A Whole New Crowd (A Whole New Crowd #1)(27)

“Hey!” He tried to follow me, but I got lost in the crowd. When I headed to the back patio, I saw Mandy on that cousin’s lap, his hand under her skirt. My eyes narrowed. The fact that this had gotten past everyone’s attention mystified me, but reinforced my theory that people were dumb. She tipped her head back and laughed. I groaned. She was drunk. That wasn’t a normal Mandy laugh.
At the same table was Tray and also…I stopped walking when I saw my lab partner? A double what the hell?
Dylan spotted me first. “Hey, you made it.”
“Taryn!” Mandy screeched. She stumbled over and threw her arms around me. “I love you so much, do you know that? You came. I’m so happy. I didn’t think you would.”
I hugged and patted her on the back. “I know. Football games and dances are not my thing.”
“They will be. If you’re my sister, they have to be, but you came. So yay!”
“Yeah.”
“You’re the best sister I’ve ever had.”
I didn’t know what to say to that so I patted her on the back. Again.
Dylan rescued me when he laughed. “Leave her alone. You’re suffocating her, Mandy.”
Mandy giggled and pulled away. She crawled back into his lap. “I know,” she murmured, curling her arms around his neck again. “I really do love her so much.”
Tray kicked a free chair out for me.
“Thanks.” I dropped into it, still giving my sister a confused look.
Tray frowned, studying me. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” I said quickly. Looking over at Molly, I asked her, “How’d you end up at this table?” Then I cursed when I realized how that sounded. I groaned, wiping a hand over my face. “I’m sorry. I just meant,” gesturing to the odd couple and Tray, “these aren’t your normal peeps. That’s it. No judgment.”
Tray grinned. “Nice save.”
Dylan lifted his hand to Molly. “She said she was your only friend.”
Mandy burst out laughing.
Tray chuckled. “I think she got you back already with that one.”
“My only friend?” I echoed. “She’s not my only friend.” Yeah she was. I glanced sideways at Tray. He was watching me intently. A secret grin appeared and I knew it was just for me.
Crap. It felt as if my body exploded. I readjusted myself and tried to get comfortable, but it was useless. This damn attraction I’d had for him wasn’t going away. I knew that now, and had begun to get used to it, but with a little look like that from him, knowing it was meant only for me, a girl could only handle so much.
I let out a soft sigh.
His laugh softened so it was only for my ears.
There went that tingling sensation again. Another explosion. I’d have to do something about it. This was killing me.
Dylan grinned at me. “Your friend is pretty cool.”
I nodded. I hadn’t known we were friends, but okay. I’d take it. Molly started giggling, and that was when I figured she was drunk as well. I skimmed an eye over the table and cursed my stupidity. It was covered in wine bottles.
Tray leaned closer and asked, “You want a drink?”
“Yeah. Maybe one.”
“Be right back.”
As he left, I commented to Dylan, “You’re one of the few around here who doesn’t seem drunk.”
He smiled, his thumb rubbing against Mandy’s thigh. “Yeah. It’s turned out to be a good party.”
“A lot of crashers.”
“Yeah, but what can you do?”
“Having Pedlam and Rawley together, that means there’s going to be some fights.”
“I know.” He shrugged. “We’ve got our crew. We can handle ourselves.” He threw a frown in Tray’s direction. “Besides, I doubt Evans would stand for that. If he thought there was a problem, he’d have me kick them out.”
“Taryn.”
Turning around, I saw Grayley standing just behind the patio gate.
“Hey.” I waved him to the table. “Have a seat.”
Mandy and Molly stopped laughing. Dylan sat up straight. He’d been warm and friendly a second ago. He was cold now. “Pedlam student.”
“My friend.” I leaned forward and kicked Tray’s seat out for him. “Sit down, Gray.”
He did.
Once he was seated, I asked, “Heard we spanked you guys.”
He snorted, running a hand through his hair. “Please. As long as we can drink, we’re happy.” Then he grew serious, lowered his voice, and leaned closer to me. “Can we talk? Somewhere private?”
I knew what he was going to ask. “I’m sorry.”
“Okay. Another time then?”
“No.” I shook my head. “I went to Jace and he wouldn’t tell me anything. He kicked me out.”
His eyes widened. “He kicked you out? For real?”
I nodded. Remembering it brought some of the old emotions back up. “I’m trying not to think about it, to be honest.”
“Man.” He sat back, dazed. “Whoa. I’m sorry, Taryn.”
I jerked a shoulder up. “It’s no big.” It was. We both knew it was, and he patted my hand, sighing softly.
He added, “I’m still sorry.”
“Yeah.”
He glanced from me to the table. Mandy and Molly were both staring while Dylan was watching the house. I knew who he was waiting for, but Tray wouldn’t kick him out. They had met already, somewhat, at Rickets’ House, and Tray knew I had gotten the blueprints from a friend. Gray sighed and leaned close again. “You want me to go?”