A Whole New Crowd (A Whole New Crowd 1)

“But I don’t know you—”

His hand grabbed my hip, and he tried to pull me close. “That’s okay. We can fix that.”

Removing his hand, I finished, “And I don’t care to know you.”

“Then we have a problem.” He stepped back and looked me up and down in an exaggerated motion. “You have got one of the nicest bodies I’ve seen in a long while. In fact.” He tried to draw me to him again. Tray narrowed his eyes. He remained against the wall, and I didn’t know if I was relieved or disappointed. I stopped thinking about Tray and stiffened as the guy’s hand slipped under my shirt. This bastard was going down. My hand lifted, ready to grab his thumb and twist his arm so he would be forced backwards, but I heard from behind me, “Goddamn, Clint. Let go of her.” He was thrown from me and shoved against a wall. The people standing around us scattered, and someone began punching him, hitting him in the face and stomach.

It was Brian. His back was tense, his shoulders tight, and he kept raising his fist to deliver another blow.

For a moment, I couldn’t move. It was Brian…that knowledge seeped in slowly. It had been so long since I had seen him. Then Grayley was in front of me. He yelled at me, “Matthews, do something.”

Shit.

I lunged for them.

“Brian,” Grayley bit out as he moved closer to the fight, trying to wedge himself between them. But Brian and the other guy were inches taller than Grayley and heavily muscled. I knew Brian’s body. He didn’t lift weights, but he didn’t have to. He did construction during the summer, so his body was toned. Grayley was gangly and not athletic at all. He’d be snapped in two.

Tray straightened, hearing the exchange, but he didn’t seem interested in pulling Brian off the guy, though it didn’t matter. Brian was punched, and it wasn’t long before a full scuffle was going on in the room. I grabbed Grayley and tugged him back. He cursed. “They fought over another girl this week too. This ain’t good. Brian’s going to get arrested again.”

Hearing that, a pang went throu

gh me. Another girl? Then the rest registered with me, and I knew he was right. Brian was always arrested before the others; the cops hated him because of Jace, but Brian was beyond listening. The guy had delivered a few hits and then Brian turned his body. He shoved the guy down and delivered hit after hit. No one moved to stop him, and I shot Tray a look. He sighed and then nodded. As he did, his friends waded in and grabbed Brian off of the guy. When the other guy jumped up, ready to lunge for Brian, he was grabbed as well.

Tray gestured to the door. “Take ‘em out.”

They were ushered from the room. As the rest filed behind them, no one complained about the early exit. Tray held back and crossed over to me. Ignoring Grayley’s presence beside me, he asked, “That was your ex?”

My throat had grown thick with emotion. I nodded. I didn’t want to deal with the questions at that moment. Tray seemed to understand. “Let’s go.” He grasped my hand and led the way, weaving through the crowd. We were out the door when Veronica stopped us again. She was even more unsteady on her high heels this time, if that was possible. “I called him. You know, Taryn, Brian’s been miserable. We all know it’s because of you. He wanted to know if you showed up.”

“You called him?”

“Yeah. I did. He loves you. It was the two of you. You guys were so…you guys are perfect together.”

“Yeah, except that we’re not.”

No one knew why we couldn’t be together, or no one cared to understand. Even now, Brian was still fighting against the guys holding him. He wanted to hurt the other guy, who had stopped resisting. He was wary now, his eyebrows bunched forward in concern. Brian yelled at him, “You ass punk. You touch her again and I’ll cut you.”

I sucked in a breath. Brian meant it.

Tray stood beside me, but I couldn’t look at him. I didn’t want to see any condemnation he might have for Brian. Forcing the tears back, I started down the stairs. “Brian.” He paused and turned to me. I said, “Stop it.”

“Taryn.”

“Stop.” He grimaced, hearing the pleading in my voice. “Please, just stop.” I wasn’t referencing just this night. Memories of our past came back to me. The nights I would crawl into his bed, how he took care of me. I felt them as if I were reliving them. His fighting. How he wanted to be a part of Jace’s lifestyle, how he wouldn’t listen to me when I begged him to stay away. Brian wasn’t Jace. Jace was smart and dangerous. Jace would survive no matter what, but Brian wouldn’t. He would get caught. He would go to jail, and I would lose him.

Flashbacks of our fights came to me. The hurt was there, every time he didn’t listen to me and went to buy more drugs. I couldn’t deal with it.

“Taryn,” he started.

The fight had left him, but I shook my head and went past him. I felt Tray beside me.

“Taryn,” Brian called after me.

I couldn’t. I just couldn’t face him. Any conversation with him always ended the same way. He would promise to change. He never did, and I would pick up the pieces. I couldn’t do that tonight, not this time.

I kept going, hugging myself. Tray never touched me. The sight of it would’ve enraged Brian again. I was relieved, but a part of me wanted it too. I shook my head. I couldn’t deal with Brian’s jealousy, not tonight anyway.

“TARYN!”