Page 124 of The Trouble With Bad Boys

It was always our dream to go to school and join the dance team at Braysen together. We’ve been talking about it for what feels like forever now. It worked out perfectly since Tanner wanted to play alongside Alec at Braysen too.

Except our plans didn’t pan out the way we had envisioned. When Tanner was passed over for the quarterback position, he accepted a scholarship at Keaton, and my brother transferred to play with him.

When Hallyn didn’t tag along, things between them went south quickly.

“Are you two back together?” I ask, cutting to the chase.

I’ve known Tanner for most of my life. He and Alec are as close as I am with Hallyn. He comes from a prominent family in Beaufort, and he’s always been a good friend to Alec. It doesn’t change the fact that I think he’s a shitty boyfriend.

My opinion of him changed quickly after seeing how he treated her when she decided she still wanted to come with me to Braysen. He couldn’t believe she’d want to still follow her dream and not stay with him to follow his.

As much as I loved her and felt she deserved more, I wasn’t going to interject and push her to do something she didn’t want to do. I’d be no better than Tanner.

“We’ve been talking more, and he asked me last night if I’d be his girlfriend again. I told him I’d think about it, but I miss him and…”

“I think you should do what makes you happy, Halls.”

“Yeah?”

She wants my approval.

“Of course! If Tanner makes you happy, you should give it another shot.”

We both know Hallyn is going through the same phase of life I am. Excited for the next chapter and what’s to come but scared and nervous to make the first leap.

Tanner is comfortable for her. I know her well enough to know that she needs to work through this to come to terms with the truth that he isn’t her person.

I’ll be there for her either way.

The moving truck blinker flickers, and I follow them down the long road before pulling into a parking lot. Several more trucks like it are parked along the side of a large building.

“All right, Hallyn, well, I just got to the moving company and need to sort out what I’m gonna do with my stuff until we can move in.”

“Oh shit, I’m sorry. Here I am going on and on about my relationship, and you have far bigger things to worry about.”

“No, it’s okay. It was a welcome distraction.”

I didn’t want to tell her that I was still struggling with what to do and how I was leaning more toward getting a hotel room tonight over driving across into Georgia to stay with my brother.

I could always ask Mandy if I can stay in her dorm. The problem is her dorm mate is moving in soon, and there are only two beds in their cramped room. We met when Hallyn and I came to Braysen a few months back for dance team tryouts and immediately clicked. I know she’d help me if it came down to it.

The handsome stranger reappears, standing on the sidewalk in front of me, waving his hand with a look of concern on his face. I didn’t catch his name the other night, but I overheard some of his friends call him Vaughn. I hold my finger up to him, signaling to give me a minute, and smile.

“Will you do me a favor, though, Halls?”

“Anything!”

“Don’t say anything to Tanner about the apartment, will ya?”

“Okay, but why?”

“I just don’t want it to get back to Alec. Not until I have a plan anyway.”

She agrees although I pick up on the skepticism in her voice. I promise to call her back later, though, and we end the call.

“Everything okay?” His gravelly voice returns when I step out of my car and hit the lock.

“Could be better, but that’s life. Right?”

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