A Whole New Crowd(31)

There was no family.
I’d be arrested. Somehow they would connect me with the vandalism last night, and I would be removed from their home. Jace kicked me out. He meant it. I didn’t have him and Brian. I shook my head. Brian wanted to be a Panther. I couldn’t do that life.
It was just me. Again.
“Get over yourself.”
“Excuse me?”
He snorted and rolled his eyes. “I don’t even know what you’re thinking, but I can tell you’re overreacting to this.” He cursed. “If anyone takes the blame, it’ll be me. You were in the dark. The other guys didn’t even pay attention to you. I told them I had a guy on the inside. That was enough for them, and trust me, no one will talk. You cut all the footage. The stupid security guards will get canned. That’s the extent of it. We didn’t hurt anybody. I highly doubt Pedlam will launch an investigation. With that security, I don’t think they’ll want the cops poking their noses around there.”
My eyes shot to his and I tried to absorb his calm. “How do you know?”
“My dad was a cop. I’m not dumb. Schools don’t keep security like that unless there’s something worth a lot of money or illegal on the premises. They won’t want cops getting curious. You have nothing to worry about.”
His dad was a cop? I had to laugh. “You would’ve been my enemy if I was still in Pedlam.” Holy hell. “How did I not know your dad was a cop?”
His tone cooled. “Because he’s not around anymore.”
“What?”
“He moved south. It’s just me. My mom killed herself before all that happened.” He bit out a hard laugh. “Hell, that’s probably why he went down the path he did.”
His mom killed herself. I froze at hearing that. Fuck. I didn’t know what to say about her. He said, “It’s for the best. Don’t feel sorry for me because of her. She was in so much pain that she couldn’t endure it. She did what she had to do.”
My god. He sounded hard and unforgiving. He was like me, but no. He wasn’t like me. He had friends. He had a school that followed him. I met his friends. They would do anything for him.
“I’m sorry about your mom.”
He chuckled. “Don’t feel sorry for me. My mom’s in a better place and my dad is a piece of shit.”
“How can you afford that huge house?”
“My mom was rich.” Then he scowled. “My dad left me money, but I don’t touch it.”
“Oh.” I frowned.
“It’s not something I talk about.” He grimaced. “Sorry, I just...don’t like to think about it. I’d go crazy if I did.”
I nodded. I could relate. “At least you know who your parents were.”
“Yeah?”
He was watching me and the air switched again. Gone was the fear and a camaraderie took its place. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that, but I couldn’t fight it. “I never knew mine.”
“You grew up in the foster system?”
I nodded. Even Mandy hadn’t dared to ask me that question. My throat grew thick. “I never talk about it.”
“Not even to that ex-boyfriend?”
“Not even him.” Brian never wanted to talk about our parents or our families. He wanted to talk about sports, how he was going to be the toughest guy in school, or what Jace was doing. Realizing that I had confessed more to Tray in a few weeks than I had to Brian in a few years sent shock waves through me.
“It’s his loss.” Tray’s voice grew light. He pretended to punch me in the arm. “Come on, Matthews. Let’s go and reap the rewards from being awesome. That prank was one that will go down in history. Everyone knows I did it, but no one can prove it. That’s the best thing about this life.”
“What I would give to have your easy life.”
I had crawled out of the vehicle, but I paused when Tray stopped behind me. I turned back. His eyes were narrowed, but he wasn’t looking at me. I had a sense he wasn’t even present with me anymore. His mind had wandered off. After a few minutes, he muttered, “Things aren’t always what they seem, Taryn.” Then he brushed past me and headed inside.
I didn’t talk to Tray for the rest of the day. Well, he didn’t talk to me. I hated to admit it, but it bothered me. It bothered me a lot.



CHAPTER NINE

I would’ve known where the party was from a mile away if Mandy hadn’t left directions. Okay. Not really, but the music was blaring so freaking loud, I finally chose to turn my own radio off. I parked at the end of the lane and walked closer. When I got to the lawn, I recognized a group of Pedlam students. What the hell? They were supposed to wallow in their own parties. In Pedlam. Not here. I hadn’t gone to the game, but Mandy told me my old town lost. That couldn’t mean anything good was going to happen with them here.