A Whole New Crowd (A Whole New Crowd #1)(32)

“Kevin.” I didn’t go to him. Mandy’s dad had always made me nervous. He never did anything. He’d always been polite and kind to me, but he wasn’t a loving man. I had never witnessed a hug between him and Shelly, or Mandy either as I thought about it.
“Dad!” Austin came barreling up from the basement. He threw himself at Kevin and a genuine laugh came from my adopted father as he hugged him back.
I had to correct myself. Kevin was loving with Austin. He hugged him tight again. “Oh, man.” Pulling back, he ruffled his hair. “Two weeks I’ve been gone and you shot up a good three inches. You’re getting as tall as me.”
The fourteen-year-old grinned from ear to ear, but he ducked away from his dad’s hand, then smoothed his hair back down. “Whatever, Dad. You’re back, right? You’re staying a while this time?”
“You know it.”
“I gotta show you my score on the game downstairs.”
“What were your stats for the basketball game last weekend?”
Austin stiffened, then shrugged. “They were okay.”
“Austin.”
“I missed my top by two points.”
Kevin shook his head, but still smiled at him. “It’s my fault. You and I need to throw the basketball around some more. We’ll do that tonight.”
Austin lit up. His eyes flooded with warmth and his smile stretched even wider. “That’d be great. Can I show you my score on the game now?”
“Sure.” Kevin laughed and draped an arm around Austin’s shoulders. The two went downstairs and continued talking about some game.
My phone buzzed and I pulled it out. It was a text message from Tray: Afternoon party at my place if you and Mandy want to head over?
I replied: You couldn’t have picked a better time. I’m on my way.
He never asked about Mandy, and I never explained that she was busy with her family. As I headed out, I wasn’t even sure if they would notice I was gone. Then I frowned as Tray’s words came back to me. They’re not real nurturing parents. I thought it was a joke when I heard they adopted a girl. They’re never home.
His words were still with me when I pulled up to his house, but I shook them off. I’d tackle that later.
The guys were downstairs with a football game on the screen. Beer bottles were everywhere and a pizza box was opened on the coffee table. Grant saw me first. “Hey, Taryn.”
Everyone else looked over and I waved, now feeling out of place. “Hi. I heard this was a party?”
Tray stood up and grinned. “Hey.” He took my hand and pulled me upstairs as he said, “It will be. People are starting to come over now. Leading me into the kitchen, he opened the fridge. “Want something to drink?”
“You’re always trying to get me drunk.” I meant it as a joke, but it came out as an accusation. I folded my arms over my chest. What was wrong with me?
“Trying to be a good host.”
I looked away.
“Hey.” He turned my face back to his. “What’s wrong?”
I thought it was a joke when I heard they adopted a girl. I shook my head. “Nothing.”
He trapped me against the counter and leaned in close. “Is this where you’re an * and lie to me? I thought we had more time before the * side of us came out.”
He was teasing. I knew he was and I sighed. Get over it, Taryn. No one gives a shit. Remember that and you’ll be fine. With that reminder, I shoved down all the insecurities and awkward feelings. I smiled back. “I would love a beer.”
He gave me a quick kiss and pulled away. “Good. You can have fun tonight and maybe we could do another all-nighter. Last night was torture, but I loved it.”
“You want me to get drunk at a party where I don’t trust anyone?”
He frowned. “They’re my friends.”
“They’re *s.”
He lifted a shoulder. “You’re right. Okay. Get drunk and I’ll watch over you.”
“Promise?”
“I may be an *, but I’m an * you can trust.” He smirked as he reached behind him and then placed a cold bottle in my hand. “I promise.” He took my other hand and led me back downstairs.
Maybe it wasn’t a great decision, but I gave in. The fight was always in me to survive and for once, I didn’t want to fight. I wanted to be watched over. If he volunteered for that position, so be it. Brian never watched over me. I watched over him, and Jace had rarely been around.
When he sat on the couch, I curled up next to him and enjoyed my place among his group of friends. As the afternoon passed by, I heard and saw the respect they had for Tray. They listened when he spoke. Everyone turned to him and no one ignored him. They genuinely liked him.
People had never genuinely liked Brian or Jace. Jace was feared. He was respected, but I didn’t know if anyone in his life liked him. It was the opposite for Brian. He was tolerated. He was a hothead. No one knew when he would explode, and so he earned a reputation as being unpredictable. He was met with caution wherever he went.
It was an alien feeling, watching this different world unfold before me.
I liked it.



CHAPTER ELEVEN

“Fuck.”
“You shit.”
“Asshole.”
One of the guys playing grinned and flipped his last card on the table. He shot his arms up in victory. “Pres-i-dente!”
We were playing Assholes and Presidents. I was neutral, which pissed me off, and this other f*cker, Aaron, slammed his last card on the deck and shouted, “Vice-President! Vice-President. Oh yeah! Oh yeah!”