The Arrangement Anthology 2(127)
He smiles. “Are you happy now?”
“Trystan, I—”
“Avery, he’s not the one you’re mad at. Let it go.” Peter is standing next to me, ready to pull me away.
“But he—”
“Leave it alone. You’re missing pieces of this story—anyone can see that. Trystan isn’t using you, and if he were a repeat customer of a call girl service the press would have picked up on it by now. Let it go. We need to find Sean and we can’t do that with you two fighting, so stop.”
Trystan is smirking. He leans to the side to catch my eye. “I know Pete said to leave it alone, but this really makes me wonder how you could be such a hypocrite. You condemn me so quickly even though you’re on the taking end of this deal. Liars are we, twisting the truth until it suits us best? Life’s a bitch, isn’t it?”
Peter gives Trystan a look that promises a punch in the face if he doesn’t stop. Even so, I can’t leave it alone.
“I’m not a liar or a hypocrite. That’s not why I’m upset. It’s because you know Miss Black. Admit it. You’ve met her. There’s no way you haven’t. Then I pour my heart out to you, assuming you have no connection to her and the entire time you already knew her and didn’t correct me. Did you know that she knows Sean, too? Did you know that every time I turn around, I expect to see her there, waiting to pull me back? Did you know I don’t have a choice? She won’t let me leave, Trystan! I’m caught in the middle of her fucking vortex and I can’t get out. But you already know all that don’t you?” Tears are in my eyes and I look away, feeling betrayed. I try to hide it. I can’t fall apart now, no matter what he’s done.
Trystan runs his hands through his hair, revealing his toned midriff, before blurting out, “I use her services once a year. It’s to forget about her. How am I supposed to confess something like that, when it’s so damning? Now Pete knows, which means it’s not a secret anymore. It’ll spread and the next time I see Mari, she’ll hate me even more.” He’s smiling like it’s funny, but his words are so somber that I feel my gut twisting inside of me.
Peter watches the two of us closely, but he doesn’t comment. It probably looks like we’re in a relationship, but we’re not. I need friends, I can’t survive without them, and Trystan said he’d always be there for me. Marty uttered the same words and now look what’s happened. Who can I trust?
Trystan slumps down on a beat up couch, while Peter starts to pace the room. Peter stops and glances over at me. Concern etches his face, increasing the depth of the fine worry lines. He thinks he’s going to lose his brother. I can see that fear; I know what he’s thinking because the same thoughts have been filling my mind since Peter surfaced. Peter doesn’t show up without a reason and he tends to bolt as soon as possible. I can’t blame him, not with the Ferro family. It’s no mystery why Sidney isn’t here—Peter’s afraid—and so am I.
All three of us are silent for a moment. That’s when Mel and Jon come out of the office. Jon is somber, but his expression changes when he sees us. “What the fuck is this?” Jon’s been so mad since Bryan died. His anger is always just below the surface, ready to erupt.
Trystan leans back into the couch without answering and Peter looks down at his saddle shoes, so Mel and Jon both turn their attention to me.
Mel is wearing sweats and gold hoop earrings. Her hair has expanded to twice its normal size. The look is very odd for a girl who is always perfectly dressed. She looks like a hot hobo. “Staring at the floor means they’re up to no good. A big chunk of stupid fell and hit them on the head, Jonny boy. There’s no way you can keep me from finding out what’s going on so you might as well spill.”
Jon is staring at me with an unreadable expression. I can’t tell if he’s mad or something worse. Finally, he sighs and runs his hands through his hair and down his neck. He glances at Peter. “It’s Sean, right?” Peter’s gaze flicks up, surprised. Jon rolls his eyes. “Pete, I notice things. Mom and Aunt Lizzie have been together way too much. Something’s up, and it’s major. Plus, Sean is ominously absent. It’s a very strange combo, especially since Sean likes to put his nose in everything. Bossing people around is his specialty and for some reason, he’s not here protecting Avery the way he should be, and since Bryan’s dead, well, we know he’s not there either.”
I can’t help it. I snap at him, “It wasn’t Sean’s fault.”