A Whole New Crowd (A Whole New Crowd #1)(10)

Tray didn’t move to draw me against his side as we walked up. I was grateful, but at the same time, I was mad at myself—a part of me had hoped he would. I couldn’t stop thinking about his hand on my back, and even now, a small tingle went through me at the idea of him touching me. We walked side by side, not looking at each other, but our arms brushed against each other’s. Every part of my body was awake and anticipating the next touch or graze. He was pulling me in, just by being beside me.
By the time we neared the door, everyone had already gone inside. There were others drinking and lounging on the patio. I glanced around, recognizing a few of them from Pedlam.
“Holy shit!”
I glanced over and went cold. Veronica Teedz teetered on her high heels, beer sloshing over her cup. Her eyes were transfixed on my face as she drew closer. “Taryn? I can’t believe it’s you. It is you or am I that drunk?”
Veronica Teedz had never acknowledged my presence before. “You’re that drunk.” I moved past her, but caught the small grin that flashed over Tray’s face.
People were everywhere inside. Each room was packed tight. A few tables were set up in the corners where people were playing cards. The main floor had a dance floor and music pounded throughout the house. The second, third, and fourth floors were the bedrooms. Hookups and smaller parties congregated there.
Tray grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the kitchen area. He paid for our cups, and after they were filled with beer, he pulled me to his side and murmured in my ear, “You know that girl out there?”
I tilted my head back, my lips brushed against his ear, and I rested a hand on his chest. He was warm and felt like cement under my touch. Even with that slight touch, I wanted to close my eyes and melt into him. Instead, I forced myself to say, “Yeah, not a friend.” I gestured behind us. “I’m going to look around.” I was asking him if that was all right? A part of me flared up. He wasn’t mine. I wasn’t his. Why was I acting like this?
He nodded and turned into the crowd, leaving me alone. There was no argument from him. As he went, people looked up, feeling his presence, watching him. These people didn’t know him, but they reacted to him on an instinctual level. They moved for him, clearing a path so he could go by. Girls from Pedlam continued watching, even after he disappeared from eyesight. I couldn’t blame them. I was struggling with the same need to stare at him. Pushing through the room, I worked my way through the crowd. A few recognized me and gave their hellos. It felt nice, to know that I hadn’t been forgotten, but as I searched the house, there wasn’t anyone I wanted to see. I couldn’t find my friend so I headed in the direction Tray had gone and found him in a back room. Everyone from Rawley had taken root in there. Tray was against a far wall. He was swamped on both sides by people. Even if they didn’t know him, they were pulled in by him. Tray had that power. He had a presence that told the world he didn’t give a damn about anyone or anything. It made him all the more appealing.
Then I saw my friend, Grayley. He was sitting in the middle of a couch. His hair was longer, touching the tops of his shoulders, and his shirt swallowed him, hanging loose over his baggy pants. With almost delicate features, Grayley was given the nickname of Pretty Boy growing up. When he got a few tattoos and a scar down the side of his neck, that nickname went away. To everyone, he was just Grayley now. He fit in with anyone. It was one of his gifts. He was a likeable guy. He had become friends with me and Brian years ago, but he was also good friends with the crème de la crème of the Pedlam circle. If anyone would know why Pedlam had such high security, it would be him.
I started for him, and Tray noticed my intent. He straightened from the wall and frowned. I threw him an uneasy look. I wasn’t doing the job for him, but I was still curious. If he came over, he’d start getting thoughts I didn’t want him to have.
Grayley glanced up and he began to grin, but then a guy I didn't know stepped in between us. After an obnoxious wolf whistle, his gaze raked me up and down, and he sneered at me. “My, my, my. I know who you are.”
“That’s nice—”
“I thought so.” He winked at me.
“But I don’t know you—”
His hand grabbed my hip, and he tried to pull me close. “That’s okay. We can fix that.”
Removing his hand, I finished, “And I don’t care to know you.”
“Then we have a problem.” He stepped back and looked me up and down in an exaggerated motion. “You have got one of the nicest bodies I’ve seen in a long while. In fact.” He tried to draw me to him again. Tray narrowed his eyes. He remained against the wall, and I didn’t know if I was relieved or disappointed. I stopped thinking about Tray and stiffened as the guy’s hand slipped under my shirt. This bastard was going down. My hand lifted, ready to grab his thumb and twist his arm so he would be forced backwards, but I heard from behind me, “Goddamn, Clint. Let go of her.” He was thrown from me and shoved against a wall. The people standing around us scattered, and someone began punching him, hitting him in the face and stomach.
It was Brian. His back was tense, his shoulders tight, and he kept raising his fist to deliver another blow.
For a moment, I couldn’t move. It was Brian…that knowledge seeped in slowly. It had been so long since I had seen him. Then Grayley was in front of me. He yelled at me, “Matthews, do something.”
Shit.
I lunged for them.
“Brian,” Grayley bit out as he moved closer to the fight, trying to wedge himself between them. But Brian and the other guy were inches taller than Grayley and heavily muscled. I knew Brian’s body. He didn’t lift weights, but he didn’t have to. He did construction during the summer, so his body was toned. Grayley was gangly and not athletic at all. He’d be snapped in two.