A Whole New Crowd(66)

“Don’t.” Tray got in my way, holding two drinks in his hand. Judging from how he glanced at Gray and then to Brian, I assumed he figured everything out.
“You knew, didn’t you?”
His shoulders were tight and his mouth was pressed in a flat line. “Yeah, I did.”
“How?” Goddamn. I wanted to yell. I wanted to throw something. Eyeing the drinks in his hands, I was tempted to overturn them on him. I didn’t, though. I let him see the anger in me instead.
His eyes narrowed. His jaw clenched. “He was expelled from Pedlam. Then I heard he got back in. Seeing what went down just now, I’m assuming he’s the new drug connection in their school.”
“How do you know this?”
“I hear a lot, Taryn.”
There was more. I could see it in him, but he was holding back. I closed my eyes and cursed, rubbing my forehead. A pounding headache was forming. “I am going over there. I am going to have my say to Brian and then I’m walking away. I’m done after this, but you and I are going to have a conversation later.”
“I have no doubt.” He never looked away.
I felt like I had been smacked in the chest again. My heart stopped, just for a second. Tray wasn’t holding back from me. A weird form of excitement began to fill me, but I shook my head. I didn’t have time for these lovey-dovey feelings. Brian was watching us now.
His head was up. His eyes were alert, but he was wary.
I knew, right then and there, that Brian had never been my equal. I didn’t know how to explain it, and I didn’t know if I wanted to, but it never would’ve worked with us. We weren’t meant to be. Sadness took root in me. Leaving the one who was my equal, I headed towards my past. A lump formed in my throat. I’d have my say and I wouldn’t look back any longer.
The girl was glaring at me when I got to them. I glanced back over my shoulder. Tray remained behind me. A guarded expression was on his face, but I was thankful he stayed back. I said to Brian, “Tell her to take a hike.”
She gasped, and her face scrunched up in anger. “Excuse me—”
He patted her hip twice. “Get lost, Dee.”
“What?” She twisted back to him, and her mouth had dropped open. “Are you serious?”
He nodded to me. “I have business to attend to,” he said, stressing the word business.
She shut up. “Oh. Okay then.” When she stood up, she glared at me again. “Watch your hands, honey.” As she walked away, she ran right into me.
I hid a grin. I had been ready for her move. As her shoulder collided with mine, I had locked my body up so I was unmovable. She bounced back off of me and gasped again. Muttering, “Fat-ass,” she melted into the crowd.
I laughed. My body was solid with muscle, and no one could call me overweight. I wasn’t skinny, but I was slender, and I knew guys loved my curves. Then I stopped thinking about her and locked eyes with Brian.
It was time.
“You’re working for Jace?”
“No.” His jaw clenched. “I’m working for Galverson.”
“Same thing. Jace is your boss.”
“Jace’s boss is my boss.”
I snorted. I couldn’t believe we were having this argument. “That makes no sense.”
He shrugged. The irritation vanished and a sullen look came over him. “Does it even matter? Jace doesn’t want me there, but I am. So what? What do you care, anyway?”
“I care,” I said softly. “I care a lot.”
He flinched. “Yeah, well…” He turned his head away. He clasped his hands together, still leaning forward on his knees, his jaw clenching. “What do you want, Taryn? You’re going your way. I’m going mine.”
That was the crux of it. A sadness like I hadn’t experienced in a long time came down on me. It settled over me like a heavy blanket, wanting to pull me down to the ground. “Yeah. Looks like.”
“It is.” Anger flared in the depths of his eyes. After a moment, it was banked, and he forced himself to calm down. “I’m doing my thing. That’s what you wanted. I don’t know why you’re over here. I’m not your business anymore. Just like he,” he nodded towards where Tray was standing, “isn’t mine. Let it go, Taryn.”
“Jace never wanted this for you. I don’t understand—”
“You don’t have to. Let it go.” His eyes were cold, bearing down at me.
“I still care.”
“It doesn’t matter. We’re through. We were your family, but you got a new one.”
I grimaced. “I wouldn’t say they’re a family.”