“You’re an asshole,” I said again, pissed. “Do you not even know that you might end a best friendship? Or did you know and you just don’t give a damn?”
“Excuse me?” he huffed, now starting to get pissed. “What the hell are you—?”
“You’re trying to get a piece of me last night. That didn’t work. You knew this other girl at the game liked you. So what do you do? You hook up with her best friend. All because you think you have some God-given right.”
“Hey, it’s not on me what she did or if her friend likes me—” he started to argue.
I stood up and said simply, “Yes, it is. It’s called being responsible and just being a decent human being.”
Sasha and Trent chose that moment to walk into the kitchen. Sasha took one look at us and immediately glared.
Trent took one look and left, heading the opposite way.
I grabbed my purse and left behind him. “Trent,” I called out, hurrying to catch up with him.
“Taryn, you deserve half the shit that’s thrown your way. You know that, right?” he mused, waiting for me.
“How do you figure?” I grinned.
“You could choose better battles, you know.”
“I know. I just…get so mad.”
“And that’s what usually ends you in deeper shit than you can tread,” Trent noted.
“Yeah, but I don’t care.”
“Yeah, but you care about a few of them.” He stopped, staring at me. “And that’s why you should pick your battles. All your words, they get washed over them, you know. Don’t get me wrong, way I got it, that Evans guy can handle anything you send his way. But your sister, she’s just another one of those kids that you claim you hate.”
“Alright. Fine. Picking better battles, check,” I said cockily, tilting my head. “You going to see Geezer today?”
We’d reached his truck and he opened the door. Climbing in, he murmured, “Maybe. I don’t know.”
“I was thinking of coming out.”
“I think you should stay put,” Trent said bluntly.
“Why?”
“Because you’re at the end of Grayley’s rope. Just give him space.” Then he started the engine, shut his door, and roared off down the road.
Not many people could leave me standing speechless with my mouth hanging open.
Trent had that effect.
So did Grayley.
Probably why I considered them friends.
*
The rest of the day passed without event, thank God. Shelley and Kevin had both politely asked how my friend from Pedlam was doing. I filled them in, for the most part.
Mandy returned home later that afternoon. She showered, changed clothes, grabbed her book bag, and had headed back out.
I had been laying on my bed, listening to my iPod. During a break between songs I heard Amber’s voice outside the window. Rolling over, I saw Amber was outside in her car. Bryce and Grant were also with them.
Then Mandy walked down the hallway and was outside in a second. I heard her call out, “See you later, Mom. I’ll call later, but I’ll probably be out for dinner.”