“I’m done. We can go,” he spoke again and it took a second to realize he was talking to me.
“What?” I choked out.
“We’re going. You got everything?”
“Yeah—” I was lost, stumbling. “Uh…my stuff’s at your place.”
We were already off the porch and heading to his vehicle. I was still in shock. “Oh my God.”
When we got to the SUV, Tray walked me to the passenger side and opened the door. I crawled inside and curled up in the seat as Tray got into his side, but he didn’t start the engine. He sat and looked at me.
I broke out, “What if they know? What if…they know what Jace did to me? What if…oh God…what did they do to me? What did Jace do?”
Tray remained silent.
“They all lied to me,” I cried out. “They all…I hate ‘em. I hate ‘em. They all—”
“For what it’s worth,” Tray murmured, watching me steadily, “I don’t think they had anything to do with it.”
“What? How can you…?”
“Because I’m on the outside looking in, and I know how guys like Lanser and Galverson think,” he replied. “They don’t share their secrets. Ever. Whatever Lanser did that involved you, it’s extremely unlikely that he shared the info with your friends, even his little brother. Guys make it to the top because they keep everything close to their chest.”
“I never said anything about—” I started, confused.
“You didn’t have to, Taryn. It’s written all over your face. When one lie is found out, a person starts wondering what other lies were told and how many of ‘em involve you. That’s what you’re scared of. You’re scared that your best friends turned on you, but I don’t think that’s it. It doesn’t make any sense.”
I’d fallen silent, shocked at hearing him think out loud. Even in my state, I was a little unsettled at how intelligent Tray is.
“No, my guess is that they found out something and they’re trying to protect you against it. I don’t think they know how you’re involved though.”
“But—”
Tray shook his head then continued, “And it might not even have anything to do with you. I mean, yeah—maybe. But you’re not exactly a person who just accepts whatever you’re told. If you’re pissed off, you go after whoever pissed you off. You’re a fighter and you’re virtually impossible from keeping out of shit.” He paused. “Maybe that’s it. Maybe they don’t want you to find out something, to look for something, that’d land you with Galverson. It all goes to Galverson. It makes sense. Your friends are worried that you’ll find out what’s going on and you almost already have. You’re a thief. You hate not knowing shit, so you find a way to get at it. Which is what you would do if something was going on that you didn’t like.”
Oh my God. That made perfect sense.
Which meant Brian and Grayley hadn’t betrayed me.
“I agree with ‘em,” he stated, meeting my eyes. “You told me you’d leave it alone.”
And I had, I’d already made the decision.
Even I wasn’t so out of touch with reality to think I could take on Galverson alone. And Tray was right, Galverson wouldn’t go after me. He’d go after Geezer, Brian, and Grayley first, then Mandy, Austin, Shelley, Kevin.
My family.
“I will.” I said sincerely. For the first time in awhile, I was scared.
“I will,” I said it again, a whisper to myself.
Tray sighed and leaned over, he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering on my cheek, then my lips.
I grinned, feeling myself melt. Again—it was inevitable.
I took his finger in my mouth, and licked it, swirling my tongue around it.
Tray groaned in shock.