Austin lit up. His eyes flooded with warmth and his smile stretched even wider. “That’d be great. Can I show you my score on the game now?”
“Sure.” Kevin laughed and draped an arm around Austin’s shoulders. The two went downstairs and continued talking about some game.
My phone buzzed and I pulled it out. It was a text message from Tray: Afternoon party at my place if you and Mandy want to head over?
I replied: You couldn’t have picked a better time. I’m on my way.
He never asked about Mandy, and I never explained that she was busy with her family. As I headed out, I wasn’t even sure if they would notice I was gone. Then I frowned as Tray’s words came back to me. They’re not real nurturing parents. I thought it was a joke when I heard they adopted a girl. They’re never home.
His words were still with me when I pulled up to his house, but I shook them off. I’d tackle that later.
The guys were downstairs with a football game on the screen. Beer bottles were everywhere and a pizza box was opened on the coffee table. Grant saw me first. “Hey, Taryn.”
Everyone else looked over and I waved, now feeling out of place. “Hi. I heard this was a party?”
Tray stood up and grinned. “Hey.” He took my hand and pulled me upstairs as he said, “It will be. People are starting to come over now. Leading me into the kitchen, he opened the fridge. “Want something to drink?”
“You’re always trying to get me drunk.” I meant it as a joke, but it came out as an accusation. I folded my arms over my chest. What was wrong with me?
“Trying to be a good host.”
I looked away.
“Hey.” He turned my face back to his. “What’s wrong?”
I thought it was a joke when I heard they adopted a girl. I shook my head. “Nothing.”
He trapped me against the counter and leaned in close. “Is this where you’re an asshole and lie to me? I thought we had more time before the asshole side of us came out.”
He was teasing. I knew he was and I sighed. Get over it, Taryn. No one gives a shit. Remember that and you’ll be fine. With that reminder, I shoved down all the insecurities and awkward feelings. I smiled back. “I would love a beer.”
He gave me a quick kiss and pulled away. “Good. You can have fun tonight and maybe we could do another all-nighter. Last night was torture, but I loved it.”
“You want me to get drunk at a party where I don’t trust anyone?”
He frowned. “They’re my friends.”
“They’re assholes.”
He lifted a shoulder. “You’re right. Okay. Get drunk and I’ll watch over you.”
“Promise?”
“I may be an asshole, but I’m an asshole you can trust.” He smirked as he reached behind him and then placed a cold bottle in my hand. “I promise.” He took my other hand and led me back downstairs.
Maybe it wasn’t a great decision, but I gave in. The fight was always in me to survive and for once, I didn’t want to fight. I wanted to be watched over. If he volunteered for that position, so be it. Brian never watched over me. I watched over him, and Jace had rarely been around.
When he sat on the couch, I curled up next to him and enjoyed my place among his group of friends. As the afternoon passed by, I heard and saw the respect they had for Tray. They listened when he spoke. Everyone turned to him and no one ignored him. They genuinely liked him.
People had never genuinely liked Brian or Jace. Jace was feared. He was respected, but I didn’t know if anyone in his life liked him. It was the opposite for Brian. He was tolerated. He was a hothead. No one knew when he would explode, and so he earned a reputation as being unpredictable. He was met with caution wherever he went.
It was an alien feeling, watching this different world unfold before me.
I liked it.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“Fuck.”
“You shit.”
“Asshole.”
One of the guys playing grinned and flipped his last card on the table. He shot his arms up in victory. “Pres-i-dente!”
We were playing Assholes and Presidents. I was neutral, which pissed me off, and this other fucker, Aaron, slammed his last card on the deck and shouted, “Vice-President! Vice-President. Oh yeah! Oh yeah!”
I spotted my turn and slipped in my last pair of sixes. “Neutral.” Then got flicked off by another player and laughed.
I’d been recruited into the game when Samuel grabbed me and pulled me to the empty chair beside him. The last two hours had gone by quickly. The place was overflowing with people now. Tray was outside manning a keg that Dylan brought over while Mandy showed up with friends that I still didn’t know. They were at the pool. When she started glancing at Devon, who was manning the keg with Tray, I saw the hope in her eyes and knew where it was going. Mandy was like so many girls, crying about a guy hours earlier and then trying to get his attention. Jennica was there as well, but she kept inside with the other girls from their group.