“I understand,” the friend said, as Ryder stepped through the back exit.
His friend turned to another guy and pointed in the direction Ryder had gone. They seemed to be arguing about who should follow him, yet in the end neither did.
I shouldn’t care. I shouldn’t follow. But I was already on my feet. I glanced at Fallon.
She rolled her eyes. “Just go.”
“I’ll be right back.”
“Sure you will.” She sipped her drink.
“I—”
She waved her hands. “Go before he wanders into traffic.”
His friends still stood blocking the hall. I overheard one say he wasn’t ready to leave, while the other whined about some girl he’d met and was hoping to take home. Great friends.
“Um, excuse me.”
They turned.
“I need to get through.” I pointed toward the hall they blocked.
The guy who had spoken with the bouncer stared at me then his expression shifted. “You’re the girl.”
My face warmed and I considered shoving past them just to get away.
“I mean, the one he’s all depressed over. You’re the reason he was about to kill that guy.”
“Oh, shit, she is,” the other guy said. “Are you sure you want to go out there?” he asked me.
“Well, it doesn’t look like either one of you are planning to do it.” I crossed my arms.
The first guy smiled. “Yep, she should go. She won’t take his shit tonight. We try that and he’ll rearrange our faces.”
The other guy laughed, stepped aside and gestured down the hall. “In that case, be my guest.”
Hopefully, I wasn’t getting myself in too deep. I brushed past them, and one called out, “Good luck.”
I stepped into an alleyway. A creepy, dirty alleyway that reeked of trash and puke.
Ryder sat on the curb, his forehead resting against his forearm draped over his knee.
“Hey,” I said.
His head popped up. “What are you doing out here?”
What was I doing? “This alley is disgusting. We need to get out of here.” I glanced around, looking for the nearest main street.
Ryder didn’t move. He stared at me as if trying to decide if I was really there.
“C’mon.” I motioned for him to follow.
He staggered upright, took a few steps, then paused.
I looped my fingers through his and tugged. “Don’t pass out on me, now. I will leave your ass here if you do.”
“Why are you doing this?” he asked.
“Because I don’t want you sleeping in an alley, or trying to start any more fights.” I glanced at him. “Looks like you’re still recovering from your last one.”
He brushed his finger over the almost healed cut on his cheek.
“Interestingly, Noah has a black eye.” We stepped onto the main road and I relaxed a bit. “Know anything about that?”
“I don’t want to talk about him.”
“Okay, so what do you want to talk about?” I stuck my hand out to hail a cab. Several passed but none stopped. “You sure seemed to want to talk earlier, but now you’re quiet?”
He crammed his hands in his pockets. “Too much Jack and Coke, on both accounts.”
“Oh. So you don’t want to talk?”
“You know I do. But, fuck, I can barely stand. I don’t trust myself to say the right things.”
“Oh? You’re worried you’ll tell the truth for once?”
A cab finally stopped for us.
“I’ve never lied to you, Brinley.”
“I’m confused by what your interpretation of the truth is.” I opened the door.
“I know you’re pissed, but this isn’t fair. I can’t say shit to you because you will turn it on me.”
I sighed. “Get in. We can talk when we get back to campus.”
I slid in after him and gave the address of Ryder’s dorm. I texted Fallon and told her I was taking him home and not to worry. She’d have to deal with Mason, and I was glad I wouldn’t be there for that.
Ryder leaned against the window but didn’t say anything. Hopefully he wouldn’t pass out, because there was no way I could haul his ass to his room.
The taxi pulled in front of his dorm and Ryder looked at me. “You’re planning on going to your place now, aren’t you? You were never going to stay and talk.”
That had been my plan. It was late and I didn’t want to stay at his dorm, nor did I want to walk back to mine alone in the middle of the night. But now, confronted by him, and the wounded look on his face, I caved.
I pulled a twenty out for the driver.
“I’ve got it.” Ryder shoved some money at the guy and stepped out.
I followed. “Want to talk here?”