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“Hey,” I said softly in return. I still didn’t know what I was going to say and I was very aware of the flash drive in my purse.
“Some of us are going to Rickets’ House tonight—early play-offs celebration, but we’re all heading out to Crystal Bay right now.” Crystal Bay was a local lake that had a small cave which dipped into the cliff overhanging it. On the bottom of the cave was a green-blue pool of water, which literally sparkled when the sun slanted onto it. It was gorgeous and one of my favorite places to swim. I’d gone there once and I was itching to take a dive off the cliff, but when Mandy had taken me, it was too early. That was when I was nice and quiet—before the real Taryn came out.
“Are you asking me if I want to come?”
Tray rolled his eyes. “What the fuck do you think?”
“I don’t…I can’t. I have to go to Pedlam to get those tickets I promised Casners.”
I saw the tension enter his body just at the mere name.
“It’s not like that,” I reassured him, not really knowing why I was reassuring him. “I’m not going for you know. I haven’t decided—”
“I don’t get why it’s such a fucking hard decision! It’s a no-brainer Taryn!” Tray stood there, his jaw clenching.
I didn’t like him yelling at me and I couldn’t stand that he was so angry with me. And I hated to admit that it bothered me so much.
I reached out and slid a finger into the front of his pants and pulled him close. Against his chest, I whispered, “I’m sorry, okay?”
Reluctantly Tray slid his arms around me, one of his palms resting underneath my shirt, just inside the back of my pants. He bent his head next to mine and I felt his breath on my neck.
“Before,” I started, “before I would’ve already been over there, demanding answers, but now…you got in my head, alright? I just have to be the one to make the decision. Me. Not you.”
“And I don’t understand why it’s taking so long,” he said roughly, but he pulled me tighter against him, dropping his forehead to my shoulder.
“I don’t know why either.” I bit my lip, raising my arms around his neck. “But I promised your playmate tickets and those are in Pedlam, so that’s where I have to go to get them.”
He went rigid again.
I said quickly, “I won’t come across Jace or anyone. Promise. I can slip in and out and no one will ever know I was there.”
“How long?” he asked harshly. God—he really hated that I was going to Pedlam. Remember the days when he d
idn’t give one shit? Fond memories.
I grinned at my thoughts, but I answered, “Not long. Get in, get out. It shouldn’t take long at all.”
“I could come with?” he offered.
His offer earned him a deep long kiss. Of which both of us were breathing hard when I whispered against his lips, “Trust me. This is a one-woman job. They won’t have any idea I was been there.” I took a deep breath. “I could come to Crystal Bay when I’m done.”
“You’ll have time?”
“When are you going to Rickets’ House?”
“Like, ten tonight.”
“I’ll call when I get back. If you guys are still at Crystal Bay, I’ll show up. If not, I’ll just come to your place. Shelley and Kevin are heading out for a month-long conference today anyway, so no parents to check in with.”
“Fine.” He gave me another hard kiss before he left for his locker.
After that, I headed to my car. I made sure I had everything I needed in my trunk and then I was on the road, heading for Pedlam. In the back of my mind, I kept thinking back to when Tray and I were just fuck buddies.
I turned the radio on and let myself get lost in the music. When I got to Pedlam, I circled the block, one down, from the Seven8. There was an apartment ramp, which came up right against where the Seven8’s basement ended. I parked in the ramp, and found a small, hidden door that connected the two complexes. I don’t even know if Jace knew about it. I found it, accidentally, one time when I was upset with Brian. I’d needed time alone so I went looking for a hiding spot.
I quickly checked to make sure there weren’t any added security alarms.
There weren’t, so I picked the lock and headed inside. The basement was pitch black—like always.
