A Whole New Crowd (A Whole New Crowd #1)(54)

It seemed ages ago when she spread the first rumors about me. Things were much different now. She couldn’t touch me.
I grinned. “Still not over your boyfriend wanting me instead of you, huh?”
“Taryn!” Tristan beamed up at me.
Stephanie looked ready to strangle me, but she ducked her head and never said a word.
As soon as I was within arm’s reach, Tristan took my arm and pulled me closer. “Is Tray with you?”
“Yeah, he went to get drinks.”
“Wonderful.” The beam kicked up a notch.
I frowned. I was tempted to let her know that ass-kissing worked better when it wasn’t obvious, but I held my tongue. Instead I asked, “My sister is wasted in there. How much did she drink at the house?”
“Oh.” She seemed taken aback by that question, but shrugged it off. “I don’t think she had any. I gave her a glass, but I don’t think she drank it. The others drank enough for both of us, I guess.” Her eyes switched so they were more focused. She had a goal. “Does Tray know how to find you? We can make room for both of you here.” She scanned their corner. There was no room. The entire couch was packed tight. She lingered on Stephanie. Her lips pressed together, and my smirk came back. She was thinking about asking Stephanie to leave, for Tray and me. I loved it. Stephanie realized the same thing because an instant frown appeared and she sat upright, watching Tristan back. A look of disbelief was on her face and her mouth fell open an inch.
Tristan must’ve rethought it. She turned back to me. “We’ll make room somehow.”
I waved, dismissing her. “Don’t worry about it. I got what I needed to know. Thanks.”
When I turned to leave, she called after me, “Wait.”
I glanced back.
Her mouth was hanging open this time. “Uh, I thought you guys could hang out with us?” She closed it and another fake smile plastered on her face. “I mean, I know you’re not friends with Jennica and Amber. I get that. Trust me, I do. We could talk and plan their demise.” She laughed a little. “I’m just kidding. They’re friends with Mandy. I’d never do anything to hurt her—”
I almost rolled my eyes as she said that last statement. That meant she had considered doing something to them. I was all for that, but she kept going, “—I’m so happy her and Devon worked things out. Aren’t you? I think it’s great. Those two are going to get married. I’m calling it now.”
Gritting my teeth, visions of Mandy’s future flashed in my head. He’d cheat on her. She’d catch him, cry about it, threaten divorce, and would go back to him. The cycle would be on repeat for the rest of her life. “God, I hope not.”
“What?”
I paused and realized I had said that out loud. Tristan was frowning at me, and from the corner of my eye I could see that Stephanie was grinning like a mad fool. What was she smiling about? But, instead of dealing with Stephanie, I said to Tristan, “I said, ‘God, I hope not.’”
Tristan’s eyes got big. “You don’t like Devon?”
“I don’t like the idea of Devon and Mandy. He’s a cheater. He always will be.”
“Oh.”
I could tell she had no idea what to say, but it didn’t matter. I didn’t like her. I already knew we would not be friends, whether she knew it now or later didn’t matter to me. I started to turn back for the house, but stopped again. The crowd had shifted, and I got a glimpse of the backyard for a second. Wait… I moved forward. Tristan said something, but I didn’t care what she was saying. I kept going. As I got closer to the edge of the patio, the crowd moved again. I saw him again, and my stomach dropped.
It was Brian.


CHAPTER NINETEEN

He was sitting on a picnic table. His feet were resting on the seat and he was focused on a girl that was standing between his knees. Wearing a black shirt, he was almost camouflaged against the night’s darkness. His black hair blended in, but then he smiled. My heart started to ache. I remember when he used to smile at me like that.
Without thinking, I started for him, but someone grabbed my arm and pulled me back. “Don’t.”
Tensing, I rounded with a snarl, but it fell away. “Gray?”
A tense look was on his face. His hand dropped. “I’m sorry. I saw you talking to your friend, and I was worried you’d see Brian. Don’t go over there, Taryn. Let it go.”
“Why?”
His lips pressed together. “Just take my word for it. Don’t go over there. He’s in a better place since he got kicked out of Evans’ party. If you go over there now, it’ll set him back. Please.”
It killed me. I loved Brian. I still did, but hearing Gray plead on his behalf, he was right. If I went over there, I would’ve hurt him. I opened my mouth, ready to agree when I stopped. A guy approached Brian, and they exchanged something. I got a glimpse of money folded into a big wad and then the guy left. Brian returned his focus to the girl in front of him once again. He ran his hands up and down her back, settling on her hips, tugging her even closer so she had to kneel on the seat. As they started kissing, I turned to Gray.
His eyes were stricken and held mine.
I gestured to Brian. “That was a Rawley guy.”
Gray’s shoulders dropped, his head went down, and he cursed.
As he shoved his hands in his pockets, I continued, “Brian hates Rawley students. Why would he give a shit about that guy?”
Brian gave him something. The guy paid for it. My mind was racing as I connected the dots. When it all clicked, I groaned. “Please tell me you’re not going to say what I think you are.”