The Original Crowd (A Whole New Crowd 0.50)

“Hey, Taryn.”

I looked up and saw it was Ben, the rest of Jace’s guys were behind him.

“We’re sorry,” he said quietly, giving me a hug, and a kiss on the cheek.

Each one followed suit. Each gave me a hug, then a kiss, giving their sympathy and condolences.

Cammy was at the end.

She’d been crying, her make-up was running down her face. She reached and embraced me. “I’m sorry, Taryn.” Then she walked away quickly, hurrying after the guys.

Tray touched my elbow and I saw most everyone had left.

It was over.

We went inside, and I grabbed a rose from one of the flower arrangements—a keepsake—then we went back outside.

Geezer was waiting, glancing uncertainly around. I was reminded that Grayley hadn’t come, and it hurt. It really hurt—he should’ve been here, he should’ve been a part of this, sitting on the opposite side of Geezer.

“Hey,” I murmured, my voice hoarse.

“Hey.” He grabbed me in a hug, squeezing my entire body. In my ear, he whispered, “Listen…huh—”

“What?” I asked, standing in his embrace, long after conventional norms.

“Grayley’s missing,” he choked out, “I wasn’t sure about…I didn’t know what to say, but…he went to find Brian…and he never came back, if you know what I mean.”

When the words registered, my body went cold.

*

I’d told Brian that I wanted to know what Jace had done, what arrangements he’d made for me. Geezer had told me that Brian had found the answer and had been on his way to see me.

Brian was dead.

Grayley was missing.

And Jace was here.

I looked up, my arms still around Geezer, and I saw Jace standing at his car. He looked like he was waiting—waiting for me.

“Geezer,” I said, pulling away. I met his eyes, mine fierce. “Where did he go?”

He looked away, running a hand through his shaggy hair.

“Charles!” I said firmly.

“He,” he sighed, stuffing his hands in his pockets, “he…went to Jace’s. Brian called me from there. He said he had some information and that he was on his way to find you. He said you needed to know…and then…he never called us back. He was supposed to go and see you, then report back, but he never called. Grayley got antsy and took off to go find him. Then I got a phone call from a friend who works at the hospital; she knew I was close to Brian. She said a chopper went out to Rawley to pick him up. When I got to the hospital, Jace told me he was dead.”

I turned away, my arms hugging myself. I was shivering.

“Taryn,” Geezer mumbled, “what are you…I mean…what are you going to do?”

“Do?” I asked numbly. .

“Yeah, I mean…we gotta find Grayley, you know? He’s my best friend.”

“Mine too,” I mumbled, my eyes only seeing Jace. His eyes were still blank. “Mine too,” I repeated.