The Original Crowd (A Whole New Crowd 0.50)

“Oh. Uh—”

“He wouldn’t file charges so the cops aren’t coming after you. But still…you’re fucking lucky, Taryn. Brian said it was in self-defense. He said that he grabbed you first and he wouldn’t tell them your name.”

Fuck that. I was not going to be grateful to Brian. Not for anything.

“I’ll stay out of it,” I said through gritted teeth. Grayley had gotten what he wanted. That annoying little shit.

“Good. Get rid of that taser.”

“Jace gave it to me.”

“Exactly,” he pointed out, hanging up on me.

I rolled my eyes and put my phone in my pocket.

Mandy spoke up, from behind me, “What did you do this time?!”

Again—fuck.

CHAPTER EIGHT

“I don’t—” I began, but stopped short. I didn’t know what to say to her. I’m pretty sure Hallmark doesn’t make a card for bonding over illegal activities.

“What?” she asked again.

I changed tactics and shifted my hip against the counter. “What are you doing up here?”

“I came to find you.”

“Hmm mmm. Why?”

“I…,” Mandy wavered, rolling her eyes, “because I can’t handle all of them downstairs.”

“Oh. You mean the little trio of Pop-Tarts downstairs?” I mocked, sweetly. “How can you not? They’re so…sugarlicious”

Mandy chuckled, and then groaned. “Ugh. You’d think I could handle this. This was me, four years ago before Dev and I got together. But now, Jasmine’s scared to be in the same room as me, Devon looks like he’s going to bolt any second, and Amber, I’ve realized, has no spine. Plus,” she sighed, “I think they’ve replaced me with Sasha Klinnleys.”

“I call her Hooters Bitch.”

“I just…I feel like I’ve lost my place. You know?”

“You’re asking me?” I asked skeptically. “Mandy, welcome to my life the past six months.”

“What are you doing here, by the way?”

“Hiding,” I said without hesitation. I could at least tell her part of the truth.

“From?”

“From my life,” I said dryly. “My friends in Pedlam. Shelley and Kevin.”

“You mean, Mom and Dad.”

“Yeah.I guess.”

“Taryn…they’re your mom and dad too. You just gotta…let them.”

“Not really used to having parents around.”