It killed me. I loved Brian. I still did, but hearing Gray plead on his behalf, he was right. If I went over there, I would’ve hurt him. I opened my mouth, ready to agree when I stopped. A guy approached Brian, and they exchanged something. I got a glimpse of money folded into a big wad and then the guy left. Brian returned his focus to the girl in front of him once again. He ran his hands up and down her back, settling on her hips, tugging her even closer so she had to kneel on the seat. As they started kissing, I turned to Gray.
His eyes were stricken and held mine.
I gestured to Brian. “That was a Rawley guy.”
Gray’s shoulders dropped, his head went down, and he cursed.
As he shoved his hands in his pockets, I continued, “Brian hates Rawley students. Why would he give a shit about that guy?”
Brian gave him something. The guy paid for it. My mind was racing as I connected the dots. When it all clicked, I groaned. “Please tell me you’re not going to say what I think you are.”
“Taryn.”
I shook my head. “Tell me that Brian isn’t working for Jace, that he’s not selling drugs, and that kid wasn’t a paying customer just now.” My heart was pounding and my chest tightened. “Please goddamn tell me that I have this all wrong, because if you don’t, I am going to flip out.”
Jace never wanted him involved, I repeated over and over in my mind as betrayal formed in my gut. He promised never to involve Brian, but now he was. A defeated look came over Gray. Shaking my head, I started for Brian.
“Taryn, no.”
I shook off his hand. “No, Gray. I have to confront him now.” With each step, the anger and hurt bloomed brighter in me, but there was another emotion. This was going to be goodbye, but this time it was for real. I had tried telling him goodbye so many other times, but as I got closer, I realized that I never accepted those because I knew Brian would still fight to be with me. He wouldn’t anymore. He had moved on with his life, and I saw that now.
“Don’t.” Tray got in my way, holding two drinks in his hand. Judging from how he glanced at Gray and then to Brian, I assumed he figured everything out.
“You knew, didn’t you?”
His shoulders were tight and his mouth was pressed in a flat line. “Yeah, I did.”
“How?” Goddamn. I wanted to yell. I wanted to throw something. Eyeing the drinks in his hands, I was tempted to overturn them on him. I didn’t, though. I let him see the anger in me instead.
His eyes narrowed. His jaw clenched. “He was expelled from Pedlam. Then I heard he got back in. Seeing what went down just now, I’m assuming he’s the new drug connection in their school.”
“How do you know this?”
“I hear a lot, Taryn.”
There was more. I could see it in him, but he was holding back. I closed my eyes and cursed, rubbing my forehead. A pounding headache was forming. “I am going over there. I am going to have my say to Brian and then I’m walking away. I’m done after this, but you and I are going to have a conversation later.”
“I have no doubt.” He never looked away.
I felt like I had been smacked in the chest again. My heart stopped, just for a second. Tray wasn’t holding back from me. A weird form of excitement began to fill me, but I shook my head. I didn’t have time for these lovey-dovey feelings. Brian was watching us now.
His head was up. His eyes were alert, but he was wary.
I knew, right then and there, that Brian had never been my equal. I didn’t know how to explain it, and I didn’t know if I wanted to, but it never would’ve worked with us. We weren’t meant to be. Sadness took root in me. Leaving the one who was my equal, I headed towards my past. A lump formed in my throat. I’d have my say and I wouldn’t look back any longer.
The girl was glaring at me when I got to them. I glanced back over my shoulder. Tray remained behind me. A guarded expression was on his face, but I was thankful he stayed back. I said to Brian, “Tell her to take a hike.”
She gasped, and her face scrunched up in anger. “Excuse me—”
He patted her hip twice. “Get lost, Dee.”
“What?” She twisted back to him, and her mouth had dropped open. “Are you serious?”
He nodded to me. “I have business to attend to,” he said, stressing the word business.
She shut up. “Oh. Okay then.” When she stood up, she glared at me again. “Watch your hands, honey.” As she walked away, she ran right into me.
I hid a grin. I had been ready for her move. As her shoulder collided with mine, I had locked my body up so I was unmovable. She bounced back off of me and gasped again. Muttering, “Fat-ass,” she melted into the crowd.