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“Yeah, but what can you do?”
“Having Pedlam and Rawley together, that means there’s going to be some fights.”
“I know.” He shrugged. “We’ve got our crew. We can handle ourselves.” He threw a frown in Tray’s direction. “Besides, I doubt Evans would stand for that. If he thought there was a problem, he’d have me kick them out.”
“Taryn.”
Turning around, I saw Grayley standing just behind the patio gate.
“Hey.” I waved him to the table. “Have a seat.”
Mandy and Molly stopped laughing. Dylan sat up straight. He’d been warm and friendly a second ago. He was cold now. “Pedlam student.”
“My friend.” I leaned forward and kicked Tray’s seat out for him. “Sit down, Gray.”
He did.
Once he was seated, I asked, “Heard we spanked you guys.”
He snorted, running a hand through his hair. “Please. As long as we can drink, we’re happy.” Then he grew serious, lowered his voice, and leaned closer to me. “Can we talk? Somewhere private?”
I knew what he was going to ask. “I’m sorry.”
“Okay. Another time then?”
“No.” I shook my head. “I went to Jace and he wouldn’t tell me anything. He kicked me out.”
His eyes widened. “He kicked you out? For real?”
I nodded. Remembering it brought some of the old emotions back up. “I’m trying not to think about it, to be honest.”
“Man.” He sat back, dazed. “Whoa. I’m sorry, Taryn.”
I jerked a shoulder up. “It’s no big.” It was. We both knew it was, and he patted my hand, sighing softly.
He added, “I’m still sorry.”
“Yeah.”
He glanced from me to the table. Mandy and Molly were both staring while Dylan was watching the house. I knew who he was waiting for, but Tray wouldn’t kick him out. They had met already, somewhat, at Rickets’ House, and Tray knew I had gotten the blueprints from a friend. Gray sighed and leaned close again. “You want me to go?”
Did I?
I shrugged. I should’ve been clearer about a decision, but I didn’t care in that moment. Gray was a friend, maybe the only one from Pedlam that I could still talk with. He knew me better than the people at the table, but Tray chose that moment to return with two cups in hand. He gave Grayley a brief nod in greeting as he placed the drinks on the table and pulled a chair to sit between us.
I said, “We can talk later.”
“Yeah.” An uneasy laugh came from him. “When it’s not enemy territory, right?” He clapped a hand on Tray’s shoulder. “That was an awesome prank, by the way. The guys are planning their revenge already.”
Tray nodded. “Good. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Grayley laughed. “I’ll let the guys know—” He stopped. “Or maybe I’ll keep quiet since I got a friend on your side.” Nodding to the others at the table, he tapped me on the shoulder as his farewell before he headed away.
Mandy asked, “Who was that?”
“A friend.”
“Like me,” Molly piped up, then her cheeks got red, and she ducked her head again.
