, “Hey, hey. We’re coming down.”

I sat back, unable to suppress a grimace as their giggling got louder.

“Oh!” They blinked in surprise, seeing that everyone was already there. “Hey, guys,” Amber murmured, sitting down hesitantly, between Mandy and Devon. Jasmine wavered, not saying anything, as she looked around for a place to sit. She finally chose the floor, in front of Grant.

And they hadn’t been alone. I suppressed another grimace when Sasha popped her head out from the doorway, a Coke in hand.

Sasha called out, sickeningly sweet, “Hey ya’ll.” She perched on the corner of the couch by Bryce’s arm.

Carter let out a laugh, the sound breaking the frozen silence that had taken hold of the room.

I glanced at Tray and saw him watching the game, my phone was beside him and flashing. I must’ve had a dozen calls by now.

“Tray, I didn’t see you at Carter’s last night,” Amber spoke up nervously.

“I was there,” Tray murmured lazily.

“He left early,” Mandy said flatly.

Carter laughed again.

“So,” Grant spoke up, “Sasha, I heard you and Travers broke up last night.”

“Hmm mmm.” She giggled, taking a sip of her Coke.

“Ask Sasha who she hooked up with last night.” Amber giggled, as if it were hysterical.

No one asked, but Sasha piped in, “This guy from Pedlam who’s freaking hot!”

“Who?” Devon asked, probably just to be polite. And probably grateful the attention wasn’t on him.

“Uh…Trent…Standley?”

“Trent Gardner,” I supplied.

Sasha looked over at me in surprise. “How do you know? Were you even there?”

“He’s a friend of mine,” I said coolly.

“Oh!” She smiled, flashing a Cheshire smile. “I need to make a point of getting to know him. Again.”

“Good luck,” I said dryly. “At least you knew his first name. Can’t say the same for him.”

That wiped the grin off her face. “You’re such a bitch.”

This was a distraction I could handle.

I grinned back and it seemed everyone else braced themselves for what I would say next. “At least I can count the number of guys I’ve been with on one hand—with a couple of fingers left over. Can you?”

Mandy groaned, burying her head in her hands.

I swore I heard the rest of the group take a deep breath.

“Are you calling me a slut?” Sasha demanded sharply.

“You gotta expect it when you swing shit my way,” I merely retorted, curling my feet underneath me, getting more comfortable.

Sasha rolled her eyes and—surprisingly—stayed quiet.

Carter swore, “Fucking hell. He could’ve made that shot.” Referring to the game.

“Fuck that,” Bryce added, taking a drink of his beer.

Just then the buzzer rang, Spurs losing by four points. Tray switched the channel to some music videos.

No one knew what to say, so the guys complained about the game some more.

Jasmine stood up and went into a room. A second later, she returned with a beer in hand and perched on the arm of the couch by Devon, where she started talking to Sasha. Amber stood up and circled to stand by them. Mandy was watching Carter, glancing to Devon every now and then.

Looking over, I saw Tray gazing at my phone.

He looked up at me and held it out to me, “The guy’s called you like seventeen times.”

I sighed and took the phone, standing up and moved up the stairs.

I dialed Grayley’s number and heard him exclaim, “About fucking time, Taryn!”

“Sorry. I just—didn’t want to deal with anything—Brian related.”

“You did a good job on him.”

“So you know.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“What do you want? I’m not sorry. Is that what you want? Brian put Geezer in the hospital.”

“Is it helping?” Grayley asked, quietly.

“Is what helping?” I didn’t want to play mind games with him. He always thought he knew me better than I knew myself. “Stop it, Grayley.”

“Is it helping you? Remembering all the shit-poor stuff he does so that you can get over him?”

“What?” I choked out in disbelief. I couldn’t believe he was playing this card. “Are you kidding me?”

“No, Taryn, I’m not. If you want to hate Brian, you can hate him. Just don’t use Geezer as your excuse, because he doesn’t deserve to be used like that. And if you think he doesn’t know what you’re doing, you’re pretty dumb.”

I wanted to scream. Grayley was fucking right (somewhat), but…fuck him. I wasn’t going to admit it.

“I’m not using Geezer as an excuse. Trust me. I’m hating Brian all on my own. And what I did to him…that was all me. Yeah—Geezer was a reason, but he wasn’t the only reason. And I’m not using him.” I repeated.

“Whatever you keep telling yourself,” he said smoothly.

“Why are you on my ass about this?” I asked, irritated.

“Because Geezer’s now blaming himself for the entire break-up between you and Brian. And it’s not right. He thinks it’s all his fault.”

“Geezer went to Brian about his dad.”

“And who sent him there? You. Through Jace.”

“Grayley—what are you on? Are you pissed that you weren’t the one to take Brian down? I don’t get you.”

“No. I’m pissed because you didn’t think about what you were doing. You’re not the one who’s going to pay. We are. We always are. The fight’s got nothing to do with you, you need to stay out of it. The fight’s between us and Brian. We have to deal with it.”

“Is that why Trent was there today? You and he are going to take Brian down?”

“Somewhat. Trent’s there because he wants to be there. He likes Geezer. Look,” I could hear how tired he was, “just stay away from Brian from now on, okay? Let us handle him.”

“Fine,” I muttered, glowering to an empty room.

“Taryn.”

“I said fine.”

“Yeah and you said that before, but look what you just did.”

“I was pissed and he was there. I couldn’t pass it up.”

“You tasered him, in an elevator,” Grayley pointed out wryly.

I grinned, a chuckle escaping my lips. “Oh. You should’ve seen him.”

“I did,” he remarked. “He was taken to the E.R.”

“Oh.” I blinked, I didn’t think I’d done that much damage. “Why?”

“Because you beat the shit out of him,” Grayley said, exasperated.

“Oh. Uh—”

“He wouldn’t file charges so the cops aren’t coming after you. But still…you’re fucking lucky, Taryn. Brian said it was in self-defense. He said that he grabbed you first and he wouldn’t tell them your name.”

Fuck that. I was not going to be grateful to Brian. Not for anything.

“I’ll stay out of it,” I said through gritted teeth. Grayley had gotten what he wanted. That annoying little shit.

“Good. Get rid of that taser.”

“Jace gave it to me.”

“Exactly,” he pointed out, hanging up on me.

I rolled my eyes and put my phone in my pocket.

Mandy spoke up, from behind me, “What did you do this time?!”

Again—fuck.